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Leveraging psychological contracts as an HR strategy: The case of software developers

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  • Muratbekova-Touron, Maral
  • Galindo, Géraldine

Abstract

This article studies the management of software developers through the lens of the psychological contract and from the perspectives of employees and employers. Data were gathered through interviews with software developers and their human resources (HR) and/or direct managers in French high-tech companies. Our findings show the crucial role of HR and direct managers who shape a balanced professional psychological contract with developers as a specific HR strategy in order to respond to their job specificities and values. Specific HR practices (nature of the processes, involvement of developers in these processes, credibility of HR/direct managers and career development opportunities) and the working environment contribute to the development of trust and fairness, which form part of the content of the balanced contract.

Suggested Citation

  • Muratbekova-Touron, Maral & Galindo, Géraldine, 2018. "Leveraging psychological contracts as an HR strategy: The case of software developers," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 717-726.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:36:y:2018:i:6:p:717-726
    DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2018.01.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Natallia Pashkevich & Darek M. Haftor, 2020. "Complementarities of Knowledge Worker Productivity: Insights from an Online Experiment of Software Programmers with Innovative Cognitive Style," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 14(2), June.

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