A three-fold framework for understanding HRM practices in South-Eastern European SMEs

Journal article


Psychogios, AG, Szamosi, LT, Prouska, R and Brewster, C (2016). A three-fold framework for understanding HRM practices in South-Eastern European SMEs. Employee Relations. 38 (3), pp. 310 - 331. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2014-0078
AuthorsPsychogios, AG, Szamosi, LT, Prouska, R and Brewster, C
Abstract

© 2016, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study particular structural and organisational factors affecting the formality of human resource management (HRM) practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South-Eastern European (SEE) post-communist countries, in particular Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in order to understand the antecedents of formalization in such settings. Design/methodology/approach – Adopting a quantitative approach, this study analyses data gathered through a survey of 168 managers of SMEs from throughout the region. Findings – The results show that HRM in SMEs in the SEE region can be understood through a threefold framework which includes: degree of internationalisation of SMEs, sector of SMEs and organisational size of SMEs. These three factors positively affect the level of HRM formalisation in SEE SMEs. These findings are further attributed to the particular political and economic context of the post-communist SEE region. Research limitations/implications – Although specific criteria were set for SME selection, the authors do not suggest that the study reflects a representative picture of the SEE region because the authors used a purposive sampling methodology. Practical implications – This paper provides useful insights into the factors which influence HRM in SMEs in a particular context. The findings can help business owners and managers understand how HRM can be applied in smaller organisations, particularly in post-communist SEE business contexts. Originality/value – HRM in SMEs in this region has hardly been studied at all despite their importance. Therefore, this exploratory research seeks to expand knowledge relating to the application of HRM in SMEs in SEE countries which have their business environments dominated by different dynamics in comparison to Western European ones.

Year2016
JournalEmployee Relations
Journal citation38 (3), pp. 310 - 331
PublisherEmerald
ISSN0142-5455
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2014-0078
Publication dates
Print04 Apr 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited02 Feb 2017
Accepted31 Mar 2016
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/87491

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
HRMinSMEsinSEE Revision 3 - Symplectic article.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 245
    total views
  • 678
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Workers’ Voice From The Triangular Employment Relationship Lens: Towards A Conceptual Framework
Oyetunde, K., Prouska, R. and McKearney, A. (2023). Workers’ Voice From The Triangular Employment Relationship Lens: Towards A Conceptual Framework. Employee Relations. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-02-2023-0095
Conceptualising the Nexus between Macro-level ‘Turbulence’ and the Worker Experience
Prouska, R., Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, U., Beauregard, T. A., Psychogios, A. and Nyfoudi, M. (2023). Conceptualising the Nexus between Macro-level ‘Turbulence’ and the Worker Experience. Human Resource Management Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12530
Incessant Struggle to be Heard: A Study of Temporary Agency and Platform Workers’ Voice
Oyetunde, K., Prouska, R. and McKearney, A. (2023). Incessant Struggle to be Heard: A Study of Temporary Agency and Platform Workers’ Voice. Academy of Management Proceedings. 2023 (1). https://doi.org/10.5465/amproc.2023.11568abstract
Developing Interculturally Competent Graduates: Meeting Employer Needs in Europe
Prouska, R., Ali, S., Tungtakanpoung, M., Moser, K.S. and Bell, R. (2023). Developing Interculturally Competent Graduates: Meeting Employer Needs in Europe. Academy of Management Proceedings. 2023 (1). https://doi.org/10.5465/amproc.2023.13184abstract
Promoting Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework of ‘Stakeholder Voice’
Prouska, R., Oyetunde, K. and Roper, I. (2023). Promoting Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework of ‘Stakeholder Voice’. Academy of Management Proceedings. 2023 (1). https://doi.org/10.5465/amproc.2023.13212abstract
Independent Culture Review of London Fire Brigade
Afzal, N., Baker, M., Prouska, R., Greenidge, J., Bowman, L., Yarker, J. and Khan, Y. (2022). Independent Culture Review of London Fire Brigade. London London Fire Brigade.
The influence of national culture on employee voice in small and medium enterprises: a cross-cultural perspective
McKearney, A., Prouska, R., Tungtakanpoung, M. and Opute, J. (2022). The influence of national culture on employee voice in small and medium enterprises: a cross-cultural perspective. Employee Relations. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-04-2022-0187
The rhetorics of ‘agile’ and the practices of ‘agile working’: Consequences for the worker experience and uncertain implications for HR practice
Roper, I., Prouska, R. and Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, U. (2022). The rhetorics of ‘agile’ and the practices of ‘agile working’: Consequences for the worker experience and uncertain implications for HR practice. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 33 (22), pp. 4440-4467. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2022.2099751
Solidarity in Action at a Time of Crisis: The Role of Employee Voice in Relation to Communication and Horizontal Solidarity Behaviour
Prouska, R., Nyfoudi, M., Psychogios, A., Szamosi, L.T. and Wilkinson, A. (2022). Solidarity in Action at a Time of Crisis: The Role of Employee Voice in Relation to Communication and Horizontal Solidarity Behaviour. British Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12598
Voice in context: An international comparative study of employee experience with voice in small and medium enterprises
Prouska, R., McKearney, A., Opute, J., Tungtakanpoung, M. and Brewster, C. (2021). Voice in context: An international comparative study of employee experience with voice in small and medium enterprises. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 33 (15), pp. 3149-3174. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2021.1925323
Voice In Non-Traditional Employment Relationships: A Review And Future Research Directions
Oyetunde, K., Prouska, R. and McKearney, A. (2021). Voice In Non-Traditional Employment Relationships: A Review And Future Research Directions. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2021.1964093
The Intercultural Skills Graduates and Businesses in Europe Need Today
Halila, F., Pillalamarri, K., Bell, R., Ali, S., Moser, K., Prouska, R., Tungtakanpoung, M., Godts, I., Mulier, L., Saraç, M. and Bektaş, O. (2020). The Intercultural Skills Graduates and Businesses in Europe Need Today. https://cruseproject.com/skills-report/ European Commission, Erasmus+ proejct.
The determinants of project worker voice in project‐based organisations: An initial conceptualisation and research agenda
Prouska, R. and Kapsali, Maria (2020). The determinants of project worker voice in project‐based organisations: An initial conceptualisation and research agenda. Human Resource Management Journal. 31 (2), pp. 375-391. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12312
Employee participation and representation in Central and Eastern Europe
Prouska, R., Avgoustaki, A., Psychogios, Alexandros and Wilkinson, Adrian (2019). Employee participation and representation in Central and Eastern Europe. Economic and Industrial Democracy. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831x19887805
Introduction - Managing people in small and medium enterprises in turbulent contexts
Psychogios, A and Prouska, R (2019). Introduction - Managing people in small and medium enterprises in turbulent contexts. in: Managing People in Small and Medium Enterprises in Turbulent Contexts (Routledge Studies in Small Business) Oxon Routledge. pp. 1-138
Varieties of crisis and working conditions: A comparative study between Greece and Serbia
Psychogios, A, Szamosi, L, Prouska, R and Brewster, C (2019). Varieties of crisis and working conditions: A comparative study between Greece and Serbia. European Journal of Industrial Relations. 26 (1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0959680119837101
Should I say something? A framework for understanding silence from a line manager’s perspective during an economic crisis
Prouska, R and Psychogios, AG (2018). Should I say something? A framework for understanding silence from a line manager’s perspective during an economic crisis. Economic and Industrial Democracy. 40 (3). https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X17752869
Enhancing Service-Oriented Behaviors in an Asian Business Context: Lessons From a Pakistani Bank
Fuchs, S, Prouska, R and Psychogios, A (2018). Enhancing Service-Oriented Behaviors in an Asian Business Context: Lessons From a Pakistani Bank. Human Resource Research. 2 (1), pp. 73-94. https://doi.org/10.5296/hrr.v2i1.12652
Creating Positive Employee Change Evaluation: The Role of Different Levels of Organizational Support and Change Participation
Fuchs, S and Prouska, R (2014). Creating Positive Employee Change Evaluation: The Role of Different Levels of Organizational Support and Change Participation. Journal of Change Management. 14 (3), pp. 361 - 383. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2014.885460
The historical trajectory of a peripheral national business system
Kapsali, M and Prouska, R (2014). The historical trajectory of a peripheral national business system. in: Westwood, R, Jack, G, Khan, FR and Frenkel, M (ed.) Core-Periphery Relations and Organisation Studies UK Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 100-120
Swearing at Work: The Mixed Outcomes of Profanity
Baruch, Y, Prouska, R, Ollier-Malaterre, A and Bunk, J (2017). Swearing at Work: The Mixed Outcomes of Profanity. Journal of Managerial Psychology. 32 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-04-2016-0102
The impact of global economic crisis and austerity on quality of working life and work-life balance: A capabilities perspective
Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, U, Prouska, R and Beauregard, A (2017). The impact of global economic crisis and austerity on quality of working life and work-life balance: A capabilities perspective. European Management Review. https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12128
Many hands lighter work? Deciphering the relationship between Adverse Working Conditions and Organization Citizenship Behaviors in SMEs during a severe economic crisis
Psychogios, AG, Nyfoudi, M, Theodorakopoulos, N, Szamosi, LT and Prouska, R (2017). Many hands lighter work? Deciphering the relationship between Adverse Working Conditions and Organization Citizenship Behaviors in SMEs during a severe economic crisis. British Journal of Management. 30 (3), pp. 519-537. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12245
Do not say a word! Conceptualizing employee silence in a long-term crisis context
Prouska, R and Psychogios, AG (2016). Do not say a word! Conceptualizing employee silence in a long-term crisis context. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 28 (5), pp. 885-914. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1212913
Rewarding employees in turbulent economies for improved organisational performance: Exploring SMEs in the South-Eastern European region
Prouska, R, Psychogios, AG and Rexhepi, Y (2016). Rewarding employees in turbulent economies for improved organisational performance: Exploring SMEs in the South-Eastern European region. Personnel Review. 45 (6), pp. 1259 - 1280. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-02-2015-0024
Work-life balance can benefit business during financial crisis and austerity: Human resources (HR) must convince management of the need for a flexible approach
Ayudhya, UCN, Prouska, R and Lewis, S (2015). Work-life balance can benefit business during financial crisis and austerity: Human resources (HR) must convince management of the need for a flexible approach. Human Resource Management International Digest. 23 (5), pp. 25 - 28. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-05-2015-0078