Skip to main content

A Stakeholder Perspective for Sustainable HRM

Literature Review and a Research Agenda

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

Sustainability and stakeholder theory and management are two interrelated topics, because stakeholder’s claims impact on the social, environmental, and economic performances of the organization. Indeed, a cooperative relation between the company and its stakeholders can trigger the development of the company sustainability. Within this perspective, the chapter explores Sustainable HRM from a stakeholder perspective. As a result, some knowledge gaps are highlighted and a research agenda composed of theoretical, managerial and methodological dimensions is advanced and discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bakan J (2004) The corporation: the pathological pursuit of profit and power. Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura A, Caprara G, Zsolnai L (2002) Corporate transgressions. In: Zsolnai L (ed) Ethics in the economy. Handbook of business ethics. Lang, Oxford, pp 151–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker UC (2012) Sustainability ethics and sustainability research. Springer, Heidelberg

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Beer M, Spector B, Lawrence PR, Mills DQ, Walton RE (1984) Managing human assets. Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Boselie P, Dietz G, Boon C (2005) Commonalities and contradictions in HRM and performance research. Hum Resour Manage J 15(3):67–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boudreau JW, Ramstad PM (2005) Talentship, talent segmentation and sustainability: a new HR decision science paradigm for a new strategy definition. Hum Resour Manage 44(2):129–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll AB (1989) Business and society. Ethics and stakeholder management. South-Western Publishing, Cincinnati

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll AB (1991) The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: toward the moral management of organizational stakeholders. Bus Horizons 34:39–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll A, Buchholtz AK (2011) Business & society, 8th edn. South-Western Cengage Learning, Mason, Ohio, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Clifton D, Amran A (2010) The stakeholder approach: a sustainability perspective. J Bus Ethics 98:121–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colakoglu S, Lepak DP, Hong Y (2006) Measuring HRM effectiveness: considering multiple stakeholders in a global context. Hum Resour Manage Rev 16(2):209–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daily BF, Huang S (2001) Achieving sustainability through attention to human resource factors in environmental management. Int J Operat Prod Manage 21(12):1539–1552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davenport K (2000) Corporate citizenship: a stakeholder approach for defining corporate social performance and identifying measures for assessing it. Bus Soc 39(2):210–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Docherty P, Forslin J, Shani AB (Rami) (eds) (2002a) Creating sustainable work systems: emerging perspectives and practice. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Docherty P, Forslin J, Shani AB (Rami), Kira M (2002b) Emerging work systems: from intensive to sustainable. In: Docherty P, Forslin J, Shani AB (Rami) (eds) Creating sustainable work systems: emerging perspectives and practice. Routledge, London, pp 3–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Docherty P, Kira M, Shani AB (Rami) (eds) (2008) Creating sustainable work systems: developing social sustainability, 2nd edn. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson T, Preston LE (1995) The stakeholder theory of the corporation: concepts, evidence, and implications. Acad Manage Rev 20(1):65–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll C, Starik M (2004) The primordial stakeholder: advancing the conceptual consideration of stakeholder status for the natural environment. J Bus Ethics 49(1):55–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyllick T, Hockerts K (2002) Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability. Bus Strateg Environ 11(2):130–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehnert I (2009) Sustainable human resource management: a conceptual and exploratory analysis from a paradox perspective, Contributions to management science series. Physica/Springer, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhardt KM (1989) Building theories from case study research. Acad Manage Rev 14(4):532–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Elkington J (1998) Cannibals with forks: the triple bottom line of the 21st century business. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island/Stony Creek

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrary M (2009) A stakeholder’s perspective on human resource management. J Bus Ethics 87:31–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figge F, Hahn T, Schaltegger S, Wagner M (2002) The sustainability balanced scorecard – linking sustainability management to business strategy. Bus Strateg Environ 11(5):269–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraederick J, Ferrell OC (2012) Business ethics: ethical decision making and cases. South-Western College Publishing, Mason

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederick WC, Davis K, Post JE (1988) Business and society. Corporate strategy, public policy, ethics. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman RE (1984) Strategic management: a stakeholder approach. Pitman, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant RM (2002) Contemporary strategy analysis. Concepts, techniques, applications, 4th edn. Oxford, Blackwell

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood MR (2002) Ethics and HRM: a review and conceptual analysis. J Bus Ethics 36(3):261–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood M, Cieri H (2007) Stakeholder theory and the ethics of HRM. In: Pinnington AH, Macklin R, Campbell T (eds) Human resource management. Ethics and employment. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 119–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerci M, Vinante M (2011) Training evaluation: an analysis of the stakeholders’ evaluation needs. J Eur Ind Train 35(4):385–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerci M, Bartezzaghi E, Solari L (2010) Training evaluation in Italian corporate universities: a stakeholder-based analysis. Int J Hum Resour Dev 14(4):291–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Guest DE (2011) Human resource management and performance: still searching for some answers. Hum Resour Manage J 21(1):3–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertz N (2001) The silent takeover: global capitalism and the death of democracy. Heinemann, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hitt M, Ireland D, Hoskisson R (2005) Strategic management: competitiveness and globalization: concepts, 6th edn. Thompson/Southwestern, Mason

    Google Scholar 

  • Holling CS (2001) Understanding the complexity of economic. Ecol Soc Syst Ecosyst 4:390–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosseini CJ, Brenner SN (1992) The stakeholder theory of the firm: a methodology to generate value matrix weight. Bus Ethics Q 2(2):99–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson SE, Schuler RS (2003) Managing human resources through strategic partnerships, 8th edn. South-Western, Cincinnati

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen MC (2001) Value maximization, stakeholder theory, and the corporate objective function. J Appl Corp Finance 14(3):8–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones TM, Felps W, Bigley GA (2007) Ethical theory and stakeholder-related decisions: the role of stakeholder culture. Acad Manage Rev 32(1):137–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kira M (2002) Moving from consuming to regenerative work. In: Docherty P, Forslin J, Shani AB (Rami) (eds) Creating sustainable work systems: emerging perspectives and practice. Routledge, London, pp 29–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick DL (1998) Evaluating training programs: the four levels. Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein N (2000) No logo: taking aim at the brand bullies. Knopf–Random, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Konrad A, Steurer R, Langer ME, Martinuzzi A (2006) Empirical findings on business – society relations in Europe. J Bus Ethics 63:89–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalski GV, Cousins JB (2000) Differences in stakeholder perceptions about training evaluation: a concept mapping/pattern matching investigation. Eval Program Plann 23:211–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalski GV, Cousins JB (2001) Multiple perspectives on training evaluation: probing stakeholder perceptions in a global network development firm. Am J Eval 22(1):37–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills RW, Weinstein B (2000) Beyond shareholder value – reconciling the shareholder and stakeholder perspectives. J Gen Manage 25(3):79–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell RK, Agle BR, Wood DJ (1997) Toward a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: defining the principle of who and what really counts. Acad Manage Rev 42(5):507–525

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohrman S, (Rami) Shani AB (eds) (2011) Research in organizing for sustainability, vol 1. Emerald Publications, Bingley

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickols FW (2005) Why a stakeholder approach to evaluation training. Adv Dev Hum Resour 7(1):121–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paauwe J, Boselie P (2005) HRM and performance: what next? Hum Resour Manage J 15:68–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parbotteah BB, Cullen JB (2012) Business ethics. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasmore WA. Stymne B, Shani AB (Rami), Mohrman SA, Adler N (2008) The promise of collaborative management research. In: Shani AB (Rami), Mohrman SA, Pasmore WA, Stymne B, Adler N (eds) Handbook of collaborative management research. Sage, Thousand Oaks, pp 7–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips JJ (1996) ROI: the search for best practices. Train Dev 50:42–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Post JE, Preston LE, Sachs S (2002) Managing the extended enterprise: the new stakeholder view. Calif Manage Rev 45(1):6–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preble JF (2005) Toward a comprehensive model of stakeholder management. Bus Soc Rev 110(4):421–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramus CA, Steger U (2000) The roles of supervisory support behaviors and environmental policy in employee “ecoinitiatives” at leading-edge European companies. Acad Manage J 43(4):605–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • (Rami) Shani AB, Mohrman S (2011) Organizing for sustainable effectiveness: reprise and way forward. In: Mohrman S, (Rami) Shani AB (eds) Research in organizing for sustainability, vol 1. Emerald Publications, Bingley, pp 215–238

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rappaport A (1986) Creating shareholder value. The new standard for business performance. New York, Free Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds SJ, Schultz FC, Hekman DR (2006) Stakeholder theory and managerial decision-making: constraints and implications of balancing stakeholder interests. J Bus Ethics 64(3):285–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savage GT, Nix WT, Whitehead CJ, Blair JD (1991) Strategies for assessing and managing organization stakeholders. Acad Manage Exec 5(2):61–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitanidi MM, Koufopoulos DN, Palmer P (2010) Partnership formation for change: indicators for transformative potential in cross sector social partnerships. J Bus Ethics 94:139–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons JA (2003) Balancing performance, accountability and equity in stakeholder relationships: towards more socially responsible HR practice. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manage 10(3):129–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith NC (2003) Corporate social responsibility: whether or how? Calif Manage Rev 45(4):52–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steurer R, Langer ME, Konrad A, Martinuzzi A (2005) Corporations, stakeholders and sustainable development. I: A theoretical exploration of business–society relations. J Bus Ethics 61:263–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich D, Brockbank W (2005) The HR value proposition. Harvard Business School Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickers MR (2005) Business ethics and the HR role: past, present, and future. Hum Resour Plann 28(1):26–32

    Google Scholar 

  • WCED (1987) Our common future. World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler D, Sillanpaa N (1997) The stakeholder corporation: a blueprint for maximizing stakeholder value. Pitman Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler D, Colbert B, Freeman E (2003) Focusing on value: reconciling corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and stakeholder approach in a network world. J Gen Manage 28(3):1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Worley CG, Lawler E III (2010) Built to change organizations and responsible progress: twin pillars of sustainable success. In: Pasmore WA, Shani AB, Woodman RW (eds) Research in organizational change and development. Bingley, UK: Emerald Publications, vol 18, pp 1–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright PM, McMahan GC (1992) Theoretical perspectives for strategic human resource management. J Manage 18(2):295–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Guerci .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Guerci, M., Shani, A.B.(., Solari, L. (2014). A Stakeholder Perspective for Sustainable HRM. In: Ehnert, I., Harry, W., Zink, K. (eds) Sustainability and Human Resource Management. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37524-8_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics