A systematic review of human resource management practices in small and medium-sized enterprises

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Abstract

The escalating significance of human resource management (HRM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is underscored through a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 144 documents from the Scopus database. This paper delineates the evolution of HRM practices within SMEs, identifying four core themes that are increasingly prevalent in scholarly publications. The study leverages content analysis, bibliometrics, and network analysis to map the intellectual structure of the field, providing a comprehensive overview of current trends and future directions. It highlights the necessity of integrating HRM practices as strategic organizational assets and emphasizes their role in enhancing efficiency across global SME networks (Davies, 2017). The growing body of literature suggests a shift towards recognizing the strategic importance of HRM in SMEs, with potential implications for enhancing organizational effectiveness in contemporary and future business environments. This research contributes to the theoretical discourse by testing various HRM theories in the SME context, offering a foundational perspective for understanding HRM challenges and practices in SMEs worldwide.

Keywords: Human Resource Management, Thematic Analysis, Science Mapping, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, SMEs

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — N.J. and N.A.; Methodology — N.K.; Investigation — N.J. and L.S.; Resources — N.J. and L.S.; Writing — N.J. and N.K.; Supervision — N.A.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: M12, M51, M52, M53, M54, M55

Received: 23.01.2024
Accepted: 10.09.2024
Published online: 13.09.2024

How to cite this paper: Jindal, N., Arora, N., Singla, L., & Kaushal, N. (2024). A systematic review of human resource management practices in small and medium-sized enterprises. Corporate Governance and Organizational Behavior Review, 8(3), 64–76. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgobrv8i3p6