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

Alexandros Psychogios (Hull Business School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom)
Leslie Thomas Szamosi (Department of Business Administration and Economics, International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, Thessaloniki, Greece)
Rea Prouska (Middlesex University Business School, Department of Leadership, Work and Organisations, Middlesex University, London, UK)
Christopher Brewster (Henley Business School, University of Reading, Reading, UK)

Employee Relations

ISSN: 0142-5455

Article publication date: 4 April 2016

1959

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Citation

Psychogios, A., Szamosi, L.T., Prouska, R. and Brewster, C. (2016), "A three-fold framework for understanding HRM practices in South-Eastern European SMEs", Employee Relations, Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 310-331. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2014-0078

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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