The adoption of high performance work practices in small businesses: the influence of markets, business characteristics and HR expertise

Wu, N ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7399-7257, Bacon, N and Hoque, K, 2014. The adoption of high performance work practices in small businesses: the influence of markets, business characteristics and HR expertise. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25 (8), pp. 1149-1169. ISSN 0958-5192

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Abstract

This paper explores the extent to which the adoption of High Performance Work Practices (HPWPs) in UK small businesses with fewer than 50 employees is associated with the nature of the market in which the business operates, its business characteristics and its access to HR expertise. Drawing on data from the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey, the analysis suggests that, where market-related factors are concerned, the uptake of HPWPs is higher in small businesses that require a highly-skilled workforce but is unrelated to either the degree of market competition or the presence of large dominant customers. In terms of access to HR expertise, the analysis finds greater use of HPWPs in small businesses that have contact with external sources of HR advice via membership of business advisory networks or Investors in People (IiP) recognition. However, uptake is unrelated to the presence of personnel/HR specialists. Overall, the findings suggest that rather than depicting employment practices in small businesses as the inevitable consequence of market circumstances, encouraging greater small business involvement with business advisory networks and IiP may have the potential to increase the adoption of HPWPs in the sector.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	The International Journal of Human Resource Management
Creators:	Wu, N., Bacon, N. and Hoque, K.
Publisher:	Routledge
Date:	2014
Volume:	25
Number:	8
ISSN:	0958-5192
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1080/09585192.2013.816865 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	23 Nov 2015 09:12
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:57
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26446

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