"Building A Quality HR Organization at General Electric"
James E. Stockman
Human Resource Management, July 1999.
Not available online.
This article, written by a GE HR executive, provides an interesting and
informative example of a top company’s approach to valuing its employees.
It provides a model that other companies can follow and it helps make the
business case for the link between good people practices and better corporate
performance. GE’s revenues were $130 billion in 2000 and its market
value is currently the highest in the world. The company prioritizes its
HR function as a critical player in driving its business agenda and focuses
on staffing it with high quality people that it trains thoroughly. The training
links the HR practices to GE’s business goals. GE’s business
strategy involves producing top quality products, providing excellent services,
delivered by quality employees. Employees are viewed as critical variables
to GE’s success. GE values its employees and invests heavily in them
and in developing top quality HR professionals. This article is a good resource
and model for companies that want to see evidence of a company excelling
with good people practices and that want to learn from GE’s successful
business and employee strategies
