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Human Resource Management
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Human Resource Management
Managing Employees for Competitive Advantage

Sixth Edition
LEARN HOW VANTAGE CAN WORK FOR YOU
August 2026 | 592 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Human Resource Management, Sixth Edition offers a strategic framework to efficiently recognize and empower the right talent in a rapidly evolving business environment. Written in an accessible and engaging manner, this book by Mary Gowan, Beverly J. DeMarr, and Jannifer David will enable your students to learn about the various practices and tools that can be used for effective employee management, as well as how to leverage them in different situations.

Sage Vantage Learning Platform
This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support. Highlights include:
  • Assignable video with assessment tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text brings concepts to life. Watch a sample video now.
  • NEW! An AI Literacy module prepares students to engage confidently with today's AI tools through an interactive, outcomes-focused experience—with minimal instructor lift and no course redesign required. Available exclusively in Sage Vantage and written by professors who teach and publish about AI, the AI Information Literacy, Academic Integrity, and Responsible AI Use integrates video, data driven examples, applied activities, Knowledge Checks, and built-in assessments that help instructors track student understanding. Focused on strengthening critical thinking, the module teaches students how to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias while developing responsible prompting strategies that support academic success without compromising students' intellectual growth.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Part 1: Managing Employees for Competitive Advantage
 
Chapter 1: Managing Employees for a Sustained Competitive Advantage
Managing Employees for Sustainable Competitive Advantage

 
Framework for the Strategic Management of Employees

 
Primary HR Activities

 
HR Challenges

 
Putting It All Together

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 2: Creating High-Performance HR Practice Systems
Principles of High-Performing Systems in HR

 
Aligning HR Systems with Employees’ Contributions

 
Managing the Employment Portfolio

 
Mapping an Organization’s Employment Portfolio

 
Evaluating Your HR System: The HR Scorecard

 
Applying the Principles of High Performing HR Systems

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 3: Regulatory Issues
Equal Employment Opportunity

 
Discriminatory Practices

 
Equal Employment Legislation

 
Executive Orders and Affirmative Action

 
Social Media, AI, and Employment Discrimination

 
EEO Responsibilities of Multinational Employers

 
Related Employment Legislation

 
Regulatory Issues and Competitive Advantage

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Part 2: Work Design and Workforce Planning
 
Chapter 4: Job Analysis and Job Design
The Importance of Job Analysis and Job Design

 
Job Analysis

 
Job Descriptions and Job Specifications

 
Job Design

 
Job Design Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Job Design Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Job Design Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 5: Workforce Planning
Importance of Workforce Planning

 
Forecasting Labor Supply and Labor Demand

 
Balancing Supply and Demand for Labor

 
Workforce Planning Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Workforce Planning Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Workforce Planning Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Part 3: Managing Employee Competencies
 
Chapter 6: Recruitment
Purpose of Recruitment

 
Recruitment Process

 
Maximizing Recruitment Effectiveness

 
Recruitment Effectiveness

 
Recruitment Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Recruitment Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Recruitment Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 7: Selection
Selection Defined

 
Standards for an Effective Selection Process

 
Selection Methods

 
Choosing Among Selection Methods

 
Selection Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Selection Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Selection Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 8: Learning and Development
The Purpose of Learning and Development

 
Designing an Effective Training Process

 
Career Development

 
Learning and Development in Application: Organizational Demands

 
Learning and Development in Application: Environmental Influences

 
Learning and Development in Application: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Part 4: Managing Employee Attitudes and Behaviors
 
Chapter 9: Performance Management
Performance Management

 
Focus of Performance Management

 
Steps in Performance Management Process

 
Disciplining Employees

 
Performance Management Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Performance Management Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Performance Management Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 10: Compensating Employees
Total Compensation/Rewards

 
Equity Theory

 
Internal Alignment through Job Evaluation

 
External Competitiveness

 
Alternatives to Job Evaluation

 
Administering Compensation

 
Compensation Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Compensation Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Compensation Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 11: Incentives and Rewards
How People Are Motivated

 
Individual Incentive Plans

 
Group/Organizational Incentives

 
Executive Compensation: Pay and Incentives

 
What Makes an Incentive Plan Effective?

 
Incentives Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Incentives Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Incentives Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 12: Employee Benefits and Safety Programs
Legally Required Benefits

 
Voluntary Benefits

 
Safety in the Workplace

 
Employee Benefits and Safety Programs Applied: Organizational Demands

 
Employee Benefits and Safety Applied: Environmental Influences

 
Employee Benefits and Safety Programs Applied: Regulatory Issues

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Part 5: Special Topics
 
Chapter 13: Labor Unions and Employee Management
Brief History of Labor Union Movement in the United States

 
Laws Affecting Labor-Management Relations

 
Levels of Unionization

 
The Unionization Process

 
Collective Bargaining

 
The Grievance Process

 
Public-Sector Labor Relations

 
Trends in Labor Relations

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
 
Chapter 14: International Human Resource Management
Forms of Globalization

 
Types of International Employees

 
Factors Affecting International HR Practices

 
HR Practices for International Assignees

 
HR Practices for Host Country Nationals

 
Transnational Project Teams and International Work without Travel

 
International HRM in Application

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Notes

 
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • NEW! An AI Literacy module prepares students to engage confidently with today's AI tools through an interactive, outcomes-focused experience—with minimal instructor lift and no course redesign required. Available exclusively in Sage Vantage and written by professors who teach and publish about AI, the AI Information Literacy, Academic Integrity, and Responsible AI Use module integrates video, data driven examples, applied activities, Knowledge Checks, and built-in assessments that help instructors track student understanding. Focused on strengthening critical thinking, the module teaches students how to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias while developing responsible prompting strategies that support academic success without compromising students' intellectual growth.
  • General Updates: Revised learning objectives, examples, spotlights, and exercises across all chapters. Enhanced focus on AI's role and impact throughout.
  • Chapter Highlights:
    • HR Management: New glossary terms, AI in HR practices, career-focused content, and case studies.
    • HR Systems: Expanded on KPIs, data-driven decisions, and AI in HR analytics. New exercises and spotlights on Google and Liberty Latin America.
    • Regulatory Issues: Updated legal content (e.g., Pregnant Workers Fairness Act), AI and discrimination, and new case studies.
    • Job Analysis/Design: Reorganized content, AI in job descriptions, virtual teams, and employee well-being.
    • Workforce Planning: Introduced workforce ecosystems, AI in planning, and spotlights on IBM and Intel.
    • Recruitment: Expanded AI use, recruitment metrics, and spotlights on Uber and veteran career fairs.
    • Selection: New tables on reliability, validity, and AI in selection. Exercises on designing selection processes.
    • Learning & Development: Updated onboarding, e-learning, and leadership programs. Spotlights on Netflix and Accenture.
    • Performance Management: Revised sections on AI, monitoring, and performance reviews. Spotlights on Adobe and Accenture.
    • Compensation: Expanded pay structures, equity theory, and transparency. Exercises on pay ranges and remote work.
    • Incentives: New content on motivation, merit pay, and incentive plans. Spotlights on Lowe’s and Hewlett-Packard.
    • Benefits & Safety: Updated benefits, retirement plans, and OSHA priorities. Spotlights on HubSpot and Hormel Foods.
    • Labor Unions: Expanded unionization, AI concerns, and spotlights on Amazon and screenwriters’ strike.
    • International HR: New tables, cultural dimensions, and spotlight on Aperian.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Learning Objectives at the beginning of each chapter guide students in mastering the material presented and enhancing their comprehension and retention.
  • Organization Spotlights illustrate real-world examples of organizations dealing with HR issues, connecting HRM principles with practical applications and highlighting chapter topics' significance.
  • Chapter Summaries provide a broad overview of what was covered in the chapter, bringing together concepts covered in the text.
  • Key Terms are highlighted in each chapter and provide students with a handy reference tool for quickly understanding crucial concepts.
  • Review Questions assist students in thinking about chapter content, enabling them to demonstrate a clear understanding of key HRM theories, issues, and challenges.
  • Learning Exercises encourage students to critically think about how HRM principles might inform the use of HRM practices in different situations.
  • Case Studies in each chapter prompt students to apply HRM principles in real-world scenarios, fostering a practical understanding of key concepts.
  • Cases for Debate encourage students to engage in active discussions and contemplate the implications of the concepts presented in each chapter.