Since the 1980s, Human Resource Management (HRM) has gained popularity in both academic and business world as a new way of managing human asset in preference to “personnel management”. Despite the crucial growth of a new literature on HRM, there is still a lack of clarity as to what HRM means. Therefore this paper aims to develop the current knowledge on HRM by conducting an extensive literature review. At this point, the paper evaluates the following issues: (1) What exactly is HRM?; (2) Are there significant differences between personnel management and HRM?; (3) What are the main goals and principles of HRM?; (4) What are the HRM issues and policy areas?; (5) What are the requirements for the success of HRM practices and goals?.

Since the 1980s, Human Resource Management (HRM) has gained popularity in both academic and business world as a new way of managing human asset in preference to “personnel management”. Despite the crucial growth of a new literature on HRM, there is still a lack of clarity as to what HRM means. Therefore this paper aims to develop the current knowledge on HRM by conducting an extensive literature review. At this point, the paper evaluates the following issues: (1) What exactly is HRM?; (2) Are there significant differences between personnel management and HRM?; (3) What are the main goals and principles of HRM?; (4) What are the HRM issues and policy areas?; (5) What are the requirements for the success of HRM practices and goals?.