“Having benefitted in my academic career so much from my close interaction with firms, governmental bodies, trade unions, and practitioners, I increasingly feel the need to give something in return. What could be more precious for practitioners but to give them an overview of what our field of HRM has achieved in terms of ‘proven’ findings of what really works in practice? Some people would oppose this, indicating that it all depends on the specific nature of an organization, sector, and/or country. However, I believe we have several theories and HRM practices which – let’s say – work in 80 percent of cases. This book, which I started writing here at Penn State, presents a concise overview of these ‘proven’ theories and ‘tested’ HRM practices related to motivating and developing employees from a manager’s actionable perspective. I will start the talk with an illustration of ‘inclusive HRM’ based on the Dutch setting of historical employment relationships involving trade unions, works councils and governmental initiatives roots, and enlightened entrepreneurship. I will demonstrate its historic roots—the cultural heritage of the founding fathers—and how this is still influential after more than 100 years. I will present the design and rationale for the book and will be eager to hear your suggestions and thoughts on what really works in practice.”

Jaap Paauwe is professor of organization and HRM at Tilburg University, The Netherlands, and director of the People Management Center, an academia/practitioner center for work, well-being, and performance. Jaap’s research focuses on the relationship between HRM, performance and well-being, HR functional excellence, HRM and the institutional context, HR analytics, and talent management. Paauwe also supervises doctoral students in HRM and performance in healthcare at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Jaap holds honorary chairs at Pablo de Olavide University in Sevilla (Spain) and at North-West University in Potchefstroom (South-Africa). He has published widely in international refereed journals and is also involved in a range of executive training programs at various business schools including TIAS and FHR Lim-A-Po Institute. His latest book, written together with Elaine Farndale, is HRM, Strategy and Performance: A Contextual Approach, published by Oxford University Press, 2017.