Abstract:
Human Resource Management (HRM) professionals are unique in their job content and the job
context. Not like other professionals, they have to work with lives; not with files or systems.
However, their role is not clearly defined yet in the extant literature continuing the debate
on whether they are specialists or generalists. Hence, bridging that lacuna, the current study
critiques the argument of HRM specialists vs. HRM generalists. A narrative content analysis
of relevant literature was conducted. Citation analysis and thematic analysis were performed
to explore the specific themes being researched in the context. Building on the results of the
content analysis, current critique concludes that HRM professionals should be ‘specialized
generalists’ in any industry. To be specialized generalists they have to root in HRM first, and
then should diversify their capabilities into other relevant areas of people management.
