Personnel management in Lithuania's small and medium-sized enterprises

Abstract

Abstract. Nowadays small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) constitute the largest part of enterprises operating in Lithuania. Meanwhile, researchers in the field of PM usually analyze the problems of large enterprises. The propositions of foreign PM researchers do not always fit Lithuania’s context. So: 1.The goal of the research is to identify the main characteristics of PM in contemporary Lithuania’s SME. 2. The object of the research is the PM activities in Lithuania’s SME. The pilot testing was made in a number of Lithuanian SME. The questionnaire for research was prepared according to the scientific literature in the PM field. The eight parts of the questionnaire included questions that cover the main PM activities. The article presents the main findings and hypotheses made on the basis of the research results. The comprehensive description of PM in SME in Lithuania is presented in the following logical order: The main activities of PM are analyzed further in the article. The main conclusion of research is that most of PM activities in SME are far from theoretical propositions on content and methods of performing. The analysis of PM body in Lithuanian SME has showed that the line managers are still the main subjects and decision makers of PM. There exists shortage of professional knowledge and skills in PM area in SME. The transformed Soviet concern to PM, supplemented by the approach that the employee is a hired labour force prevails in Lithuanian SME; the purpose of PM still is to provide the necessary number and composition of employeesVytauto Didžiojo universiteta