Converging human resource management: a comparative analysis of Hungary and Turkey

Abstract

This study is a comparative examination of human resource management (HRM) in Turkey, as an EU candidate country, and Hungary, as a recent member of the EU. After a brief review of the literature on the convergence and divergence debate in HRM, the similarities and differences in HRM in Turkey and Hungary are empirically investigated. In the research, HRM in the two countries is compared in four dimensions: the HR departments' structure; the top HR managers' characteristics and qualifications; the strategic nature of HRM; and HR practices. The research was conducted in the banking sector. In total 50 banks (32 banks from Turkey and 18 banks from Hungary) participated in the research with an overall response rate of 53%. The data obtained are analyzed via the Mann-Whitney U test. The results are descriptive in nature. Except for the differences observed, especially in HR departments' organizational structures, the findings provide evidence for convergence of HRM in the two countries.