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HR Support for Enhanced Small Firm Performance

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Reframing HRM in SMEs

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Abstract

In this chapter we present findings from a project that offered HR support to small firms adopting the discourse of strategic human resource management (SHRM), which posits that progressive HR practice can improve firm performance. We explore how HR support can address both HR content and process, offering advice to owner-managers in the absence of an HR specialist. While uptake of support can be limited, we demonstrate its potentially positive effects on HR practice and, tentatively, performance. We suggest that SHRM is possible in small firms. We argue that bespoke, specialist HR support can be highly effective and that policy-makers should seek to make this available and address the barriers to accessing it.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.cipd.co.uk/about/media/press/110917-people-skills#gref.

  2. 2.

    Hackney Borough Council did not have a small firm database that permitted conduct of a survey of non-engaging small firms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, Manchester, UK

    Carol Atkinson & Ben Lupton

Authors
  1. Carol Atkinson
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  2. Ben Lupton
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Correspondence to Carol Atkinson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Ciara Nolan

  2. DCU Business School, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Brian Harney

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Atkinson, C., Lupton, B. (2023). HR Support for Enhanced Small Firm Performance. In: Nolan, C., Harney, B. (eds) Reframing HRM in SMEs. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34279-0_3

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