Globalisation and Human Resource Management

Abstract

The chapter examines globalisation in the context of two international HRM literatures: comparative HRM (CHRM); and HRM in multinational enterprises (MNEs). It reviews debates behind the “globalisation thesis” and long-term developments towards convergence or divergence at the macro level of nation states, and the meso level of organisational practices. It uses the notions of context, time and process to examine these literatures. It calls for the use of time to ensure better theory building and for more longitudinal and qualitative work to reveal micro-political processes at play. It argues more attention should be given to the role of process – the means and mechanisms through which management operates – in the international HRM field. It discusses the role of key actors at higher levels, and the role of psychological processes at the individual level through which employees attach meaning to HRM.