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Using human resource activities to implement sustainability in SMEs

Christina Langwell (Department of Business, Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois, United States)
Dennis Heaton (Department of Management, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA)

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development

ISSN: 1462-6004

Article publication date: 15 August 2016

2711

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how small- and medium-sized organisations that were already participating in recognised sustainability programmes in Iowa, USA, in how they were utilising activities normally associated with human resources (HRs) to implement sustainability – activities included communication, engagement, incentives and recruitment and retention.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors were interested in how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were utilising HR functions to implement sustainability. This was an exploratory, qualitative research study utilised semi-structured interviews to obtain data.

Findings

Based on the findings, some of the functions are being utilised more than others, with some activities not being implemented at all.

Research limitations/implications

This research offers empirical research on how sustainability is achieved in SMEs.

Practical implications

This paper outlines some practical methods that any SME could utilise to help implement sustainability within an organisation.

Originality/value

This paper adds empirical research on how SMEs are implementing sustainable practices into their operations by using activities normally associated with the HR department.

Keywords

Citation

Langwell, C. and Heaton, D. (2016), "Using human resource activities to implement sustainability in SMEs", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 652-670. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-07-2015-0096

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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