Final answer:
Decentralized HR is the approach where HR functions are tailored to individual units within an organization, allowing for a strategy-aligned response to HR needs, building a supportive structure for team-based work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The HR structural alternative that allows organizations with different strategies in multiple units to apply HR expertise to each unit's specific strategic needs is known as Decentralized HR. This approach empowers individual business units to handle their own Human Resources management tailored to their unique objectives and challenges, unlike Centralized HR where policies and practices are uniform across an organization. In Decentralized HR, HR functions are distributed to be closer to the various operational units, enabling a more responsive and specialized handling of HR matters that align closely with the specific unit's strategic goals.
Organizations are increasingly adopting team-based structures where work teams with diverse skills and experience are formed to achieve specific tasks or goals. Decentralized HR aligns well with this model as it provides the flexibility needed for teams to operate effectively in dynamic environments. Although they are popular, the productivity of team structures is an active area of research due to their complexity and the challenges they present.