Competitor recruitment : theory and practice-based explorations

This dissertation deals with the reasons for, and characteristics and consequences of Competitor Recruitment (CR), i.e. poaching employee(s) from rival firms from the perspective of the hiring firm. Major conclusions are that CR often concerns individuals or teams of middle or higher managers and specialists, is done both directly or indirectly with the help of a personnel search firm, and may pay off when driven by motives, such as the need for industry-specific human capital or a fast integration process. Whether the hiring firm can finally appropriate the expected human capital value depends on the fit between the recruit and the new organizational environment, and required employee deployment practices post-hire.