International human resource management: a North American perspective, a thematic update and suggestions for future research

Abstract

The past 15 years have witnessed tremendous advancements in the research and practice of international human resource management (IHRM). This paper describes several sub-themes in IHRM that have evolved during the past 15 years; introduces and expands upon one major sub-theme in IHRM, cross-border alliances; and suggests several topics for future research and investigation. First, while the review and update is based on the framework introduced by Schuler et al. (1993), the ideas of several other approaches that have been taken to in the field of IHRM (e.g. Sparrow and Brewster, 2006; Taylor et al., 1996) are incorporated to present a thematic framework of IHRM that organizes and updates the existing IHRM literature within five thematic areas: strategic MNE components; exogenous factors; endogenous factors; IHRM issues, functions, policies, and practices; and MNE effectiveness. Within each thematic area, several sub-themes are described that reflect important changes in and evolutions of IHRM issues. Second, the paper offers a major extension to the thematic framework by incorporating the cross-border alliance (CBA) theme. The article highlights one of the most complex forms of CBA, the international joint venture (IJV), and develops a typology as a way of illustrating the complexity of IJVs and the challenge of crafting an effective set of IHRM activities for them and MNEs more generally. Third, 20 avenues or topics are suggested for future research and investigation that build on the work of the past 15 years in IHRM and reflect the realities of MNEs and their implications for IHRM. A brief summary concludes the authors' thoughts on the future of IHRM and its increased importance.