International comparative studies in HRM and performance – the Cranet data

Abstract

Research in the field of international and comparative HRM is becoming ever more available. The International Journal of Human Resource Management now usually publishes 12 issues per year, and the enormous range of the field is apparent from the scope of the topics covered. The papers published in this special issue are all drawn from the Cranet project. Cranet is a network of scholars from universities across the world, representing over 40 countries. Cranet conducts a survey of HRM in member countries approximately every four years, enquiring into policies and practices in people management through a set of common questions. In this introduction, we locate Cranet within this research field, and say how Cranet seeks to contribute to this growing body of knowledge.

Keywords:

• comparative HRM
• Cranet
• strategic HRM

Acknowledgements

In the preparation of this special edition, we have received considerable help from the various referees, whom we wish to thank. In addition, we wish to thank the Editor, Michael Poole, for his support and patience and Jayne Ashley at Cranfield who has performed the Herculean task of coordinating, assembling and preparing the manuscripts for publication so brilliantly.

Any errors or omissions remain our own.