A detailed overview of human resource management from a strategic perspective is provided in this text. To illustrate this approach, a human resource management model is tied to the strategic planning process, and then this model is utilized throughout the book to explain how subjects interrelate. By introducing key definitions, concepts and background in the beginning of the text, students have a foundation for understanding the later discussions on strategic management, strategic planning, portfolio planning, and strategy-human resource linkages. Also emphasized is human resource issues outside of the human resource departments. Subsequent chapters review the relationships among various human resource management activities, the organization's strategies, and the company's external influences, including labour force characteristics, governmental regulations, labour unions, and cultural variations. This text also evaluates how to align corporate strategy and human resource practice by considering various approaches to cost/benefit analysis and the costing of human research activities.