The application of HRM systems to enhance the innovation activities of foreign SMEs

IF 5.9 1区管理学 Q1 BUSINESS

International Business Review Pub Date : 2023-12-16 DOI:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102249

Jane Menzies , Connie Zheng , Anthony McDonnell

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Human resource management (HRM) systems can substantially influence an organization’s innovation and internationalization activities. This paper investigates the application of different HRM systems amongst foreign-owned, internationally-operating small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and how they relate to different innovation activities. We draw on qualitative data from 33 Australian SMEs doing business in China. Our findings illustrate that most SMEs utilize commitment-based HRM practices, closely aligned with SMEs’ product, process, organization, service, and marketing innovations. Some SMEs used collaboration-based HRM practices which tended to be more aligned with organizational and process innovation activities. Some SMEs also exhibited a combination of commitment- and collaboration-based HRM systems focused on developing an internal workforce with innate capability, creativity, and commitment, while building external relationships, collaborative networks and strategic partnerships. We argue that the configuration of HRM systems appears important in supporting foreign SMEs to enhance innovative activities which are important for survival in complex contexts.

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应用人力资源管理制度加强外国中小企业的创新活动

人力资源管理（HRM）系统可以对组织的创新和国际化活动产生重大影响。本文研究了不同人力资源管理体系在外资、国际化经营的中小企业（SMEs）中的应用，以及它们与不同创新活动之间的关系。我们利用了 33 家在中国开展业务的澳大利亚中小企业的定性数据。我们的研究结果表明，大多数中小企业都采用了以承诺为基础的人力资源管理实践，这些实践与中小企业的产品、流程、组织、服务和营销创新密切相关。一些中小型企业采用以合作为基础的人力资源管理方法，这些方法往往与组织和流程创新活动更加一致。一些中小型企业还将承诺型和协作型人力资源管理体系结合起来，在建立外部关系、协作网络和战略伙伴关系的同时，注重培养具有内在能力、创造力和承诺的内部员工队伍。我们认为，人力资源管理系统的配置对于支持外国中小型企业加强创新活动非常重要，而创新活动对于在复杂环境中生存非常重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Business Review BUSINESS-

CiteScore

14.10

自引率

6.90%

发文量

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The International Business Review (IBR) stands as a premier international journal within the realm of international business and proudly serves as the official publication of the European International Business Academy (EIBA). This esteemed journal publishes original and insightful papers addressing the theory and practice of international business, encompassing a broad spectrum of topics such as firms' internationalization strategies, cross-border management of operations, and comparative studies of business environments across different countries. In essence, IBR is dedicated to disseminating research that informs the international operations of firms, whether they are SMEs or large MNEs, and guides the actions of policymakers in both home and host countries. The journal warmly welcomes conceptual papers, empirical studies, and review articles, fostering contributions from various disciplines including strategy, finance, management, marketing, economics, HRM, and organizational studies. IBR embraces methodological diversity, with equal openness to papers utilizing quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches.