Fostering environmental preservation: exploring the synergy of green human resource management and corporate environmental ethics
ISSN: 0888-045X
Article publication date: 16 January 2024
Issue publication date: 5 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the unique and synergistic effects of green human resource management (GHRM) and corporate environmental ethics (CEE) on the environmental performance (EP) of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Yemen, a less developed country (LDC).
Design/methodology/approach
Through a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 262 manufacturing SMEs in Yemen and analyzed using “hierarchical regression analysis” via PROCESS Macro.
Findings
The empirical results showed that GHRM and CEE positively affect EP and, more importantly, that CEE and GHRM have a synergistic effect on EP.
Research limitations/implications
This study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating GHRM, CEE and EP into a single framework, taking into account the perspectives of the resource-based view and the ethical theory of organizing. The results corroborate the unique and synergistic effects of GHRM and CEE on EP of SMEs in the manufacturing sector.
Practical implications
The results of this study offer valuable insights for SME managers/decision-makers, who are anticipated to become more interested in integrating environmental ethics into their companies. This has implications that with the consideration of CEE, SMEs can benefit from GHRM practices to improve their EP.
Social implications
The study highlights the positive economic and social impact of SMEs adopting eco-friendly practices like GRHM. In today’s economy, it is not sufficient to simply strive for economic growth. It is possible for SMEs to achieve well-rounded performance by implementing the recommended framework that emphasizes the importance of social and environmental well-being.
Originality/value
This study advances the existing work on the impact of GHRM on EP by demonstrating the crucial role of CEE in predicting EP of manufacturing SMEs in LDCs like Yemen. Previous research on GHRM has mainly been conducted on SMEs in developed nations, which may not be entirely applicable to LDCs. It is crucial to understand this aspect in the context of LDCs so that SMEs can adopt environmental practices effectively in the future: how SMEs conserve the environment through their environmental practices.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to extend their deep appreciation to the editor and the reviewers for their invaluable comments and assistance with the improvement of the flow and justification of the study. Furthermore, the authors are grateful to Ibrahim Redwan for his assistance in analyzing the study data.
Citation
Al-Swidi, A.K., Al-Hakimi, M.A. and Al-Hattami, H.M. (2024), "Fostering environmental preservation: exploring the synergy of green human resource management and corporate environmental ethics", The Bottom Line, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-06-2023-0191
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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