| dc.description.abstract | The changes in the business environment with increasing globalization, changing
demographics of the workforce, increased focus on profitability through growth,
technological changes, intellectual capital and the never ending changes that
organizations are undergoing have led to increased importance of managing human
resources. The main objective of the study was to determine the role of strategic human
resource management in developing competitive advantage in the telecommunication
industry in Kenya. Policy and decision makers at various levels of management may gain
value added information on the human resource strategies that influence competitive
advantage. This study employed a cross sectional study design. The target population for
this study was the 4 leading telecommunication companies in Kenya i.e. Safaricom
limited, Airtel Kenya, Yu mobile and Orange Kenya. Primary data was used in this study
using an interview guide. The study found that although there are many ways by which
companies can gain a competitive advantage, HRM practices enable telecommunication
companies to gain a competitive advantage to a greater extent. So there appears to be a
significant benefit from having HRM considerations represented in the strategy
formulation stage rather than only in the implementation stage. The study therefore
recommends that once the strategy is formulated and the appropriate HRM thrust
identified, specific HRM practices need to be developed. These practices, such as staffing
and compensation, are the ones that actually create the competitive advantage for the
company. In addition, selection of the most appropriate practices should be appropriate to
the strategy and lead to behaviors that are supportive of the strategy; for example, if
cooperative behaviors are needed among employees, then group or organizational level
compensation incentives should be provided rather than an individual-level incentive
system. | en_US |
