Introduction

This chapter highlights the need to examine human resource management (HRM) systems in the Indian context, and provides background information on India and presents a review of Indian HRM literature. In order to better understand the nature and emerging patterns of HRM systems, it is important to analyse them in the rapidly changing economic, socio-cultural and business context in India. Indian firms came under tremendous pressure to change from indigenous, costly and probably less effective technology to a more highly effective one. HRM issues have become more important with the firms' adoption of strategies of expansion, diversification, turnaround and internationalisation. The economy has responded to various reforms and India is considered one of the strongest emerging markets. Apart from the economic environment, the socio-cultural context of a country is known to significantly influence its HRM systems. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.