A decade of transformation of HRM in China: A review of literature and suggestions for future studies

This paper provides an overview of research studies conducted on human resource management (HRM) in China in the last decade through the review of 265 articles found in 34 major business and management related journals published in English in the period between 1998 and 2007. The main purpose is to identify discernible trends and outline a profile of current state of affairs of research on HRM in and/or related to China. Collectively, this body of literature has projected the trajectory of China's economic and social reform in recent decades and documented the consequential changes in workers' identity and status, employment terms and conditions and organizational commitment. Significant achievement has been made in terms of the number of studies published and the breadth of topics covered, but the field remains comparatively underachieved in terms of theoretical contributions. This paper points out a number of research avenues for future studies. Copyright © 2009 Australian Human Resources Institute.