HRM interventions in SMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis

• Autorzy: Pocztowski Aleksy , Pauli Urban

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.29119/1641-3466.2024.200.27

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present HRM interventions undertaken by SMEs during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The research was conducted in 2021, following a critical moment of the crisis, which was expressed by a decrease in the incidence of the disease and the easing of restrictions introduced at the beginning of the pandemic. Research design: The exploratory research was conducted on a sample of 200 companies. The surveyed companies were from south-eastern Poland, from the voivodeships of Silesia, Lesser Poland and Subcarpathia. Material for the analysis was obtained through semi-structured telephone interviews with their owners or managers. Descriptive statistics and a Chi-square test were used to analyze the data due to the qualitative nature of the variables. Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic had a varied impact on the operations of the surveyed SMEs. Among the solutions introduced to cope with the pandemic challenges were reducing the scope/complexity of tasks, introducing crisis management solutions, or limiting the company’s activities. In the area of people management, the examined companies made changes to their work organization, undertook activities aimed at supporting employees, and actions aimed at reducing labor costs. The measures taken were aimed, on the one hand, at ensuring the company's survival and, on the other hand, at creating conditions to maintain the current state of employment. Research limitations/implications: The selection of 3 regions took into account the share of active SMEs in relation to the total number of SMEs in Poland. This made the research sample representative. Nevertheless, the diversity of companies belonging to the SMEs sector justifies the need for further research on both their experiences during the pandemic and its impact on the functioning of SMEs in the new post-pandemic reality. Value: The results presented in the article contribute to the still limited knowledge of HRM in SMEs under crisis conditions, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

HRM; SMEs; crisis; Covid-19 pandemic

PL

HRM; MŚP; kryzys; pandemia Covid-19

• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej
• Czasopismo: Zeszyty Naukowe. Organizacja i Zarządzanie / Politechnika Śląska
• Rocznik: 2024
• Tom: z. 200
• Strony: 365--378
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 26 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Pocztowski Aleksy

• Krakow University of Economics

• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7966-7251

autor

Pauli Urban

• Krakow University of Economics

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0196-451X

Bibliografia

• 1. Baba, S., Hafsi, T., Ouguenoune, H. (2022). Micro-macro dynamics in managing crisis: empirical illustrations in a volatile institutional context. In: E. Etemad (ed.), Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Covid-19 Response. Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.
• 2. Brzozowski, J., Cucculelli, M. (2016). Proactive and reactive attitude to crisis: Evidence from European firms. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 4(1), 181-91, http://doi.org/10.15678/eber.2016.040111.
• 3. Cooke, F.L. (2018). Concepts, contexts, and mindsets: Putting human resource management research in perspectives. Human Resource Management Journal, 28(1), 1-13, http://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12163.
• 4. Daszkiewicz, N., Wach, K. (2013). Małe i średnie przedsiębiorstwa na rynkach międzynarodowych. Kraków: Wydawnictwo UEK.
• 5. Eggers, F. (2020). Masters or disasters? Challenges and opportunities for SMEs in times of crisis. Journal of Business Research, 116, 199-208, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres. 2020.05.025.
• 6. Etemad, E. (ed.) (2022). Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Covid-19 Response. Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.
• 7. Etemad, H. (2022). Introduction to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Covid-19 Response. In: E. Etemad (ed.), Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Covid-19 Response. Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.
• 8. Harney, B, Alkhalaf, H. (2021). A quarter-century review of HRM in small and medium-sized enterprises. Capturing what we know, exploring where we need to go. Human Resource Management, vol. 60, 1, 5-29, http://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22010.
• 9. Heilmann, P., Forsten-Astikainen, R., Kultalahti, S. (2020). Agile HRM practices of SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 58, 6, 1291-1306, https://doi.org/10.1111/ jsbm.12483.
• 10. Herbane, B. (2019). Rethinking organizational resilience and strategic renewal in SMEs. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 31(5-6), 476-95, http://doi.org/10.1080/ 08985626.2018.1541594.
• 11. Juchnowicz, M., Kinowska, H. (2022). Determinants of Employees' Occupational Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Zeszyty Naukowe /Cracow Review of Economics and Management, 2(996), 69-83, http://doi.org/10.15678/ZEUEK.2022.0996.0205.
• 12. Knight, G., Cavusgil, S.T. (2022). Resources, capabilities and crisis management in the SME. In: E. Etemad (ed.), Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Covid-19 Response. Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.
• 13. Marjański, A., Sułkowski, Ł. (2021). Consolidation strategies of small family firms in Poland during Covid-19 crisis. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 9(2), 167-182, https://doi.org/10.15678/EBE.2021.090211.
• 14. Pauli, U. (2018). Talent management practices in polish small and medium enterprises. Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi, 125(6), 97-108.
• 15. Pocztowski, A. (2019). HRM Context in Practice and Scientific Research. Human Resource Management, 6, 17-33.
• 16. Pocztowski, A., Pauli, U. (2022). The Impact of Contextual Factors on Talent Management Practices in SMEs. Human Systems Management, 41, 1, 87-101, http://doi.org/10.3233/ mHSM-211185.
• 17. Poór, J., Kálmán, B., Varga, E., Szeiner, Z., Ildikó Kovács, É., Kerekes, K., Tóth, A., Szűcs, P.B., Kunos, I., Dajnoki, K. (ed.) (2022). Coronavirus Crisis Challenges and HR Responses in six Countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Komárno: J. Selye University.
• 18. Poór, J., Tóth, A., Kálmán, B.G. (2024). A Practical Paradigm Shift in Human Resource Management, Cracow Review of Economics and Management [Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Krakowie], 1(1003), 5-29, https://doi.org/10.15678/ KREM.2024.1003.0101.
• 19. Purgał-Popiela, J., Pauli, U., Pocztowski, A. (2023). Human Resource Management in Early Internationalised SMEs. New York/London: Routledge.
• 20. Salmazadeh, A., Dana, L.P. (2022). A systemic literaturę review of crisis management in and by small and medium-sized enterprises. In: E. Etemad (ed.), Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Covid-19 Response. Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.
• 21. Sidor-Rządkowska, M. (2010). Zarządzanie personelem w małej firmie. Warszawa: a Wolters Kluwer business.
• 22. Skowrońska, A., Tarnawa, A. (ed.) (2022). Raport o stanie sektora małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw w Polsce. Warszawa: Polska Agencja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości.
• 23. Stec-Rusiecka, J., Warmińska, A. (2022). Socially Responsible Management of Human Resources in SMEs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Zeszyty Naukowe - Cracow Review of Economics and Management, 2(996), 69-83, http://doi.org/10.15678/ZNUEK. 2022.0996.0204.
• 24. Tagarev, T., Ratchev, V. (2020). A taxonomy of crisis management functions, Sustainability, 12(12), http://doi.org/101108/JMD-10-2014-0115.
• 25. Vašičková, V. (2019). Crisis management process: A literature review and conceptual integration. Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, 3-4, 61-77, http://doi.org/10.18267/j.aop.628.
• 26. Wapshott, R., Mallett, O. (2016). Managing Human Resources in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. New York: Routledge.