2.2. ‘Best-practice’ model
The ‘best-practice’ model advocates universalism, by arguing that all organizations
should have improved performance if they identify and adopt best practices in
the way they manage people, irrespective of context (Boxall and Purcell, 2000).
Pfeffer (1998) has identified seven best practices of employment security, selection
hiring, self-managed teams or teamworking, high pay contingent on company
performance, extensive training, reduction of status differences and sharing
information. Boxall and Purcell (2000) suggest that several problems with the model
include determining the goals and interests to be served between shareholders and
employees, especially if they are not in agreement. In addition, the authors argued
that if ‘best practice’ is supposed to give the organization a sustained competitive
advantage, then some firms would attain it, while others will be disadvantaged.