Preface Human Resource management has grown in its range and depth to the point where it has become an industry rather than just an occupation. This Fifth Edition of a book aimed at explaining the main areas of the field has grown in each edition, expanding with the scope of the topic to the point where even a summary of the topic is a large tome. In each succeeding edition we find new ideas, new techniques and new legisla- tion to describe. There is however, no diminution in the volume of existing material because all is still relevant. It is necessary to know how we have come to our present situation in order to understand where we are going, and the trends which are continuing. HRM is highly sit- uation specific, the context is infinitely variable and there are endless applications. Part of the joy of working in HRM is the significance of the work that we do in this field, to help people and organizations to adjust to the massive social, economic, political and technolog...