Study of managers in Vietnam shows HPWS practices impact both employer outcomes and firm performance

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to explore the effects of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on the performance of Vietnamese firms. Design/methodology/approach: The authors adopt a longitudinal design to provide insights into why and how HPWS are shaped in Taiwan. They interviewed 17 leaders, including CEOs, HR managers and general managers in 17 Vietnamese service firms. They were interviewed twice, in 2013 then in 2017. Findings: Analysis of the data showed that HPWS can impact both employee outcomes, such as attitudes, behaviours and productivity, and firm performance, such as firm innovation, firm growth and profit growth. Originality/value: This was one of very few studies to try and understand how and why HPWS are shaped and executed to respond to environmental pressures.