An exploratory study of HRM roles and competencies in Vietnam, India and Malaysia

This chapter reports on exploratory empirical research conducted to understand human resource management (HRM) roles and competencies in three emerging Asian economies, namely Vietnam, India and Malaysia. The results of the study indicate that Vietnamese and Indian HR professionals primarily reflect the functional HRM specialist role, whereas Malaysian HR professionals are more reliant on the administrative expert role. There is evidence of a conscious effort in Vietnam and India towards a more strategic partner orientation, whereas the roles of Malaysian HR professionals are more transitional. The study also observed a relatively high level of perceived expertise for most of the respondents from the three countries for the seven competencies of the chosen model of ‘excellence’.