The human resource architecture model: A twenty-year review and future research directions

Abstract

The human resource (HR) architecture model has been influential in the field of strategic human resource management since its inception. This study offers a comprehensive review on this model’s contributions to management literature by analyzing 205 journal articles which have substantively cited the three classic articles on HR architecture. Specifically, we develop a framework along two dimensions (that is, the content and the use of the HR architecture model) based on which we systematically discuss the current findings in terms of the theoretical application, empirical validation, and extension and critiques of the HR architecture model. Based on the review, we identify the research gaps in the literature of HR architecture, propose important future research directions and discuss their implications.

Keywords:

• HR architecture
• human capital
• employment mode
• HR configuration
• review

Acknowledgement

The second and third authors made equal contributions. The authors would like to thank Professor Riki Takeuchi and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71872124) and National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 17ZDA041).