The concept of "first who, then what" – The selection of the right people as a predecessor to organizational guidelines

Abstract

Faced with a reality in which products, services and even processes can be easily copied, people have become, in recent years, an important competitive advantage for organizations. Recruiting and retaining talent is a key activity to ensure lasting and sustainable business success. For this reason, it is pertinent to analyze the role of people management from a strategic perspective. Jim Collins' concept, "first who, then what", whose implementation underpinned the success of foreign companies, suggests that the choice of employees should precede even organizational guidelines, such is its relevance. Thus, there is a need to detail and analyze the reasonableness and implications of this concept in the light of strategic people management. This research intends, therefore, to confront the traditional approach of people management with Collins' proposal and contribute to the understanding of its respective applicability, through interviews with reference people in the area. From the analysis and developments of the present study, it is possible to perceive the importance, for organizations, of the selection of the right people before the choice of guidelines and business objectives, and it is also evident the crucial role of the discipline for individual and organizational success.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.006-120