Employee Relations: Volume 21 Issue 3

Employment relations in SMEs

Adrian Wilkinson

Most of the HRM literature is based on large firms despite the growing significance now accorded to smaller firms. In this paper, we explore employment relations in SMEs and argue…

Employment relations in SMEs: Market‐driven or customer‐shaped?

Nick Kinnie, John Purcell, Sue Hutchinson, Mike Terry, Margaret Collinson, Harry Scarbrough

The changing environment within which SMEs are operating is examined by reference to detailed case studies of three medium‐sized firms (one in the pharmaceutical sector and two in…

Recruitment in small firms: Processes, methods and problems

Marilyn Carroll, Mick Marchington, Jill Earnshaw, Stephen Taylor

The article summarises findings from recent case study research into recruitment in small firms. The research aims to ascertain whether small firms follow the procedures outlined…

“Looking out of the black‐hole”: Non‐union relations in an SME

Tony Dundon, Irena Grugulis, Adrian Wilkinson

Using a single case study approach this paper provides empirical evidence about managerial practices in a small, non‐unionised firm which represents many of the features…

Management by association: Interpreting small firm‐associate links in the business services sector

Monder Ram

A key characteristic of small business service firms is their capacity to draw on similar businesses or self‐employed professionals in order to compete with large organisations…

Employee relations in small firms: A micro‐business perspective

Harry Matlay

This article draws on a three‐year comparative study of employee relations in small, medium‐sized and large organisations in Britain. It sets out to identify, record and analyse…

Investment in management training and development by small businesses

John Loan‐Clarke, Grahame Boocock, Alison Smith, John Whittaker

The topic of management training and development (MTD) in small businesses is relatively under‐researched, and an increased understanding of the factors influencing the purchase…

Industrial relations in small firms: The case of the Australian information industry

Rowena Barrett

Industrial relations in small firms, when they are defined in terms of their employment size, are generally described as harmonious. Industrial relations in small firms operating…

Decentralised and deregulated Australian industrial relations: The effects on HRM and IR in small enterprises

Bob Horstman

This article analyses the recent move from highly centralised and regulated Australian industrial relations processes towards a decentralised and deregulated system which…