organizations define (or redefine) their strategic business needs
during times of turbulence
As such, these needs reflect management’s overall plan for
survival, growth, adaptability and profitability
Internal characteristics (e.g. culture, the nature of the business) as well as external characteristics (e.g. the state of the economy, critical success factors in the industry) may well influence the definition of needs
But the biggest factor affecting strategic HR management is not a particular characteristic so much as it is experience with this mode of planning
HR managers who have never before been asked to meld human resource activities with strategic needs, will find that the process takes time, persistence and a detailed understanding of the needs that have been defined.
In fact, linkage between human resource activities and business needs tend to be the exception even during non-turbulent times.
When such linkages do occur, they are usually driven by the organization’s effort to formulate and implement a particular strategy.