Mapping HRM: A Structural Analysis of the HRM Field

This article provides a structural review of the Human Resource Management (HRM) field from articles published between 1992 and 2013, through the utilization of bibliometric mapping and clustering techniques. By applying a transparent, replicable, and inductive approach to the analysis of the HRM literature, this paper presents a rigorously developed field classification system in the form of a scientometric term map (bit.ly/HRMMap). This classification system visualizes five key prevailing subfields of HRM research – i.e., Functional HRM, International HRM, Strategic HRM, Industrial Relations, and the HRM Process Approach – and reveals associations between these topics. We briefly review each of these five clusters, providing a bird’s eye view of the HRM field. In addition, we describe how the HRM Map can be used as a "theory creation tool", allowing HRM academics to go beyond their specialization and engage in research that bridges subfields. Implications for future research are discussed.