Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to explore how transactions between temporary agencies and customer firms are organized. We a) describe various cooperative arrangements and b) identify three dilemmas in the organizations of such transactions. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative study based on interviews with 10 temporary help agencies, two internal resource pools and three customer firms.Findings - First, we identify different collaboration modes, and analyze how transactions between a Temporary Help Agency and a customer firms are organized; ranging from from ad hoc transactions, through framework agreements to internal resource pools. Second, we describe three dilemmas in such transactions;a) the pros-and-cons of framework agreements, b) close vs distant relations, and c) intermediaries’ balancing act between the two stakeholders; employees and customers.Research limitations/implications - A limitation of the study is that N is low and the findings cannot be generalized statistically. Practical implications - The study informs the parties (THA and customer firm) of the many possibilities in organizing their transactions, as well as the challenges/dilemmas/advantages involved.Originality/value - The study is one of the first that analyzes how temporary labour transactions between customer firms and intermediaries are organized. We describe the various ways in which such transactions are organize, and describe three dilemmas for the firms involved.
Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to explore how transactions between temporary agencies and customer firms are organized. We a) describe various cooperative arrangements and b) identify three dilemmas in the organizations of such transactions. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative study based on interviews with 10 temporary help agencies, two internal resource pools and three customer firms.Findings - First, we identify different collaboration modes, and analyze how transactions between a Temporary Help Agency and a customer firms are organized; ranging from from ad hoc transactions, through framework agreements to internal resource pools. Second, we describe three dilemmas in such transactions;a) the pros-and-cons of framework agreements, b) close vs distant relations, and c) intermediaries’ balancing act between the two stakeholders; employees and customers.Research limitations/implications - A limitation of the study is that N is low and the findings cannot be generalized statistically. Practical implications - The study informs the parties (THA and customer firm) of the many possibilities in organizing their transactions, as well as the challenges/dilemmas/advantages involved.Originality/value - The study is one of the first that analyzes how temporary labour transactions between customer firms and intermediaries are organized. We describe the various ways in which such transactions are organize, and describe three dilemmas for the firms involved.
