The Configuration of HR systems within subsidiaries of multinational companies in Indonesia: methodological aspects for the research and concepts that need further investigation

This presentation reveals some of the findings from a fieldwork on the configuration of human resource systems within subsidiaries of multinational companies in Indonesia. The research combines case studies at three subsidiaries of multinational companies and one state institution, internet-based participant observations on exchanges of HR ideas and information in a number of mailing-lists of Indonesian HR professionals, and interviews and documentary study on the recent changes in the Indonesian IR system. This presentation mostly covers the first two methods. The research discovers the phenomenon of similarities (and differences) of HR systems across the organisations and points out mimesis a mechanism that has brought about the phenomenon. It further reveals that social identity of the organisations play a part in the mimetic behaviour of the actors. In addition to that, it also shows that such phenomenon is linked to the interconnectivity of the HR actors within and across companies and also with other relevant actors.