Human capital and HRM as a source of competitive advantage and effectiveness: Evidence from Poland

Abstract

The present chapter focuses on the interrelations between organisational human capital and human resources management of a company and their influence on the competitive advantage and company effectiveness. At the outset, we analyse three concepts related to Human Resources Management: High Performance Work System, Competency-Based HRM, and Diversity Management. We present the main benefits, as evidenced by findings from international surveys, which firms can draw from the implementation of such concepts. In the paper, we pay particular attention to the most recent Polish analyses related to each of the aforementioned concepts. They show that, taking into account the state of advancement of HR solutions, Polish organisations lag quite far behind European and American ones. This distance can be reduced, e.g. by the popularisation of tools for measuring human resources in Polish enterprises. One such recent tool is presented in this chapter. This tool could prove instrumental in making Polish employers appreciate the importance of investing in human capital; furthermore, it could increase their knowledge of the effect that HRM practices have on the performance of their enterprises and their competitive position.