Human Resource Leadership in Highly Dynamic Environments: Theoretically Based Analyses of 3 Publishing Companies

Abstract

This article explores the role of leadership and the effects of different types of personnel planning, hiring, and development in publishing companies. Based on three cases from the German newspaper industry, it finds that human resource planning is increasingly relevant to media firms, that many hiring practices lack sophistication and strategic orientation, and that development activities are relatively weak. The article suggests that greater attention to human relations activities should assist companies in coping with the dynamic environments currently faced by media firms and in preparing firms to develop and change as media markets are altered.

Key Words:

• human resources
• leadership
• dynamic environments
• newspapers
• Germany