Strategic Human Resource Management has been a topic familiar to many. But this book approaches the same topic in a current global economy with so many Indian business houses venturing into acquiring global giants and establishing themselves atop of the world of business in our growing economy. This means that with electronic communication making the world into a global village and virtual organizations and learning having made the distinction between 'place' and 'space' not a matter of importance, strategies to be adapted by the HR professionals should be totally new. That is where this book is having a new approach to SHRM. It is interspersed with contemporary Indian cases and experience to fall back on to illustrate the different strategies HR has to play as a business partner. Issues in employee privacy in case of virtual organizations have been vividly dealt with. Gone are the days of the fire-fighting role of HR professionals. They are required to play a vital role being part of the business strategy not only at the domestic arena but also in the global business. Challenges involved in building multicultural organizations, cross border merger and acquisition and repatriation and outsourcing are topics that are significant in the local as well as the global human resource management which are discussed extensively. The book explains career planning and development and compensation packages in the context of competencies and balanced scorecard. When speed and alacrity are demanded of all the employees to stay ahead of competition, the employees are required to put in extended hours and work in a stressful environment. Hence, the new-era HR professional has to resort to developmental activities through mentoring, coaching, counseling, stress management and emotional balance. The book is divided into five parts. Apart from the stories narrated within the text of the book, and some exercises, there is a separate section of cases at the end of the book to augment the concepts narrated in each part. It would not only fully meet the requirements of MBA students but would also give new direction to the practicing HR professionals.

Yet Matt Ridley does more than describe how things are getting better. He explains why. Prosperity comes from everybody working for everybody else. The habit of exchange and specialization---which started more than 100,000 years ago---has created a collective brain that sets human living standards on a rising trend. The mutual dependence, trust, and sharing that result are causes for hope, not despair. --