Exploring human resource management approaches to improve performance in the new customs agency in China from a human resources business partner perspective

Abstract

As a law enforcement department which is affiliated to the state council, China Customs is playing an important role in safeguarding international trade and national security. China Customs witnessed a fundamental change in 2018, with the merging of the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ). The restructured government agency is facing a series of challenges in human resource management due to changes in human resource policies following the merger. This research aims at proposing an innovative approach to human resource management in a selected customs branch, based on surveys and interviews. By distributing questionnaires to nearly two hundred customs officers, analysis was conducted through both qualitative and qualitative methods. This article discusses the possibilities of adopting a human resources business partner (HRBP) model in this government agency. The results show that this model is overwhelmingly supported by customs officers at various levels and demonstrate the added value of the HRBP. However, the author realises that there is a long way to go for the implementation of HRBP in the customs service in China for a couple of reasons, and this article further proposes an action plan in implementing an HRBP model in the service.