This theoretical essay aims to propose autonomy as a construct that integrates strategic human resource management models in federal public organizations. The institutional environment, structure, and culture in public organizations may pose constraints to the autonomy of human resource departments to align their processes to the organizational strategy. From this perspective, we propose the investigation of environmental factors of formal and informal nature which affect human resource management practices. A research agenda is proposed aiming to provide a more adequate approach to the reality of human resource management in the federal public sector.
autonomy; decentralization; strategic human resource management; strategic decision making; institutional context
