The Role of the International HR ManagerFor many people, international HR management (IHRM) is synonymous with expatriate management. However, HRM covers a much broader spectrum than simple expatriate management. This involves global people management. Although international HR managers (IHRs) undertake the same activities as their domestically based colleagues, the scale and complexity of these tasks will depend on the degree of internationalization of the organization. In this article, Dr Hilary Harris, Director of the Center for Research in Expatriation Management (CReME), examines the factors influencing the role of the IHR manager and how this affects choices in terms of IHR policy and practice . International HRMIn any organization, the primary objective of the HRM function is to ensure that the most effective use of its human resources is made. To achieve this, HR professionals undertake a range of activities around sourcing, development, rewards and performance management, people planning, employee engagement and communications. If the organization has a strategic HR function, these activities will support and inform organizational strategy. Human resources professionals are also widely used in organizational change and development initiatives. The CHR Manager will also work towards the same goals, however, the scope and complexity of their role is increased due to working across boundaries. A useful model of the nature of international HRM is presented below: Source: Adapted from PV Morgan 1986. International Human Resource Management: Fact or Fiction, Personnel Administrator, Vol. 31, no.9, p44.Figure 1. Internationalization model H...... middle of document ......c partner, the IHR manager must also inform senior management of any mismatch between the objectives of declared internationalization of the organization and actual practice of RSI. A major European airline found that although its business objective was to be a global organization, its actual HR policies and practices were almost entirely ethnocentric! The Center for Research in Expatriation Management (CReME) is a joint collaboration between the Cranfield School of Organizational and Management Resource Advisors Inc. (ORC). CReME is based at Cranfield University School of Management in Bedfordshire, telephone 01234 751122ReferencesHofstede, G. (1991) Cultures and organizations: software of the mind. McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead, Berks. Trompenaars, F and Hampden-Turner, C. (1997) Riding the waves of culture. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London.