Capturing complexity: developing an integrated approach to analysing HRM in SMEs

This article presents a framework to evaluate HRM in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), using an open systems theoretical perspective. In presenting an open systems perspective the objective is to overcome the limitations of existing theorising in HRM, in particular to facilitate a move away from the ‘small is beautiful’ versus ‘bleak house’ stereotypes evident in much of the literature concerned with HRM in SMEs. The evidence is drawn from six SMEs operating in the Republic of Ireland, using a case study method. The findings show that a complex interplay of external structural factors and internal dynamics shaped HRM in each of the companies. HRM was not the coherent set of practices typically identified in the literature but rather was often informal and emergent. It is argued that the open systems theoretical framework enables a move beyond mere recognition of the complexity and heterogeneity of HRM in SMEs, towards an understanding, accommodation and explanation of particularistic factors

Barriers to energy efficiency: evidence from selected sectors

To combat climate change, it is essential to reduce the use of fossil fuels and minimise greenhouse gas emissions. To help to achieve that objective, energy must be used efficiently. However, many international studies claim that companies and other organisations are “leaving money on the floor” by neglecting highly cost-effective opportunities to invest in measures that would improve their energy efficiency. A new ESRI report, “Barriers to Energy Efficiency: Evidence from Selected Sectors”, examines these claims in the context of the Irish economy, and asks why organisations apparently ignore financially rewarding opportunities to improve their energy efficiency. The report is based on detailed case studies of organisations in the mechanical engineering, brewing and higher education sectors

Work Organisation and Innovation in Ireland

[Excerpt] Innovations in work organisation have the potential to optimise production processes in companies and improve employees’ overall experience of work. This report explores the links between innovations in work organisation – under the broader label of high performance work practices (HPWPs) – and the potential benefits for both employees and organisations. It draws on empirical evidence from three case studies carried out in the Republic of Ireland, where workplace innovations have resulted in positive outcomes and where social partners played a significant role in their design and development

Global versus local managing human resources in the multinational company

This paper considers the extent to which multinational enterprises adopt a global or local approach in their management of human resources. Nine organisations, drawn from a range of nationalities and sectors operating in Ireland, were examined. The analysis revealed that the majority of organisations adopted a local approach, with headquarters involvement in many cases limited to monitoring the financial implications of human resource decisions. However, it appears that the transfer of human resource management practices can be a two way process with some subsidiaries focusing on human resource issues in order to maintain their competitive position within the corporation. The findings also suggest that the integration of human resource issues in strategic decision-making may need to be considered as a local, rather than a corporate level, activity

Linking Research and Policy: Assessing a Framework for Organic Agricultural Support in Ireland

This paper links social science research and agricultural policy through an analysis of support for organic agriculture and food. Globally, sales of organic food have experienced 20% annual increases for the past two decades, and represent the fastest growing segment of the grocery market. Although consumer interest has increased, farmers are not keeping up with demand. This is partly due to a lack of political support provided to farmers in their transition from conventional to organic production. Support policies vary by country and in some nations, such as the US, vary by state/province. There have been few attempts to document the types of support currently in place. This research draws on an existing Framework tool to investigate regionally specific and relevant policy support available to organic farmers in Ireland. This exploratory study develops a case study of Ireland within the framework of ten key categories of organic agricultural support: leadership, policy, research, technical support, financial support, marketing and promotion, education and information, consumer issues, inter-agency activities, and future developments. Data from the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), and other governmental and semi-governmental agencies provide the basis for an assessment of support in each category. Assessments are based on the number of activities, availability of information to farmers, and attention from governmental personnel for each of the ten categories. This policy framework is a valuable tool for farmers, researchers, state agencies, and citizen groups seeking to document existing types of organic agricultural support and discover policy areas which deserve more attention

An Ex Ante Evaluation Framework for the Regional Impact of Publicly Supported R&D Projects

This paper draws on the knowledge-base implicit in ex post evaluations of publicly funded R&D and other related conceptual and empirical studies to suggest a framework for the ex ante evaluation of the regional benefits from R&D projects. The framework developed comprises two main elements: an inventory of the global private and social benefits which might result from any R&D project; and, an assessment of the share of these global benefits which might accrue to a host region, taking into account the characteristics of the R&D project and the region?s innovation system. The inventory of global benefits separately identifies private and social benefits and distinguishes between increments to public and private knowledge stocks, benefits to R&D productivity and benefits from commercialisation. Potential market and ?pure? knowledge spillovers are also considered separately. The paper concludes with the application of the framework to two illustrative case-studies one relating to a collaborative company-university project and one relating to a university only research centre.

Mind the gap: National and local partnership in the Irish public sector

This article uses case study data from a major Irish city council to investigate and explain public sector worker attitudes towards social partnership at local and national level. It is argued that the more sceptical attitudes to workplace partnership reflect structural differences between local and national arrangements, which have enabled public sector employers to use ‘social partnership’ as a constraint in the implementation process of a pre-determined public sector reform agenda

Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland: Policy Implications for Emerging Economies

The increasingly important role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the global economy is linked to questions of how the foreign direct investment (FDI) they control impacts on overall economic activity in the recipient countries. Of specific interest is the policy context in which such FDI flows into the developing country and how a government can influence the impact of those flows. This paper reviews some of the literature in two key contextual areas, namely, when the host country policy regime promotes FDI selectively, and secondly, where it promotes the creation of industrial clusters. It explores the insights of this literature for the development of the strong MNE sector in the Irish economy and draws lessons from the Irish experience for emerging economies.Note: Length:

A Comparative Study of Performance Management Practice in the Republic of Ireland, as Influenced by it\u27s Expansion from the Private Sector to its Public Equivalent.

This is a study of performance management (PM) that examines its comparative practice in the Republic of Ireland, as influenced by its expansion from the private sector to the public equivalent. The research objectives of this study are to establish the level of incidence of PM practice in both sectors, to consider how PM is practised, including the mechanisms employed, to determine the objectives of the PM processes for these organisations and to ascertain the comparative perceived impact and effectiveness of PM. It was established that there was a gap of nine years since the last quantitative analysis of the subject matter in Ireland had been conducted. A random sample based on five strata was deployed for the purpose of the primary research. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed nationwide in 2007/08 to 499 organisations, yielding a 41% (n=204) useable response rate. The findings confirm a high level of PM practice in Ireland, particularly in the public sector. Probably the most significant discovery, however, is that the vast majority of respondents believe PM to be effective. Nevertheless, its level of effectiveness is deemed significantly higher in private sector. The top three objectives of performance management systems (PMS) across both sectors are to agree key objectives, improve future performance and provide feedback on current or past performance. The survey evidence also reveals the main inhibitors of PM to be the perceived lack of follow up and support by management to agreed PM outcomes, failure to review or monitor the system and the presence of too much paperwork. Both sectors are in accord regarding the key goal of their system, which is to agreeing key objectives with staff. Hence, it was also established that ‘objective setting’ was the most popular and effective mechanism or scheme type of appraisal used. Of the features of PM, performance-related pay (PRP) is growing in the private sector, and, it is considered by researcher that this study offers for the first time, empirical evidence of its presence in the public sector. This research has successfully filled the research gap of nine years on PM practice in Ireland in both the private and public sector. It demonstrates to the reader the advances made by both sectors in this regard over the past 50 years. The research has been limited by an absence of analysis of PM vis à vis a number of areas such as the management of change, high performance work systems, employee engagement, the separation of performance review from the pay review and how to manage the underperformer. However, it does reveal the opportunity for further study, e.g. a qualitative analysis of the topic focusing on the opinion of the employee and line manager and their perception of PM