Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly viewed as valuable contributors to the global economy, which translates into their importance in business literature and academic research. Recent studies suggest that there exists a substantial variety of international activities pursued by SMEs expanding abroad, with a prominent presence of early internationalised enterprises, including born global. Despite the acknowledgement of the importance of human capital for SME internationalisation, there is a persistent knowledge gap concerning HR practices in this context. Until now, researchers investigating the accelerated internationalisation of SMEs have focused either on the human capital of decision-makers or selected attributes of employees, although these have only been at the pre-entry or entry stages. Thus, activities performed after entering foreign markets remain. This book attempts to reduce this gap and contribute to the body of knowledge concerning HR practices in early internationalised SMEs with an emphasis on the post-entry phase. By taking such an approach, this volume integrates two streams of research: HRM in the SMEs and international business. It provides managers of SMEs with useful information on dealing with internationalisation-related challenges by means of various practices including work structuring, recruitment and selection, training and development, employee appraisal and remuneration, and performance management. The discussion of these issues is based upon data from a survey conducted in 200 SMEs and case studies exemplifying HR practices in early internationalised small and medium enterprises. It offers academic researchers, postgraduate students, and reflective practitioners a state-of-the-art overview of managing human resources in small and medium enterprises expanding internationally, including both accelerated and incremental paths.

Human resources are the most important and costliest assets in businesses of any nature and size, no matter where they are based in the world. Talent management is a key managerial function in MNCs and other organisations with a global presence, but its importance in small businesses and start-ups cannot be overlooked.At its most basic level, managing people in small businesses encompasses compliance with the applicable labour laws, hiring, and creating a channel for dealing with employee issues. The price of not having the right employees in a small business can be extremely high. Workers who are inefficient or in the wrong role can have critical consequences on the sustainability of a small business. While most entrepreneurs focus on marketing, finance, operations, and customers in their initial stages, this means that they at times fail to establish and address their HR function and the associated challenges that, if overcome, may help the organisation to meet all of its targets. This book aims to highlight these HR challenges and shed new light on how to answer them.

"This book addresses the issues of HRM in SMEs by providing a channel of communication to disseminate knowledge; including management philosophies, culture, and management practices"--Provided by publisher.

Innovative Human Resource Management for SMEs presents a comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in managing their human resources in today's rapidly changing business landscape. These SMEs often operate with limited resources and lack dedicated HR departments, making it difficult to compete for top talent against larger companies. Moreover, staying abreast of innovative HR practices can be overwhelming, leaving SMEs uncertain about how to enhance employee engagement, well-being, and overall organizational success. Edited by esteemed academic scholars, this book focuses on contemporary and practical strategies, empowering HR professionals, business managers, and leaders with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of effective human capital management. By exploring key areas such as recruitment, employee engagement, performance management, well-being, and organizational transformation, the book provides actionable insights through real-world case studies. It offers valuable information to drive organizational success and foster a positive workplace culture, benefiting not only SMEs but also larger organizations seeking to optimize their HR practices. Innovative Human Resource Management for SMEs stands as a guiding beacon, empowering readers to attract, engage, and retain top talent, thus ensuring their businesses thrive in the dynamic business world of the current millennium.

Human Resource Management (HRM) is defined by Boxall and Purcell (2000) as including “anything and everything associated with the management of employment relations in the firm” (p.184). Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) is defined by Wright and McMahan (1992) as “the pattern of planned human resource deployments and activities intended to enable an organization to achieve its goals” (p.298). The foundation of Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) begins from the concept that in knowledge-driven, global economies, it is the intellectual and social capital of the firm that is a source of competitive advantage rather than physical or financial assets (Finegold & Frenkel, 2006). For Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) competing in high technological environments such as those in the life sciences, it is important that firms are able to attract, motivate and retain talent in accordance with the stage of their firm and their internationalization strategy (Finegold & Frenkel, 2006; Ho, Wilson, & Chen, 2010; Hornsby & Kuratko, 2003; Onkelinx, Manolova, & Edelman, 2016). Although there has been recent interest from researchers investigating the relationship between HRM, SME firm performance and HRM associated to internationalization, there is a gap in literature focusing on the relationship between all three matters: Human Resource (HR) practices in internationalizing SMEs. The findings of this exploratory study on life science SMEs in New Zealand are that despite supporting research which recommends founders/CEOs to implement strategic HR enhancing practices to support firm growth and performance, informality is still common place amongst life science SMEs. Secondly, there is a clear disconnect between HRM practices implemented and the firm’s business strategy for international growth, indicating that life science SMEs in New Zealand are not aligning human resources of the firm to address the liabilities of foreignness. Finally, the study provides an insight to the HR practices in place by resource constrained life science SMEs in their efforts to support firm performance and survival in international markets.

Managing People in Small and Medium Enterprises in Turbulent Contexts explores a range of human resource management (HRM) issues specific to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on a series of research studies and secondary sources of data, the book’s primary aim is to contextualise HRM issues in SMEs operating in a variety of national economic contexts that are (or have recently experienced) a turbulent situation. SMEs are the backbone of these economies. It is therefore critical that we study HR practices and concepts within such enterprises. The book covers HR practices in SMEs, such as recruitment and selection, training and development, performance evaluation and employee relations, by focusing on three types of turbulent economies: emerging market economies in Asia, the Pacific, Africa and Latin America; transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe; and crisis contexts in Southern Europe. Managing People in Small and Medium Enterprises in Turbulent Contexts is a useful resource for organisations, practitioners, academics and scholars in the fields of HRM, employee engagement, small and medium business management and other related disciplines.

'This highly original book focuses on human resource management issues in the context of entrepreneurial and small firms, including original theoretical and empirical chapters. . . the book offers a unique insight into understanding the role of HRM in developing sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ventures as well as how HRM practices and procedures can be used to help navigate, or indeed drive, the changing landscape in smaller and entrepreneurial firms. It is a useful resource for many small firms, entrepreneurship and economic development researchers, and also for policy-makers and post-graduate students interested in these areas. It provides a starting point to consider a variety of issues with regard to HRM and, in this regard it is an interesting and useful Handbook.' – Qihai Huang, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research This invaluable reference tool has been designed in response to the growing recognition that too little is known about the intersection between entrepreneurship and human resource management. Paying particular attention to the 'people' side of venture emergence and development, it offers unique insights into the role that human resource management (HRM) plays in small and entrepreneurial firms. A group of international scholars contribute theoretical and empirical chapters on specific HRM issues in the context of entrepreneurial and smaller firms. The Handbook offers a new understanding of the role of HRM in developing sustainable entrepreneurship and describes how HRM practices and procedures can be used to help navigate and, indeed, drive the changing landscape in these firms. Exploring the functional aspects and nature of managing HRM in new, small, growing, emerging and entrepreneurial firms, this fascinating Handbook will not only be warmly welcomed by HRM students, researchers and academics, but also by HR practitioners and managers.