Human Resource Management, 12th edition

Published by Pearson (December 12, 2024) © 2025
  • Derek Torrington
  • Laura Hall
  • Stephen Taylor
  • Carol Atkinson

Title overview

Suitable for undergraduate business and management students, as well as those studying for CIPD professional qualifications

Guide your students through the fundamental concepts of HR management from theory to practice with the support of the ideal text

Human Resource Management, 12th Edition, by Torrington, Hall, Taylor and Atkinson provides a comprehensive coverage of human resource management backed up by latest academic research and practical examples. The new edition of the text incorporates recent case studies, skills support and real-world references to cover the issues and debates facing HRM today.

Hallmark features of this title

Support your students' learning of the concepts of HR management and its practical implications in today's world

  • 'Window on Practice' boxes provide examples of real organizational practice, survey results, anecdotes and quotations, and court cases to build up your students' knowledge of real-world practice.
  • Activity boxes encourage students to review and critically apply their learning, either as an individual or within a group. These have been developed for both students with little or no business experience, as well as for those with more practical knowledge.
  • Six chapters on employability skills cover basic skills to learn by practice and are designed to enable new recruits in HR to "hit the ground running" in their first week.
  • 'Theory into Practice' and 'Putting it into Practice' at the end of chapters enable readers to review, link and apply their understanding of the chapter to a practical business scenario.
  • Discussion boxes are intended for general discussion in a tutorial or a study group to encourage critical thinking and understanding of the topics covered within the chapter.
  • Topics covered in the text match the CIPD standards.
  • There are three chapters on global issues and managing human resources internationally, as well as constant international references throughout the text and in the exercises at end of chapters.

New and updated features of this title

  • Discussion on persistent skills shortages and the permanent changes to work brought about by the aftermath of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic
  • New real-world case studies and examples in 'Window on Practice' and 'Theory into Practice' boxes
  • New content on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), analytics and surveillance in different parts of HR
  • Updated chapter on organisational agility and flexibility to reflect working practices in the post-Covid world
  • Recognition of the focus on recruiting and retaining talent to reflect changing labour market pressures
  • Updated chapter on diversity, equity and inclusivity to reflect the growing focus on creating a diverse and inclusive workplace
  • Updated content on the work and role of HRM in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
  • Greater focus on business ethics, mental health and well-being in the workplace

Key features

Features of Pearson eTextbook for the 12th Edition

Extend learning beyond the classroom with Pearson eTextbook – an easy-to-use digital textbook.

Human Resource Management, 12th Edition, by Torrington, Hall, Taylor and Atkinson provides a comprehensive coverage of human resource management backed up by latest academic research, practical examples and case studies.

Optimise study time

  • Find it fast. Enhanced search makes it easy to find a key term or topic to study. Students can also search videos, images, and any notes they've created.
  • Get organised and get results. Students can customise how they study and add their own notes, bookmarks, and highlights directly in their eTextbook.
  • Reinforce and revise learning. Students can use pre-built flashcards to support recall and exam preparation.

Meet students where they are

  • Study on or offline. With the mobile app, you and your students can access your eTextbook anytime, anywhere.
  • Listen anywhere. Learners can listen to the audio version of their eTextbook for most titles, making learning even more flexible.
  • Watch and learn. Videos and animations within the eTextbook bring tricky concepts to life (available in selected titles).

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Table of contents

Guided tour

Preface

Part 1: Human resource management in the modern world

  1. The nature of human resource management
  2. The global context for human resource management
  3. HRM around the world
  4. Strategic human resource management
  5. Workforce planning, analytics and AI
  6. Employability: the basic skills

Part 2: Resourcing: getting people in the right places to do the right things

  1. Organisational agility and flexibility
  2. Recruitment
  3. Selection methods and decisions
  4. Employability: skills in resourcing

Part 3: Performance: success through individual and collective achievement

  1. Employee performance management
  2. Leadership
  3. Managing attendance and absence
  4. Engagement and retention
  5. Employability: skills in performance

Part 4: Development

  1. Organisational change and development
  2. The context of employee learning and development
  3. Learning and development
  4. Talent and career development
  5. Employability: skills in learning and development

Part 5: Employee relations

  1. Employee voice
  2. The legal framework of work
  3. Diversity and inclusion
  4. Employability: skills in employee relations

Part 6 Reward: the contract for payment

  1. Total reward and setting pay
  2. Incentives
  3. Pensions and benefits
  4. Employability: skills in reward

Part 7 Contemporary issues

  1. HRM and business ethics
  2. Managing the human resource function
  3. HR in small and medium-sized enterprises
  4. Health and well-being
  5. Managing the international workforce
  6. The future of work
  7. Advanced HR skills

Index

Author bios

Derek Torrington was an Emeritus Professor of Management at the University of Manchester, Chartered Companion for the CIPD, and a previous Chief Examiner. He was the founding author of this textbook and made a huge contribution to the field of HRM.

Laura Hall is a freelance academic and a Fellow of the CIPD. She has carried out work for a wide range of bodies, including the CIPD.

Stephen Taylor is an Associate Professor in HRM at the University of Exeter Business School and a Companion for the CIPD.

Carol Atkinson is a Professor of HRM and Associate Dean for Research at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

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