The role of HR attributions in the HRM – Outcome relationship: Introduction to the special issue

Abstract

AbstractHuman resource (HR) process research seeks to explain the relationship between HR practices and employee outcomes and organisational performance. This body of research examines the HR implementation process, particularly the role of line managers, and the employees' HR sense‐making process. Among these processes, one promising line of research explores the antecedents and consequences of employees' HR attributions or beliefs about why their organisation implements specific HR practices. However, research on these HR attributions has been rather limited leading to this special issue to advance our knowledge of this field. In this Introduction to the special issue we review the current ‘state‐of‐the‐art’ and highlight the research questions which we invited contributors to address. We outline how the articles advance our knowledge and help to promote a future research agenda.