Preface

The discipline of human resource management (HRM) has been and still is one of the most important and influential notions in management and business fields. As it is widely acknowledged, it has deeply evolved over the last thirty years. During its evolution, there has been a radical change towards the strategic understanding of the workforce. The concepts of 'human resources' and 'human capital' have emerged as two key realities on which most research is based on. This view of the discipline implies a linkage between business strategy and HRM, ensuring that both are aligned with sector-specific goals.

The logic behind this shift is that 'labour', traditionally understood as costs, is now considered 'assets' with the potential to support a competitive advantage. Due to its strategic relevance, 'human resources' requires serious and responsible treatment. In that regard, important managerial actions are needed to carefully recruit, select, develop, and retain talent. This is how the professionalization of the function begins. HR professionals must develop strategic competencies focused on leadership, multicultural management, communication skills, and knowledge of international employment legislation, among others. However, there is still a deep 'breach' between management practices and HRM research, that is, too much work needs to be done on managing talent at organizations. More debate and reflections would improve our knowledge and understanding of the dynamics behind HRM processes.

Because HRM is constantly advancing and adapting to new social and economic realities, *Beyond Human Resources - Research Paths Towards a New Understanding of Workforce Management Within Organizations* proposes an updated perspective on the most current trends and topics in HRM through a critical and pragmatic perspective.

The editor and co-editors wish to thank the authors for their contributions and IntechOpen for their support in the development of this book.

> **Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey, Fernando Martín-Alcázar and Natalia García-Carbonell** University of Cádiz (Business Organization Department), Cádiz, Spain

Section 1
