Charting the future of green HRM practices: insights from theories, context, characteristics and methodologies (TCCM) framework and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) analysis

Purpose The term “green human resource management” (Green HRM) is becoming more prevalent in both academics and business. This study’s main objective is to locate current understanding and trends in Green HRM literature by examining the available Green HRM literature. And prioritize the Green HRM practices in higher education institutions (HEIs). The study also identifies prevailing theories, context, characteristics and methodologies as current research interests to identify potential future research areas in Green HRM. Design/methodology/approach The study opted for a multi-method approach, combining theories, context, characteristics and methodologies (TCCM) for literature review and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for methodological analysis. The article selection process is illustrated via a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart. The study examines Green HRM literature using the TCCM framework as it aids in identifying commonly used theories, constructs and methods, suggesting future research directions (FRDs). After identifying core Green HRM practices, the study prioritizes them for the HEIs using the AHP. Findings The comprehensive analysis of the literature is provided by the TCCM framework, which identifies the most influential theories, contexts, characteristics and methodologies used in Green HRM literature. The most used theory was found to be the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, followed by social identity theory. In context, the hospitality industry was the dominating sector/industry of the domain. Under the characteristics, various variables in Green HRM literature were identified and classified as antecedents, mediators, moderators and outcomes. The most used research method was quantitative, and the most opted research design was empirical. FRDs are also suggested analyzing the current trends of the Green HRM field. The finding of AHP indicates that green recruitment and selection holds the highest level of importance among Green HRM in HEIs. Research limitations/implications This study is vital for past-future orientation, in which the past is explored in order to build new routes of Green HRM research. It used research publications from the Scopus database, and future studies may use other databases to improve understanding of Green HRM research. Practical implications AHP weights and ranks aid decision-makers in assessing Green HRM practice importance, facilitating pairwise comparisons before implementation in the HEIs and other service industries. It guides managers on allocating appropriate importance to each practice for informed decision-making. Social implications This study enriches Green HRM literature using the TCCM framework, categorizing literature into four key areas and offering valuable FRDs for future researchers. Its comprehensive review provides crucial insights into the research landscape of Green HRM, aiding in understanding theories, variables, relevant sectors and methodologies. The study offers comprehensive theoretical implications in the realm of Green HRM. Originality/value Existing research indicates that no study has employed a multi-method approach combining the TCCM framework and AHP in Green HRM research. The initial TCCM phase conducts a thorough analysis, examining theories, contexts, characteristics and methodology, a unique methodology. It connects TCCM findings to FRDs. In the subsequent phase, AHP prioritizes Green HRM practices for the HEIs based on identified research gaps from TCCM. This innovative fusion of TCCM and AHP, resulting in FRDs and implications, represents the novelty of this paper.