The book Theories in Industrial Relations is an introductory overview on the origin and development of the concepts and theories of Industrial Relations (IR) as it relates to Human Resource Management (HRM) and their applications to the Philippine labor-management relations. It introduces the social science approach in the study of IR. It traces the origins of IR to the study of trade unions during the European industrial revolution period in the 1700s.

The book is intended for academic teaching, research and extension, specially for learners in the Philippine business education program, for teachers and trainers in the field of IR and HRM, and for IR/HRM practitioners in the private sector (IR/HR managers and executives), labor sector (trade union, cooperative and NGO leaders) and government sector (labor legislators, bureaucrats and administrators).

The subject Industrial Relations is a new subject in Philippines business education. It means labor-management relations in a factory/industry. Industrial relations is a field of study developed in European and American universities where trade unionism is widespread and integrated society-wide. In the Philippines, Asia, Latin/South America and Africa however, trade unionism, though a very significant force in society is not as widespread as those in North American and Western European societies.

The book is a very good reference material for learners in business who may specialize in the field of IR or HRM which is now of utmost importance in business management in the new era of globalization and third wave technologies where human resources play the most significant role in the development of economic entities vis-a-vis other resources such as land, capital and materials.