Impact of Human Resource Management Practices (HRM) on Performance of SMEs in Multan, Pakistan

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) support countries’ economies in financial context and also create employment opportunities. Human resource management (HRM) practices are very important to equip employees via training & development, employees’ motivation through effective rewards policies and effective recruitment and selection process. The global competition is one of compelling force behind companies to adopt human resource management (HRM) practices professionally. Human resource plays a vital role to improve organizational performance and create competitive advantage in this competitive era. The world has been globalized and companies are facing cut throat completion in the market. Therefore, human capital is one of major source to enhance organizational performance. Pakistani SMEs are producing heterogeneous products related to trade, agriculture business and manufacturing. A collection of 320 self-administered and well-structured questionnaires were distributed among the employees of small and medium enterprises of Multan. Only 240 forms were got back. Statistical tests like correlation and regression were applied through SPSS V22. The outcomes revealed that HRM practices (employee recruitment & selection, training & development, rewards policy and performance appraisals) are positively associated with SMEs performance. The results conclude that when HR experts of SMEs focus on improvement of these practices organizational performance would be increased.