International human resource management: diversity, issues and challenges
International
HRM
409
Wesley A. Scroggins
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, USA, and
Philip G. Benson
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to introduce the special issue which considers the impact that the global world has had on the profession of HRM.
Design/methodology/approach – In June 2009, the International Human Resource Management
Conference was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Various IHRM papers were presented, and of these, many were subjected to a second round of reviews for this special issue. This special issue is made up of the best papers.
Findings – The article highlights that as IHRM has emerged as an academic discipline, a variety of debates and issues have come to dominate the literature. For practitioners, a long-standing issue has been the delineation of specific practices to be used in the management of people within international organizations. Over time, practices have emerged, and texts today can readily be found that represent such practices for those working in MNCs as HR managers.
Originality/value – A number of concerns about HRM are raised in this issue, most of which are addressed by the papers chosen.
Keywords Globalization, Human resource management, International business, Equal opportunities
Paper type Viewpoint
Globalization has come to dominate much of the discussion in the Western world, whether in academic writing, popular press reports, or casual conversations among friends. Due to myriad factors, the international nature of the modern world has come to impact virtually all aspects of daily life. For several decades, there has been a growing recognition of this trend in the literature of human
References: Benson, P.G. (Ed.) (2010), Emerging Themes in International Management of Human Resources, Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC. Benson, P.G. and Alas, R. (Eds.) (2008), “Changes in society, changes in organizations, and the changing role of HRM: managing human resources in a complex world”, European Journal Briscoe, D.R., Schuler, R.S. and Claus, L. (2009), International Human Resource Management: Policies and Practices for Multinational Enterprises, 3rd ed., Routledge, New York, NY. Dowling, P.J., Festing, M. and Engle, A.D. (2007), International Human Resource Management: Managing People in a Multinational Context, 5th ed., Thomson Learning, London. Farndale, E. and Paauwe, J. (2007), “Uncovering competitive and institutional drivers of HRM practices in multinational corporations”, Human Resource Management Journal, Vol Morley, M.J. and Collings, D.G. (2004), “Contemporary debates and new directions in HRM in MNCs: introduction”, International Journal of Manpower, Vol Schuler, R.S. and Tarique, I. (2007), “International human resource management: a North American perspective, a thematic update and suggestions for future research”, Scullion, H., Collings, D.G. and Gunnigle, P. (2007), “International human resource management in the 21st century: emerging themes and contemporary debates”, Human Resource