Aligning People with Purpose: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This SLR provides a global perspective on SHRM, focusing on realigning human capital with the firm's purpose amid current challenges and new trends. The review aims to reflect on SHRM's contributions to aligning purpose across sectors, examine major global trends and innovations, and suggest directions for future research. A comprehensive search of Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar yielded 2820 records from 2020 to 2025. After screening, 30 studies were selected for inclusion. The findings identify five key themes: SHRM as a strategic tool to embed purpose through frameworks like the Resource-Based View and Social Exchange Theory; increased employee engagement and well-being when personal and organizational purposes align; the role of digital tools and agile HR practices in maintaining purpose alignment in hybrid or remote work settings; advances in green HRM and ESG-oriented practices; and the importance of authentic leadership and ‘cultural fit' in aligning employees' organizational purpose. Despite growing interest in this area, significant gaps remain, including the under-representation of emerging economies and non-corporate contexts, the lack of longitudinal studies, inconsistent measurement of constructs, and limited empirical research on digital technologies in HRM. The review advocates for more longitudinal, industry-specific, and cross-cultural studies, the development of standardized measures for purpose alignment, and further analysis of the ethical use of technology in SHRM. Enhancing these capabilities will give SHRM a strategic edge and help organizations integrate talent practices with emerging global trends and values.