Characteristics and sense of the human resource practices in small businesses

Abstract

With the purpose of understanding the human resource practices in the small productive units of the industrial, commercial, and services sectors, a research was conducted in 47 small businesses applying a qualitative approach using deep interviews and focus groups. Besides accepting that many principles of human resources proper of big businesses do not apply in the small ones, another three theoretical assumptions were made: The recognition of the rationality of the small entrepreneur, the value of the person as a source of competitive advantage, and the importance of human resources for organizational success. The fi ndings show interesting results to entrepreneurs, unions, academics, and those who are responsible for the formulation of business politics in the region.