Human Resources Best Practice as a Performance Intervention in a Global Context. Facing Cross-cultural Challenges

Submitted Assignment from the year 2015 in the subject Leadership and Human Resource Management - Miscellaneous, grade: 72, University of Wolverhampton, course: MA in Management, language: English, abstract: In a global economic environment where competition changes rapidly, HR decisions have a crucial role to play in influencing the MNC's performance, by improving efficiency and contributing to revenue growth. Personnel Management (PM) has always been considered a vital function, a function that was mainly dealing with routine administrative activities such as hiring employees and maintaining records. The extensive competition, mainly due to technology change, deregulation and globalisation, increased the PM's operations and upgraded the concept and perspective over it. By moving on and replacing PM with Human Resource Management (HRM), organisations started recognising people as an important asset and as a business partner. This changed the role of the HR department, engaging more activities and practices such as communication, recruiting, training, development, motivation, etc. making HRM a more dynamic operation, designed to maximise personnel's performance. According to Mello (2014), Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) refers to the strategic concept of HR that gives the opportunity to HR professionals to play a more substantial role in the success of the organisation by developing systems and policies aligned with the MNC's targets and goals. Obviously, SHRM does not replace HRM, but it empowers its role.

George Yiapanas is the Finance Manager of GSP Stadium in Nicosia, CY, with more than 20 years of progressive experience in the sports industry. He holds an MA degree in Management from the University of Wolverhampton, UK, a degree in Accounting from the BPP University, UK, a Certificate in Football Management and a Diploma in Security Management. Currently he is a PhD student in Sports Management at the University of Nicosia, CY. He is a board member of Cyprus Association for Sports Management (CyASM), a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT) and a student member of the EuroMed Research Business Institute (SMEMAB/EMRBI). He has served as Chairman of Cyprus Squash Association (CSA) for 5 years. He is an UEFA Certified Safety Officer and a qualified stewarding trainer. He is appointed by the University of Roehampton, UK, to teach Business and Management and by Global College in Nicosia, CY, to teach Management and Sports Grounds Safety Management, where he also serves as the Head of the BA programs in Security Management. His primary research interests are in the areas of sports strategic management, Sports governance, sports consumer behaviour, marketing and sponsorship and sports safety management. He authored a book on Sports Grounds Safety Management and attended numerous local and international conferences, where he had the chance to present papers on sports management and sports grounds safety management. His professional activities and expertise in the field allow him to take part in various projects and discussion panels that pertain to football safety. Currently he is part of a national task, on behalf of the Cyprus Stewarding Commission, for delivering a trained workforce of stewards governed by the new regulations created under the Cyprus law.