Gender-segregated labour spaces and social capital – does context matter?

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 226-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Sheerin ◽  
Caitriona Hughes

Purpose This research aims to explore the role of social capital and specifically networks in role, and career development for women within two very distinct gender-segregated contexts of the labour market, namely, investment management and human resource management (HRM). Design/methodology/approach This research is qualitative in nature, underpinned by an interpretivist philosophical stance. Thematic analysis is used to analyse the findings from 32 in-depth interviews with HR and investment management managers. Findings The findings advance our understanding of social capital and its development as a social process, which differs according to labour market contexts. The results indicate divergence among participants regarding how they access networks as well as the perceived role and benefits of networking and social capital accumulation in their career and personal development. Practical implications For human resource development (HRD) practitioners, there are implications in relation to the need to tailor development and support structures cognisant of the occupational context. Specifically, the findings of this study indicate the acute need to support network access for those “outsider” women in male-dominated spaces. A need to enhance awareness of the benefits of networks to both organisations and employees across the labour market is warranted. For organisations, networks underlie social capital accumulation, which in turn increases efficiency and generates business solutions. For the employee, networks are an important self-development and career advancement tool. Such connections need to be supported and developed. Within patriarchal spaces particularly, HRD professionals need to provide support to women in extending their networks both within and outside the organisation. Originality/value This research makes an essential contribution to the literature by examining the influence of context in the development of social capital within two polarized labour market locations. The findings highlight the difficulties women face when developing social capital in investment management in contrast to the relative ease, which HRM professionals experience. Such findings also bring to light the essential role of HRD professionals as advocates for change in such contexts.

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 400-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szufang Chuang ◽  
Carroll Marion Graham

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a sobering and unique view of technological unemployment and job changes by identifying endangered jobs and skills, as well as the essential up-skills critical to employees’ performance, which cannot be replaced by technology.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review, used because it is replicable, transparent, and scientific, was implemented to examine the current and future technological influences on employment, job outlook, work structure, and human resource development (HRD).FindingsThe study concludes that HRD professionals should promptly reexamine their social responsibility relative to the technological influence on workers by focusing developmental efforts on employees’ human skills while assisting workers’ transition to a skill-polarized workplace. HRD professionals should play a major role in facilitating employees’ coexistence with robots in the workplace.Originality/valueWhile recognizing the valuable contributions of previous researchers with similar concerns, this comprehensive review provides an amalgamated and updated view, which reveals the escalating and combined challenges of a skill-polarized workplace, a tendency of technological unemployment for those positioned in middle-skill jobs, and an increased demand for employees with a higher level of human skills.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1835-1851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Richardson ◽  
Uma Jogulu ◽  
Ruth Rentschler

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of social capital for career success and sustainability among arts managers and the implication for human resource practice. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a qualitative study comprising interviews with 73 arts managers in Australia. Findings While answering an occupational calling and having a sense of passion for the arts is a key driver to embark upon a career in arts management, it is social capital that is essential for both objective and subjective career success and thus for career sustainability. The authors also identify the value of education, global experience and well-honed soft skills for building social capital. Research limitations/implications The study is located in Australia – arts management in other national contexts and industries may be different. Practical implications This paper identifies the need for arts managers to develop heterogeneous social capital to support both career success and sustainability. It also indicates that whereas passion for the arts may be an important driver, other skills and competencies are required. Both of these themes need to be incorporated into human resource practice in the arts industry. Social implications This paper demonstrates the growing need to acknowledge the impact of relational social capital in the arts in an increasingly volatile work environment. Originality/value This paper fills the gap in our understanding of careers that bridge both the arts and management as professional domains of activity and extends understanding on the role of social capital in management careers more generally.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 987-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Tae Kim ◽  
Jung Seung Lee ◽  
Su-Yol Lee

Purpose This study aims to examine the effects of contractual fairness and power sources on the relationship between the buyer and supplier on the innovation performance of the supplier. The mediating role of social capital accumulation between fairness, power and innovation performance was empirically explored. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses were developed to investigate the relationships between supply chain fairness, power sources, social capital and innovation performance. Using structural equation modeling, the hypotheses were tested on data of 209 responses collected from supplying firms in South Korea. Findings This study finds that supply chain contractual fairness and referent power use contribute to the innovation performance of the supplier through social capital accumulation between the buyer and supplier. Coercive power, in contrast, impedes the performance improvement of the supplier. Originality/value This study provides supply chain practitioners, academics and policy-makers with guidance on how to facilitate and enhance innovation capabilities and performance across the supply chain. By applying social capital theory, this study also provides theoretical underpinning of the literature on supply chain fairness, power and innovation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 390-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Jun Jo ◽  
Sunyoung Park

Purpose This paper aims to analyze current practices, discuss empowerment from the theoretical perspectives on power in organizations and suggest an empowerment model based on the type of organizational culture and the role of human resource development (HRD). Design/methodology/approach By reviewing the classic viewpoint of power, Lukes’ three-dimensional power and Foucault’s disciplinary power, we discuss power and empowerment in organizational contexts. Findings Power in organizations can be conceptualized based on the classic view, Foucault and critical view and Lukes’ three-dimensional power. We found that true employee empowerment is related to the third dimension of power. The role of HRD for empowerment can be categorized into enhancing motivation and commitment in terms of psychological empowerment and bringing real power to employees. The proposed empowerment model assumes that organizational culture influences the dimensions of empowerment and the role of HRD for supporting empowerment. Practical implications HRD needs to critically assess the meaning of power in particular contexts (Morrell and Wilkinson, 2002) before planning and implementing specific training and development interventions for performance improvement and/or organization development interventions for innovation. Originality/value This study attempts to review, analyze and discuss issues regarding employee empowerment from HRD perspectives. Implications for the roles of HRD and the empowerment model are proposed.


2020 ◽  
pp. 153448432098426
Author(s):  
Andrew Sanghyun Lee ◽  
Ronald Lynn Jacobs

This review of the literature focuses on an increasingly prevalent global phenomenon known as national occupational standards (NOSs). As the term suggests, NOSs present specific information describing the requirements for individuals’ qualifications to enter and perform successfully in a specific occupation. Many countries rely upon information from NOSs as part of their broader workforce development efforts. In spite of their prevalence, there remain critical questions about their eventual adoption by employers, a situation that HRD researchers could potentially help address based on the unique perspective of the HRD field. This paper seeks to review what is known about NOSs, to discuss the challenges related to their implementation at the organizational and national levels, and finally, to propose how HRD researchers, through their unique perspectives, might contribute to addressing the challenges most commonly encountered when implementing NOSs. It is expected that through this greater awareness, HRD professionals might be able to advance the effective use of this important global phenomenon.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavis Yi-Ching Chen ◽  
Long W. Lam ◽  
Julie N.Y. Zhu

PurposeIn this study, the authors employ an intellectual-capital based view of the firm to examine the relationship between three bundles of human resource development (HRD) practices (i.e. developmental, constructive and collaborative HRD practices), three dimensions of intellectual capital (i.e. human capital, organizational capital and social capital), and organizational performance improvements. Specifically, the authors investigate the mediating role of intellectual capital in the relationship between HRD practices and changes in organizational performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors randomly distributed questionnaires to 1,000 HR executives of Taiwanese firms to assess the firms' HRD practices and intellectual capital. Firm performance data in terms of return on assets (ROA) were obtained from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ). To test the model, the authors used the longitudinal data over three years from 213 firms in Taiwan.FindingsThe results show that human capital and social capital mediate the relationship between HRD practices (i.e. developmental and collaborative HRD practices) and organizational performance improvements in terms of return-on-assets growth.Originality/valueThis study adds to the empirical evidence regarding whether or not investment in HRD practices can lead to positive changes in financial performance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 118-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander E. Ellinger ◽  
Andrea D. Ellinger

Purpose – There is an ongoing shortage of talented supply chain managers with the necessary skills and business-related competencies to manage increasingly complex and strategically important supply chain processes. The purpose of this paper is to propose that organizations can create and maintain competitive advantage by leveraging the expertise of human resource development (HRD) professionals to provide a range of developmental and change-oriented interventions related to critical supply chain manager skill sets that are currently in short supply. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper. Findings – This is a conceptual paper. Practical implications – Supply chain management (SCM) decisions significantly influence financial performance since firms expend up to 75 percent of their revenue on supply chain activities. HRD professionals' intervention capabilities in training and development, organizational development and change management uniquely equip them to disseminate a deeper and broader understanding of the SCM concept within organizations, to help prioritize the development of supply chain managers and to address the complex interpersonal issues associated with helping people to work together collaboratively to foster operational innovation and make increasingly complex supply chain processes function effectively. Originality/value – The requisite skill sets for effective supply chain managers are described, linkages between HRD and SCM are highlighted, and areas of HRD professionals' expertise that can be exploited to better develop supply chain managers' skill sets and competencies are considered.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 830-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Rymsza

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of social enterprises in building social capital and strengthening social bonds. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is based on the comparative method. The author compares the development of social entrepreneurship of the “old” social economy (born on the turn of nineteenth and twentieth centuries), and of the “new” social economy (developing on the turn of twentieth and twenty-first centuries); and the functioning of social enterprises of two kinds: work integration social enterprises (WISEs) and community-based social enterprises (CBSEs). Moreover, he distinguishes between economic and social re-integration; and reciprocity and vertical inclusion. Findings – The paper presents WISEs and CBSEs as tools of two different activation programmes: WISEs improve the employability of individuals who are marginalized in the labour market, while CBSEs serve as vehicles for the socio-economic development of the marginalized communities and territories. Furthermore, the author clarifies two methods of inclusion: through strengthening horizontal social ties (realized mainly by CBSEs, with their mutuality principle as a basis for building relations between participants) and building vertical social bonds (mainly by WISEs, based on the “inclusion of excluded” formula). Research limitations/implications – The paper stresses the importance of focusing research into social entrepreneurship on the role of social enterprises in shaping social bonds as well as using and producing of social capital of two main types: bonding and bridging. Practical implications – Recommendations for managing social enterprises as hybrid entities. The author argues that the most effective approach (in producing social value-added) is to combine the formula of the re-integration of individuals excluded from the labour market with the efforts to develop the whole local communities from marginalized territories. Originality/value – The author uses sociological perspectives in analysing economic entities and activation policies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1449-1468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Curado ◽  
Sílvia Vieira

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the knowledge on the underlying relation between trust, knowledge sharing (KS) and organizational commitment (OC) in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by testing the mediator role of KS between trust and OC dimensions. Design/methodology/approach The paper addresses a sample of 582 top exporting Portuguese SMEs and it tests an original model using structural equation modeling following a partial least square approach. Findings Results show that trust positively and significantly influences KS and affective and normative OCs. KS partially mediates the relation between trust and affective OC. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to both the knowledge management and human resource development literatures, showing the relationship between variables from both bodies of literature. Some limitations apply, the study uses cross-sectional data that limit the conclusions about causality and some restrictions on the generalization of the results also apply due to the used sample. Practical implications Results show the importance of encouraging a trustful environment in SMEs on behalf of KS and OC dimensions. Human resource managers could profit from stimulating KS among employees that results in affective OC. Originality/value Findings show the relevancy of trust in SMEs and the role of KS that contributes to OC.


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