ABSTRACT. The material gathered in this study provides a rich and diverse context for understanding the impact of management knowledge on economic performance, the necessity of distinguishing between organizational development and professionalism, and the organizational effects of gender composition. The paper generates insights about the relationship between the relative resources and importance assigned to the human resources function and its social context, the eligible status of human resources management, the dynamics informing the composition of the professional group working in human resources, and the contingent nature of human resources management. pp. 197–202
JEL Classification: O15, O32, G32
Keywords: human resources management, professionalism, economic performance