Transactive Memory System and Human Resource Development: A Systematic Review (2000–2025)

Abstract

Human Resource Development (HRD) plays a critical role in advancing learning at the individual, team, and organizational levels by enabling cognitive mechanisms such as Transactive Memory System (TMS). Although TMS was originally conceptualized within the framework of general system theory, prior research has predominantly emphasized its implications for team performance, with limited attention to its integration within HRD scholarship. To address this gap, the present study systematically reviews TMS research published between 2000 and 2025 through the lens of general system theory, positioning TMS as a developmental mechanism within HRD. The review synthesizes the literature into an integrative framework that identifies key developmental and relational inputs, as well as outcomes across individual, team, and organizational levels, while also incorporating relevant moderators. Importantly, the synthesis not only highlights specific HRD practices that contribute to the development of TMS but also proposes a future research agenda calling for deeper and more nuanced exploration of the HRD –TMS linkage.