Strategic people management in contemporary highly dynamic VUCA contexts: A knowledge worker perspective

This paper extends the resource and knowledge-based view by integrating dynamic capability theory into a people-centric view of the firm in new and highly dynamic contexts. Juxtaposing people management and human resource management, we commend people centricity for knowledge management and dynamic capability formation within a context of highly dynamic environments induced not only by disruptive technology, unpredictable crises, and high-velocity emerging markets but augmented through simultaneous multilevel crisis events. We propose a novel and holistic framework of strategic people management that incorporates four dynamic constituents-leadership, culture, learning, networking-that help to acquire, transfer, and create knowledge relevant for a firm's sustainability. These unbundled constituents interact to create a systematic effect and co-evolve with a firm's dynamic capabilities. The paper emphasizes people-centricity as the infinity source of valuable, rare, inimitable, and organizational resources, such as knowledge workers, to continuously create, transfer, convert, and manage knowledge flows.

Automated summary

This paper integrates dynamic capability theory into a people-centric view of the firm and proposes a novel framework of strategic people management. It emphasizes the importance of talent and its management for a firm's sustainability.