Inspired by a pursuit of higher returns on human resource management (HRM) investments as well as a trend towards the individualization of HRM, several scholars have focused on the phenomenon of HR differentiation, that is, the differential allocation of resources across employees through the use of HRM practices. Yet, different definitions and angles to study HR differentiation have been used. As a result, ambiguities render it difficult to compare research findings and draw meaningful conclusions about HR differentiation and its consequences. Based on a systematic analysis of 164 articles from five different research streams (i.e., strategic HRM, talent management, i-deals, pay dispersion, and diversity management literatures), we identify four properties of HR differentiation (its basis, formalization, resource, and purpose) and propose a more fine-grained definition of the construct. Next, drawing from optimal distinctiveness–based inclusion theory, we develop an integrated multilevel model with propositions that helps explain the social psychological consequences of HR differentiation at three integrated levels of analysis (employee, workgroup, and organization). Subsequently, we derive an agenda for future research. In doing so, we contribute by developing a common language for scholars with different disciplinary backgrounds and inspire future research on HR differentiation.

在追求更高的人力资源管理（HRM）投资回报率以及HRM个性化趋势的启发下，几位学者将注意力集中在HR差异现象上，即通过使用在员工之间进行资源差异分配人力资源管理实践。然而，已经使用了不同的定义和角度来研究HR差异。结果，模棱两可使得难以比较研究结果并难以得出有关人力资源分化及其后果的有意义的结论。在对来自五个不同研究流（即战略人力资源管理，人才管理，网络交易，薪酬分散和多元化管理文献）的164篇文章进行系统分析的基础上，我们确定了人力资源差异化的四个属性（基础，形式化，资源，和目的），并提出更细化的结构定义。接下来，从基于最佳差异性的包容性理论出发，我们开发了一个综合的多层次模型，其命题有助于在三个综合分析层次（员工，工作组和组织）解释HR差异的社会心理后果。随后，我们得出了未来研究的议程。在此过程中，我们通过为具有不同学科背景的学者开发一种通用语言做出了贡献，并激发了有关人力资源差异化的未来研究。我们用命题开发了一个集成的多层次模型，该模型可以在三个集成分析级别（员工，工作组和组织）帮助解释HR差异的社会心理后果。随后，我们得出了未来研究的议程。在此过程中，我们通过为具有不同学科背景的学者开发一种通用语言做出了贡献，并激发了有关人力资源差异化的未来研究。我们用命题开发了一个集成的多层次模型，该模型可以在三个集成分析级别（员工，工作组和组织）帮助解释HR差异的社会心理后果。随后，我们得出了未来研究的议程。在此过程中，我们通过为具有不同学科背景的学者开发一种通用语言做出了贡献，并激发了有关人力资源差异化的未来研究。