Human Capital Resources: Reviewing the First Decade and Establishing a Foundation for Future Research

Abstract

During the past 10 years, the field of human capital resources (HCR), often referred to as strategic human capital (SHC), has gained interest in both micro and macro disciplines. This increase in attention from a diverse set of researchers has shifted the focus of the field to topics such as identifying different types of HCR, HCR emergence, and links between collective HCR and higher level outcomes. The first decade of dedicated HCR research led to the growth of distinct research streams and forged its own robust and growing literature. However, after a decade of progress, the field is splintered. To unite the field and create a solid foundation for building future research, we provide a cohesive perspective of lessons learned in the first decade of dedicated HCR research, which has primarily focused on collective HCR. This review examines 194 articles, revealing several themes that have emerged, an integrated model that flows from the review, and rich opportunities for future research to both integrate and expand the growing HCR field for the next decade and beyond.