HRM in the global information technology (IT) industry: Towards multivergent configurations in strategic business partnerships

Abstract

This paper responds to calls for theory development in relation to processual and meso-level explanations of ‘crossvergence’ in strategic partnerships. It contributes by reviewing the extant literature on convergence-divergence-crossvergence theory in the context of the global information technology (IT) industry and argues for the presence of ‘multivergence’ or ‘multiple configurations of crossvergence’ in an industry sector that relies extensively on strategic business partnerships. We posit and argue that the relevance of multivergence extends beyond the global and offshore IT industry to include strategic partnerships in offshoring in services and manufacturing firms. Overall, this paper identifies the processes and meso-level factors that lead to multivergence in IHRM practices and presents future research directions and ideas on this topic.