High performance work systems and export performance

Abstract

Invoking the resource-based view (RBV), this study argues that a set of human resource practices collectively referred to as high performance work systems (HPWS) will positively impact firms' export performance. We also suggest that this relationship will be moderated by the uncertainty levels in firms' general business environments. We test these relationships using a sample of 145 exporting firms in Spain's food processing sector. Results indicate a direct positive effect for HPWS on export performance, with the effect moderated by perceived environmental uncertainty.

Keywords:

• environmental uncertainty
• export performance
• HPWS
• human resources

Acknowledgements

We thank the managers in our sample for their participation and responses. Project SEC 2003-07755 (European Union) and FBBVA partially supported this research.

Notes

1. Other related terms would include ‘high involvement’ (Lawler 1992), ‘high commitment’ (Arthur 1992), and ‘innovative’ or ‘sophisticated’ work practices (Koch and McGrath 1996).

2. INE Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain's National Statistics Institute).

3. The questions were originally presented in Spanish. The Appendix contains the English language translation.

4. In terms of size, responding firms had a mean of 55 employees (with the median value being 25 employees).