Human resource management in local governments

Literature highlights the key role that organizations' workforce has in companies' performance. It is also emphasized that human resource management is a source of competitive advantage. However, although this topic has been widely studied in the private sector, little research has focused on public administration, particularly for local governments. In order to fill this gap, this research based on a case study of nine city councils sited in the Region of Murcia, analyses if an adequate employees management is related to better organizational-level outcomes, in individuals and services. Findings suggest that the local governments that develop recruitment and selection, training, performance appraisal and compensation practices taking into account the needs of the specific jobs to cover, employees' potential and their performances, improve their results.