Chapter 14: HRM and the Virtual Workplace: Some Concluding Observations and Future Directions

This chapter provides an overview of the topic of HRM and the virtual organization. The concept of the virtual workplace is considered and distinguished from the traditional workplace. The remainder and thrust of the chapter identifies HRM caveats in regard to the movement toward the virtual workplace and explores implication of the virtual environment for practice and research in HRM. The chapter argues for the importance of people and for the effective management of people in organizations. The topics of job analysis, selection, training, performance appraisal, and compensation are explored within the context of a virtual organization. The thrust of the chapter is on identifying forms of these HRM functions that will maximize effectiveness in a virtual context.