Remit of Research Group
This group focuses on HRM and leadership in public organizations, with special attention to context. We welcome theoretical and empirical papers using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Our interests cluster around three themes (people management, public service performance, and context) without restricting other questions related to public personnel policies.

People Management
We define people management as line managers’ implementation of HR practices and their leadership behavior in support for outcomes relevant to performance. We distinguish two elements: applying HR practices and exercising leadership. Since public managers at all levels play a key role, we invite research on how they enact personnel policies, the antecedents of their behavior, and its consequences.

Public Service Performance
Performance underpins the value created by public organizations. Research may examine multiple dimensions, including tensions and trade-offs across stakeholders—such as employee well-being versus organizational efficiency. We are interested in how personnel policies produce gains and losses that vary between employee groups and external stakeholders like service users.

Context
Understanding the link between people management and performance requires considering context. Cross-national and cross-sectoral variation matters, shaped by ownership structures, citizen choice/voice, and societal developments. Economic, social, and demographic challenges further affect how organizations align HRM and leadership with meaningful public service delivery.

Organization of the Research Programme
Abstracts must be submitted through the website. They should identify the research gap, research question, theoretical framework, and, for empirical studies, research design and methods. The abstract limit is 400 words (excluding references). We encourage rigorous empirical work as well as theoretical contributions reflecting on and developing the themes above. Abstracts of research proposals are also welcome, enabling feedback at early project stages. To ensure fairness, papers submitted to other panels, under peer review, or already published will not be considered.