Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of human resource management practices influencing construction labour productivity

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Argaw Tarekegn Gurmu
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices

PurposeThe main objective of this research is to identify the most important human resource management (HRM) practices, which have the potential to enhance labour productivity using fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a mixed-methods research design in which qualitative data were collected and analysed during Phase I and quantitative data were analysed during Phase II. Nineteen experts who have experience in building construction projects were involved in interviews conducted in Phase I. During Phase II, quantitative data were collected from contractors that were involved in the delivery of building projects using questionnaires and the data were analysed using FSE technique.FindingsClear delegation of responsibility, stability of organisational structure and crew composition are found to be the three most important HRM practices that can enhance productivity in building construction projects. The findings of the study showed that the overall importance index computed using the FSE model is 3.65 (≈ 4) with an equivalent linguistic term of “very important”. The study also suggested that the top three HRM practices should be implemented conjointly as there is no significant difference among their weights.Originality/valueThe output of this research can provide important information regarding the HRM practices in the Australian construction industry. Thus, international developers or contractors who want to do construction business in Australia can implement the essential HRM practices so that the productivity of their construction projects will not be affected negatively.

Identifying and prioritizing safety practices affecting construction labour productivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1457-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Argaw Tarekegn Gurmu
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Health Practices ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety And Health

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritise the safety and health practices, which are suitable to improve labour productivity in building construction projects, and to investigate the association between company profiles, project characteristics and the safety practices. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed-method research design which involves two phases. In Phase I, qualitative data were collected and analysed to identify safety and health practices. In total, 19 experts who have experience in building construction projects were involved in the interviews. During Phase II, quantitative data were collected from contractors that are involved in the delivery of building projects using questionnaires which were administered via face-to-face interviews. After analysing the quantitative data, the safety and health practices were prioritised and the relationships between the practices and company profiles were investigated. Findings Safety and health policy, safety and health plan and hazard analysis are found to be the three most important practices that can improve productivity in building construction projects. The results of Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the level of implementation of the safety and health practices increases with project costs. Company experience and company size are positively associated with safety and health practices. Project delay is negatively correlated with safety and health practices. Originality/value The study provides useful information for international developers and contractors who want to do the construction business in Australia. Furthermore, contractors involved in the construction of building projects in Australia can implement the identified safety and health practices to improve labour productivity.

The effect of high-involvement human resource management practices on supply chain integration

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 716-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baofeng Huo ◽  
Zhaojun Han ◽  
Haozhe Chen ◽  
Xiande Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
High Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices

Purpose – Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the purpose of this paper is to combine concepts from human resource management (HRM) and supply chain management (SCM) fields and explore the effects of high-involvement HRM practices on supply chain integration (SCI). Design/methodology/approach – Using empirical survey data collected from ten countries, the authors examine the specific effects of three dimensions of high-involvement HRM practices – employee skills, incentives and participation – on three types of SCI – internal integration, supplier and customer integration. The authors use structural equation modeling and the maximum-likelihood estimation method to test the proposed relationships. Findings – The results confirm the overall relevancy of HRM to SCI. However, several proposed links are not supported by the data collected. Originality/value – This study makes both theoretical and managerial contributions by empirically examining the interface between HRM and SCI. More specifically, it examines the effects of different high-involvement HRM practices on different types of SCI. The findings will not only help researchers to better understand the interface, but will also guide managers in adjusting HRM practices to achieve desired operational goals.

Battling COVID-19 with human resource management bundling

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arosha S. Adikaram ◽  
N.P.G.S.I. Naotunna ◽  
H.P.R. Priyankara
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Employee Motivation ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices

PurposeThis paper aims to present an empirically driven crisis management framework of complementary human resource management (HRM) bundles that can be utilized in simultaneously managing the health crisis, financial crisis and disruptions to business operations through lockdown and other government restrictions propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe framework is developed employing qualitative methodology, drawing from the successful HRM practices adopted by 26 Sri Lankan companies in battling the many crises of COVID-19 and using the soft HRM approach as the theoretical basis.FindingsThe findings report a framework that consists of three key HRM bundles (health and safety bundle, cost-saving bundle and employee motivation and engagement bundle) entailing an array of inter-related, internally consistent, complementary and mutually reinforcing HRM practices and HRM activities. These HRM bundles and the HRM practices as well as the HRM activities therein, indicate how a softer approach to managing employees can be used during a crisis.Practical implicationsThe framework will inform the HRPs of the HRM bundles, HRM practices and HRM activities that can be used to manage the multiple crises created by COVID-19 and other similar pandemics.Originality/valueThe study contributes to and expands the knowledge of HRM in crisis management generally and HRM in a global pandemic more specifically.

A comparative analysis of best human resource management practices in the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 798-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suwastika Naidu ◽  
Anand Chand
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Strategic Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Hotel Sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to comparatively analyse the best human resource management (HRM) practices in the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga. Design/methodology/approach – This study examined best HRM practices used by the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga by using self-administered questionnaires. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 73 hotels in Samoa and 66 hotels in Tonga. Out of the 73 self-administered questionnaires that were distributed in Samoa, 58 usable questionnaires were returned resulting in a response rate of 79 per cent. In the case of Tonga, out of the 66 self-administered questionnaires were distributed, 51 usable questionnaires were returned resulting in a response rate of 77 per cent. Findings – The findings of this study show that there are 28 best HRM practices in Samoa and 15 best HRM practices in Tonga. This study also found that best HRM practices differ based on differences in internal and external environmental factors present in different geographical areas. The findings of this paper support the assumptions of the Contextual Paradigm of HRM and strategic human resource management. Research limitations/implications – This study is based on a single sector of Samoa and Tonga. A single sector study limits the generalisations that can be made across different sectors in Samoa and Tonga. Practical implications – Human resource managers should incorporate cultural, political, legal, economic and social factors in HRM practices. Originality/value – None of the existing studies have examined best HRM practices used by the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga. This study is a pioneering study that comparatively analyses the best HRM practices used by the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga.

Pathway toward environmental sustainability: mediating role of corporate social responsibility in green human resource management practices in small and medium enterprises

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wen ◽  
Hadi Hussain ◽  
Junaid Waheed ◽  
Waheed Ali ◽  
Ihsan Jamil
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Green Human Resource Management ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeRecent research validates an increasing knowledge of environmental concerns in manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, only a few studies maintain that green human resource management (HRM) practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR) play an important role, especially in the case of developing economies. Thus, this study aims to examine the direct and indirect relationship between green HRM practices and environmental sustainability (ES) through the mediation of CSR in SMEs in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe cross-sectional design of this study considers the mechanism by which green HRM practices affect ES through CSR in the context of Pakistani SMEs. The authors collected data from 320 manufacturing SMEs and used the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique to examine the relationship between variables.FindingsThe empirical findings of this study suggest green HRM practices have a positive and significant impact on ES. Further, the second hypothesis is not supported. In addition to the direct impact, the indirect effect of green HRM practices on CSR is positive and significant. Finally, the authors determine that green HRM practices affect ES through the partial mediation of CSR.Originality/valueTo date, this study is the first to use CSR as a mediator between green HRM practices and ES in the context of Pakistani SMEs. The study has important implications for HRM and government policy makers, suggesting they should improve strategies in favour of the green economy. Furthermore, developing countries could design similar studies with different future sustainability factors.

The effects of human resource management practices on employees’ organisational commitment

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Aladwan ◽  
Ramudu Bhanugopan ◽  
Brian D'Netto
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Human Resource Management Practices

Purpose – This study aims to examine the effects of human resource management (HRM) practices on organisational commitment (OC) in the Middle Eastern context. Design/methodology/approach – Survey data were collected from 493 front-line employees across a variety of industries in Jordan. A structural equation modelling analysis was performed to delineate the relationship between HRM practices and OC. Findings – A test of the model was conducted using a path analytic approach hypothesising that HRM factors influence OC. The findings indicate that the causal model is consistent with the data and contributes to a fuller understanding of the association between HRM practices and OC. Originality/value – This is the first study that represents a little-researched area of recent times and even less so in Middle Eastern countries. The findings of the study offer new perspectives on how HRM practices have direct and indirect effects on employees’ OC and would assist in reshaping the HR policies in organisations located in the Middle Eastern regions.

Impact of human resource management on performance in competitive priorities

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Andrés Vivares-Vergara ◽  
William Ariel Sarache-Castro ◽  
Julia Clemencia Naranjo-Valencia
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Competitive Priorities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Human resource management (HRM) is considered an important issue in operations strategy (OS). Furthermore, OS effectiveness depends on performance in competitive priorities (CP). However, little empirical evidence exists about the relationship between them. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of HRM on performance in CP. Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted by surveying a sample of medium and large manufacturing companies in the Colombian coffee region. Three groups of variables were studied: performance in CP, HRM practices and factors related to employees. A regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. Findings – No significant relationship was found between HRM practices and performance in CP. Regarding the factors related to employees, two findings were relevant: first, when the companies involve features about the individuals in OS decision making (motivations, personal goals, abilities, etc.) better performance can be observed in CP; second, when employees reach a higher level of satisfaction and job performance, the performance in CP improves as well. Practical implications – Considering the importance of HRM practices, appropriate adjustment and application should be sought to improve company performance. Furthermore, factors related to employees (features about the individuals, job satisfaction and employee performance), must be properly aligned with the OS. Originality/value – The paper addresses an issue supported by little empirical evidence. Because few studies have considered the total set of CP identified in the literature review, the authors applied an indicator to establish the global performance of the production system according to the market requirements. Traditionally, HRM has been studied from the perspective of management practices, giving little attention to employees. In this research, the authors consider not only this perspective but also the effects of factors related to employees on performance in CP when they are aligned with the OS.

Strategic human resources, innovation and entrepreneurship fit

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 544-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongming Wang ◽  
Zhi Zang
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Strategic Hrm ◽  
Innovation And Entrepreneurship

PurposeStrategic human resource management (SHRM) is seen as crucial for innovation and entrepreneurship in China. An empirical research was carried out to investigate main dimensions of the model of human resources management (HRM), practices and their effects on organisational performance in relation to innovation and entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachThe research has two parts. The first part is a field survey on human resource management practices and its main dimensions. The study was conducted in the Chinese local companies and joint ventures across different partnerships. The second part is an in‐depth case‐set analysis of Chinese entrepreneurship models from a strategic HRM perspective.FindingsThe results showed that both functional and strategic dimensions of HRM could be identified which had differential effects upon organisational performance and that the most successful local entrepreneurial firms were among the collective‐based and globally‐oriented ones.Originality/valueThis study demonstrated that the fit between strategic HRM practices, innovation strategy and entrepreneurship model was significantly contributed to entrepreneurial performance. A regional comparative model of SHRM and entrepreneurship was proposed for sustainable business developments and organisational change.

Westernization or localization of human resource management practices in CIS countries? Evidence from Kazakh firms

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Latukha ◽  
Konstantin Malko
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Cis Countries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the peculiarities of human resource management (HRM) practices in Kazakh firms and identify the factors that influence them. Attention is paid to analysis of the country-specific environment, which shapes the peculiarities of HRM and provides discussion on the respective Westernization or localization perspectives. Design/methodology/approach The paper argues that HRM practices are influenced by a number of factors, some of which are rather specific to Kazakhstan and some are common in a Commonwealth of Independent States’ context. The study uses exploratory research which includes the conduction of a survey, consisting of blocks of questions, for data collection. Findings The results show that despite dynamic economic growth of Kazakhstan’s economy, HRM practices are still in transition from those of Soviet heritage to ones that exist in Western multinational corporations. They cannot fully match the country’s needs for HRM development. Several recommendations for the future development of HRM in Kazakhstan are made. Originality/value The study examines the adaptation of HRM practices to the business environment in Kazakhstan.

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