and selection, training, job design, quality management, communication
and consultation and pay systems (Table 2 shows the full list of questions
asked in each area). Hoque’s survey of HRM practices elicited ‘yes’ and ‘no’
responses. The survey used the three scales of ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘partially’ to allow a
more partial adoption of HRM practices to be explored. Hoque may have really
forced respondents in one way or the other and most may well have chosen to
show themselves in a good light. This may indicate that respondents may have
embellished their responses by saying ‘yes’ when they only partially adopted HRM
practices. The sample yielded a mean number of HRM practices of 13.6. The precise
nature in which the HRM independent variable was used to test the impact of
external and internal fit and the universal relevance of HRM is discussed in the
following sections.