Employer and employee perspectives of HRM practices within SMEs

PurposeThis paper offers a theoretical explanation to a positive story of a micro enterprise found in Uganda, an African developing country that has successfully managed workplace relationships, its survival and good performance. Specifically, the paper examines multiple theories to explain the practice in this enterprise.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses storytelling, a form of narrative inquiry embedded in qualitative methodology. Based on in-depth interviews with the owner-manager and employees, a story was developed detailing their practical experience while focusing on the context, actions, results and lessons.FindingsFindings reveal that micro enterprises that allow free generation of ideas across all levels with optimistic people who reciprocate and work together, create a friendly work atmosphere with support for one another, amicably resolve conflicts and build trust. More so, several theories that include: Social Exchange Theory, Relational Cohesion Theory, Complex Adaptive Systems Theory and Cultural Historical Activity Theory, explain the manifestations of relational people management in micro enterprises.Originality/valueThis paper is unique in its use of a positive story showing a practical experience of how workplace relationships are managed in a micro enterprise found in Uganda, an African developing country. In addition, a multi-theoretical perspective is used to explain the manifestations in the story which may be novel in the study context. Thus, a conceptual model is proposed depicting generalized reciprocity, positive emotions, generative leadership and relational agency as antecedents of relational people management with relational agency again mediating the other relationships.

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“…, 2021). It is thus imperative to understand the nature of the workplace in these enterprises (Mazzorol et al. , 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theorizing relational people management in micro enterprises: a multi-theoretical perspective

Nalweyiso

Mafabi

Kagaari

et al. 2022

JWAM

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“…In this case, the venture's capacity had the biggest contribution, followed by opportunity costs and financial security at 0.757, 0.743 and 0.723, while personal ability had the least contribution at 0.278. Mazzarol et al (2021) stated that vectors can represent the structural correlations between discriminant functions and relevant constructs. Their lengths signify varying directions with varying directions of the estimated discriminant functions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This present research uses multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) to determine the differences between groups and measure the relative importance of explanatory variables in splitting the characteristics (Mazzarol et al, 2021). This analysis is appropriate if the dependent variable is categorical (nominal or nonmetric) (Hair, Black, Babin, & Anderson, 2018).…”

Section: Examining Incubated and Nonincubated Startupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining incubated and nonincubated startups from fear of failure and entrepreneurial well-being during crises

Games,

Sari,

Darlis

et al. 2024

INMR

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PurposeThis research aimed to examine entrepreneurial fear of failure and entrepreneurial well-being from the perspectives of incubated and nonincubated startups during crises.Design/methodology/approachData were collected by distributing online questionnaires to 152 respondents comprising 43 incubated and 109 nonincubated startups in Indonesia. A multivariate discriminant analysis procedure was used to examine the interrelationships between both groups at the discovery, validation, customer creation and construction stages.FindingsThe result showed a significant difference between these startups at various stages, which was analyzed to provide insights into the relevant dimensions of fear of failure for startups. The essence of entrepreneurial well-being during crises is in accordance with the role of business incubators in an emerging market economy.Practical implicationsStartups need to innovate in order to grow while considering other factors such as work-life balance and financial resource availability. This is important to ensure they have sufficient motivating dosage of fear of failure.Originality/valueThe present study evaluates incubated and nonincubated startups in an emerging market economy by using both the entrepreneurial fear of failure and well-being to capture possible differences between groups. The context of pandemic crises helps us formulate appropriate approaches taken by incubators and startups in the future crises.

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“…World over, small enterprises greatly contribute to the growth of national economies in terms of employment generation, growth of GDP and regional development (Donkor et al , 2018; Pucci et al , 2017; OECD, 2019). Therefore, it is vital to understand the nature of the working environment in small enterprises (Mazzarol et al , 2021). Small enterprises are emotionally infectious and characterized by frequent social interactions between employees with managers, fellow employees and customers (Biggs et al , 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological well-being of small enterprise employees: a multi-theoretical perspective

Tabala,

Munene,

Kagaari

et al. 2023

IJOA

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Purpose This paper aims to suggest a multi-theoretical explanation using a success story to explain psychological well-being (PWB) among employees of K.C, a small enterprise found in Uganda, a developing country in Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study used qualitative methodology. Based on in-depth interviews with K.C employees, a story was developed describing the practical experience, focusing on the context, actions, results and lessons learnt. Regarding the sample size, the saturation point was attained on the seventh participant. Findings Findings reveal that employees that possess psychological capital set targets and generate avenues that allow them to achieve set goals, with personal initiative that makes them proactive to accomplish work tasks and individual adaptability that enables them to adjust their emotions and behavior to fit in a complex working environment, which makes them to think, feel and act positively. Furthermore, several theories, including broaden and build, personal initiative and complex adaptive systems theory, explain the manifestations of PWB of employees in small enterprises. Research limitations/implications The study was limited by focusing on the context of a small enterprise. Future research may investigate other study contexts whose findings might be different. In addition, the study being hypothetical lacked statistical testing. It would be a meaningful effort if future studies statistically tested the suggested model. Irrespective of the limitations, the findings of this study remain significant. Practical implications In practice, employees may replicate these findings to nurture PWB which eventually contributes to enterprises’ success. This could provide answers to the psychological challenges experienced by employees of small enterprises, especially in the African developing countries like Uganda where this is a major challenge. Specifically, the workers of K.C enterprise may depend on their PWB to deal with workplace challenges and sustain the enterprise’s performance. Social implications Socially, there is need to embrace positive social relationships among employees at the work place which will translate into well-being of society. Originality/value This paper is exceptional because it uses a success story showing practical experiences of how PWB of employees in small enterprises is nurtured in Uganda. In addition, a multi-theoretical perspective is used to explain the manifestations in the story, which is the greatest contribution of this paper. Further, a conceptual model is still proposed, depicting psychological capital, personal initiative and individual adaptability as antecedents of PWB.

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Employer and employee perspectives of HRM practices within SMEs

Cited by 6 publications

References 99 publications

Theorizing relational people management in micro enterprises: a multi-theoretical perspective

Theorizing relational people management in micro enterprises: a multi-theoretical perspective

Examining incubated and nonincubated startups from fear of failure and entrepreneurial well-being during crises

Psychological well-being of small enterprise employees: a multi-theoretical perspective

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