Opportunities abound in HRM and innovation

Abstract

Purpose

The paper examines research fronts in the areas of innovation and human resource management (HRM), specifically integrates them and offers potential for interesting, exciting and important research for scholars in the People's Republic of China and around the world. The paper aims to identify those roles and encourage researchers to consider pursuing them in Chinese HRM research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a literature review.

Findings

It appears that virtually all countries and firms around the world today want to and need to become more innovative. Fortunately there are many aspects of HRM that can play important roles in fostering and facilitating innovation. The paper identifies a number of critical areas for research on the topic of Chinese HRM and innovation. These include HRM policies and practices clusters, types of innovation strategies and goals, organizational design, ownership types, stages of innovation, intervening mechanisms, and cultural differences. Associated methodological approaches are also critical to fruitful research.

Originality/value

This essay presents research opportunities and related complexity in investigating Chinese HRM and innovation on a number of research fronts.

Citation

S. Schuler, R. (2013), "Opportunities abound in HRM and innovation", Journal of Chinese Human Resource Management, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 121-127. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHRM-02-2013-0011