Has the Leopard Changed its Spots? Personnel Management versus Human Resource Management

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature and the empirical evidence linked to the debate between Personnel Management (PM) and Human Resource Management (HRM).

Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken entails reviewing books and academic journals from the area of human resource management and business management. The review shows that research and theory from a range of fields can help add to one's knowledge of personnel management and human resource management.

Research limitations/implications – The main limitation of the review is that, while different areas and fields of research are being drawn to help identify useful knowledge that can improve one's understands of the transition from PM to HRM, the literature and research in each area will be necessarily selective.

Practical implications – The review has a number of general practical implications; many of these are highlighted in the propositions set out within each section.

Originality/value – The originality of the review is that it is unique in showing how different areas of literature can be linked to the debate between HRM and PM. The review helps to integrate existing literature in a way which can help practitioners to immediately see the relevance of theory and research form a range of key academic fields.