TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– Pakistan adopted “one-size-fits-all” policy for human capital (HC) development with the assumption that the level of HC is equal across industry and firm size. The purpose of this paper is to test this major assumption on which this policy is based, by comparing the differences in the levels of HC, overall and by dimensions of HC, by industry and firm size. Design/methodology/approach– The study is based on new data set of a sample of 750 manufacturing SME firms in Pakistan, compiled through a survey. Applying the independent sample t-test, one way analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance, the hypotheses of differences in levels of overall and dimensions of HC were tested. Findings– The results indicate significant differences in the levels of HC by industry and firm size. The levels of HC were found to be higher in textiles, food, metal and leather industries, and for medium-sized firms. Practical implications– The findings provide supporting evidence on the inadequacy of the current human capital development (HCD) policy in Pakistan. The study therefore recommends customized HCD policies, accounting for differences across industry and firm size. Originality/value– By taking the data on nine major dimensions of HC from 750 manufacturing sector SMEs, the study tests the level of overall HC and its nine dimensions by industry and size. The study also challenges the “one-size-fits-all” policy of the government of Pakistan for developing HC in SMEs.
VL  - 43
IS  - 8
SN  - 0306-8293
DO  - 10.1108/IJSE-02-2015-0033
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-02-2015-0033
AU  - Mubarik Muhammad  Shujaat
AU  - Govindaraju Chandran
AU  - Devadason Evelyn S.
PY  - 2016
Y1  - 2016/01/01
TI  - Human capital development for SMEs in Pakistan: is the “one-size-fits-all” policy adequate?
T2  - International Journal of Social Economics
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 804
EP  - 822
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -