Human resource management systems in knowledge intensive firms

Purpose - Knowledge-intensive firms (KIFs) are considered to have significant peculiarities in terms how they form their human resource management (HRM) practices and policies. Yet, challenges of understanding the features of HRM systems in this type of organizations still remain in the literature. One of remaining problems might be related to the gap between human resource management and knowledge management literature. The purpose of this paper is to address this problem by discussing the features of HRM systems in KIFs derived from inherent characteristics of KIFs and knowledge work. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology is based on the analysis of contemporary and seminal theory stressing the system perspective on related issues. Originality/value - The innovative aspect of the paper involves the system perspective to investigation of features of HRM in KIFs. The study results in multilevel theoretical framework for analysis KIFs' HRM systems. The findings contribute to the integration of literature from knowledge management and human resource management spheres.