High-Performance Work Systems in Mainland China: A review and research agenda

This paper reviews the empirical studies on high-performance work systems (HPWSs) in the context of Mainland China at different levels of analysis; published in leading English- and Chinese-language journals in the relevant field between 2008 and 2018. In particular; we examine the factors that have affected the adoption of HPWSs in Chinese organizations and study the specific characteristics of Chinese HPWSs. We explore the nature and direction of the HPWSs-performance relationship as well as the underlying mechanism for the relationship in Chinese organizations. We present a research agenda for future directions in theoretical development; context; characteristics; and methodology. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.