The role of cultural values on a firm's strategic human resource management development: a comparative case study of Spanish firms in China

Abstract

This paper attempts to better understand the role of cultural values as a human resource contributor to a firm's strategic development. Comparative case studies of two Spanish subsidiaries in China were made using on-site, in-depth qualitative research in both Spain and China. We then examine how this difference in management affects the firm's overall strategic development and, hence, its performance. The results of the study suggest that cultural values, as a human resource contributor, do indeed affect a firm's overall strategic development and, hence, the firm's resulting success or failure. Throughout the paper, the management by values (MBV) framework is used as a lens to further examine and better understand this process.

Keywords:

• China
• culture
• management by values
• Spain
• strategic human resource management
• values

Notes

1. The names and part of the data of the two companies are modified for confidentiality.