This research explores the challenges faced by hotels in Malaysia, in formulating and implementing strategic human resource management (SHRM). The study addresses the lack of empirical research into SHRM in Malaysian hotels at a time of rapid growth in the Malaysian tourism industry. Building on current debates regarding strategic HRM, including SHRM and business strategy integration, and the role of HR as a strategic partner, this research explores the relationship between human resource management and business strategies, and the challenges of HRM strategy realisation. The thesis has a particular focus on Recruitment and Selection, and Training and Development, as these two functions lie at the heart of how businesses access and develop the critical skills required to implement SHRM initiatives. The study is conducted from a constructivist ontological stance coupled with an interpretivist epistemology. A set of three semi-structured interviews, involving the Chief Executive Officer, HR professional and line manager, were conducted in five leading hotels. Three additional interviews were conducted to gain feedback on the study's topic from individuals with HR and/or hotel industry expertise. Data were analysed using a priori and data driven coding following King's (2004) template analysis method. This research reveals challenges in formulating and implementing strategic HRM exist within Malaysian hotels from three analytical levels, namely, organisational, industry and societal. The challenges include the readiness of HR as a strategic partner, the absence of clearly-defined HR-related key performance indicators, labour scarcity, and government policies relating to labour and education. Although this exploratory research may not be generalisable to all Malaysian hotels, its insights into SHRM challenges may be transferable to other similar hotels and resorts. Discussion of the practical implications of the study's results highlight the actions recommended as necessary for the three target audiences, namely, Hotel Managers (which include CEOs/General Managers, HR professionals and line managers), the Malaysian Association of Hotels, and the Government, to improve professional practice pertaining to strategic human resource management in Malaysian hotels.

Introduction to Human Resource Management in Tourism and Hospitality Industry is written for the reference of students taking courses related to human resource management in tourism and hospitality industry. This book contains some information of tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia. Included in this book is information regarding industrial relations in Malaysia which applies Malaysian laws as some of the international laws are not applicable in Malaysia. This book applies new theories and information from a new source of reference to help students gain a new perspective on human resource management in the tourism and hospitality industry. The scope of the content is comprised of the overview of human resource management in tourism and hospitality industry, recruitment and selection, motivation, training and development, performance appraisal, reward, organization communication, employee relations and labour relations, leadership, international HRM, and the future of HRM in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Human resources are critical within organizations, particularly in the modern world where technology can be acquired to produce the same quality of products. Today, in the context of the digitalized economy, hospitality organizations must ensure their human resources are evolving with the times to remain competitive. Strategic Human Resource Management in the Hospitality Industry: A Digitalized Economic Paradigm discusses strategic human resource management in the hospitality industry and sheds light on every aspect of human resource management in the hospitality industry globally, such as from selection, recruitment, training and development, performance management, compensation and benefit, and employee retention. Covering key topics such as technology integration, leadership, and tourism, this reference work is ideal for industry professionals, managers, business owners, administrators, policymakers, researchers, academicians, scholars, instructors, and students.

Organisations, including hotels, usually have more than one human resource practices system. Thus, this book is written to provide an understanding of the human resource practice system for managerial and non-managerial employees in the context of hotel industry. This book focuses specifically on five-star beach resort hotels in Malaysia. The human resource practices system for managerial employees includes empowerment while the recruitment and selection is more thorough. Their compensation is more attractive and their training is more rewarding. Both groups of employees are provided with a clear job description, orientation, employment security, objective performance appraisal, career development opportunity and effective communication.

It has been recognized that hotel organizations gain competitive advantage through their employees that are able and willing to provide quality service, through their expertise and ingenuity. The intangible work environment evolved and is personified by the organization culture. The Soft HRM focuses on treating employees as valued assets and a source of competitive advantage through their commitment, adaptability and high-quality skill and performance. The objective of the research was to examine the relationship between the organizational cultural orientation and the Soft HRM orientation of selected hotel organizations in Malaysia. Specifically, it aimed to examine if there were similarities and differences in the culture-Soft HRM orientations and to determine if there was any association between these variables orientations with the turnover rates. It was proposed that when there was a high level of association between the two strategic orientations, the organization would be more effective, as indicated by the turnover rate of employees. The findings indicated there was an alignment between organizational culture orientation with the organizational Soft HRM orientation. However, partial support was found between culture-Soft HRM orientations with turnover rate. This study had contributed to a better understanding on the practices that relate to organizational culture orientation and Soft HRM orientation in the hotel organizations.