The Role of Human Resource Management in Serbian Organizations Based on Empirical Evidence of CRANET Research from 2026

Abstract

One of the impacts of the global instability and contemporary business environment is that managing organizations’ most valuable assets, human capital is becoming a vital task of all organizations. Human resource management (HRM) must find adequate answers to the global and local, internal and external challenges organizations are facing with in order to achieve its main goal, to attract, motivate, and retain competent and committed employees. New challenges related to global political and economic instability, digitalization, artificial intelligence, new generations at the labour market and many others, require from organizations to focus more on human resources and develop specific HRM strategies to manage their employees adequately. It is important to determine the actual state of HRM practice and the role of HR department in contemporary organizations. The main aim of this paper is to analyse the main indicators of HRM function in organizations in Serbia, to determine its actual state and the level of development. The paper is based on literature review and empirical research results. The data are gathered through the newest round of global Cranet research from 2026.  The preliminary analysis includes the main indicators of HRM, such as: the existence of HRM department, the existence of written business and HR strategies, the involvement of HR manager in the development of business strategy and the primary role of HR department and line manager in the main decisions regarding employee compensation, staffing, training and retention. The obtained results give worthwhile insight into the importance and development of human resource management activities in Serbia in 2026.