This article orients the reader to the challenges faced in human resource management (HRM) research and practice to address cultural and religious values for an increasingly diverse workforce. We review contemporary empirical research and summarize the articles included in the special issue.
Literature review with commentary.
The reviewed literature demonstrated that recent studies focused on collectivism-individualism to a greater extent than other cultural dimensions and on compensation and staffing questions more than other HR functions. Cultural values were most often studied as a moderator in an alignment, contextual or boundary condition role. Cultural values were studied individually rather than as systems of values. Important outstanding issues of acculturation and contingent versus universalistic alignments have not been addressed.
The importance of aligning cultural values and HR practices to attain positive organizational and employee outcomes is reinforced.
The review and introduction to the special issue bring to light issues that are not currently being addressed in research and prepare readers to engage the articles in the special issue.
