The reality of human resource management in Central and Eastern Europe: A special issue to mark the 20th anniversary of Cranet (the Cranfield Network on Comparative Human Resource Management)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce and contextualize this special issue of the Baltic Journal of Management and provide a route map for the reader through the various contributions. Design/methodology/approach: This overarching paper contextualizes the theme and introduces the selected papers. Findings: The findings call attention to the unique practice and research environment that is Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and highlight the varying trajectories of these economies during the post-socialist transition. Research limitations/implications: The evidence points to a dearth of research on contemporary management practice in CEE and suggests this research context to be an important test bed for the spread and institutionalisation of international practice. Originality/value: Combined the papers explore aspects of the landscape of human resource management in contemporary CEE and showcase international theoretical and empirical work focused on this region.