Based on the theoretical propositions, low strategic flexibility implies that the
bottom-up approach is less effective than the top-down approach, while low HR
flexibility makes it hard to reach a fit by the top-down mechanism. For advanced
planners, unless strategic as well as HR flexibility is low, because they use both
mechanisms, the productivity would suffer neither from low strategic flexibility nor from
low HR flexibility. Despite the results on the effect of low HR flexibility on the
productivity of moderate bottom-up planners, these propositions are supported by the
results for advanced planners in Table 2. This contradiction can be explained by the
implicit underlying assumption about the positive impact of the bottom-up approach. This
alignment mechanism is proposed to have an impact on productivity, because it allows
the firm to exploit the strengths of its human resources. Obviously, this implies that those
human resources hold the potential to contribute to the development of a competitive
advantage. Nowadays, in a turbulent economic environment, HR strengths are found in
employee skills and behaviour that are focused on innovation and quality improvement.
Contrary to the top-down approach which responds to turbulence in the economic
environment by quickly and flexibly translating strategic change into HR capabilities, the
bottom-up approach relies on innovative HR capabilities which provide a unique market
position. It is well known that high-commitment HR practices support the development
of those HR strengths, what relies much less on continuously changing HR practices.
Lopez-Cabrales et al. (2009) however have shown that employee’s knowledge and skills
serve as a mediator in the relation between high-commitment HR practices and
innovative activities. As discussed above, the results indicate that employees of advanced
planners on average have much more knowledge and skills than employees of moderate
planners. This could explain why in case of a lack of HR flexibility advanced planners,