Title: Applying the Hindu four stage life cycle model to human resource management

Authors: Scott Walsworth; Suresh Kalagnanam

Addresses: Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, 25 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A7, Canada ' Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, 25 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A7, Canada

Abstract: As a way of mitigating risk, management and investors focus on short-term measures of firm performance. Consequently, there is diminished incentive to incur short-term loss to secure long-term growth. Two resulting human resource (HR) challenges are explored. First training and development for new employees is avoided. Secondly, the emphasis on short-term measures contributes to low employee morale. We apply the four stage life cycle model from Hinduism which identifies the major stages in an employee's career as well as the important HR functions in each stage. We then develop a framework that positions training and development and knowledge transfer as an important competitive advantage.

Keywords: workplace spirituality; Indian culture; Hinduism; four stage life cycle model; HRM; human resource management; training; personnel development; knowledge transfer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2013.054247

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2013 Vol.6 No.4, pp.507 - 520

Published online: 30 Nov 2013 *

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