IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i19p10853-d646683.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dialogues in Sustainable HRM: Examining and Positioning Intended and Continuous Dialogue in Sustainable HRM Using a Complexity Thinking Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Jan Willem Nuis

    (Business Faculty, Christian University of Applied Science Ede (CHE UAS), P.O. Box 80, 6710 BB Ede, The Netherlands
    Faculty General Management, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, P.O. Box 130, 3620 AC Breukelen, The Netherlands)

  • Pascale Peters

    (Faculty General Management, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, P.O. Box 130, 3620 AC Breukelen, The Netherlands)

  • Rob Blomme

    (Faculty General Management, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, P.O. Box 130, 3620 AC Breukelen, The Netherlands
    Faculty of Management Sciences, Open Universiteit, P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Henk Kievit

    (Business Faculty, Christian University of Applied Science Ede (CHE UAS), P.O. Box 80, 6710 BB Ede, The Netherlands
    Faculty General Management, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, P.O. Box 130, 3620 AC Breukelen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In the emerging sustainable Human Resource Management (HRM) literature, advocating to ‘rehumanize’ and pluralize HRM, dialogue is put forward as a silver bullet to cope with paradoxical tensions and pluralist workforces. This conceptual paper aims to add to the sustainable HRM literature by examining the position and application of dialogue within sustainable HRM, using ideas and concepts from dialogue literature and complexity thinking. We applied core concepts of complexity thinking (i.e., self-organization, nonlinearity, attractors, and emergence) to deepen our understanding of the positioning of dialogue, the position of power, and the emergence of intended and unintended outcomes. Moreover, through the distinction between intentional and continuous dialogue, the intentional, dynamic, and emergent nature of dialogue was explored. Connecting, sensing, grasping, and influencing the local patterning of continuous dialogue is important for positioning dialogue within sustainable HRM, and intentional dialogical practices can support this. More specifically, based on our literature review, we present a conceptual model that furthers our understanding of (1) conceptualizations of dialogue as both intended and continuous; (2) the role of power in dialogue; (3) how stability and novelty emerge from dialogue. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the developed perspectives on dialogue for future research as well as management practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Willem Nuis & Pascale Peters & Rob Blomme & Henk Kievit, 2021. "Dialogues in Sustainable HRM: Examining and Positioning Intended and Continuous Dialogue in Sustainable HRM Using a Complexity Thinking Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10853-:d:646683
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/19/10853/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/19/10853/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Werner Nienhueser, 2011. "Empirical Research on Human Resource Management as a Production of Ideology," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 22(4), pages 367-393.
    2. Helen Francis & Anne Keegan, 2020. "The Ethics of Engagement in an Age of Austerity: A Paradox Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 593-607, March.
    3. Maddy Janssens & Chris Steyaert, 2009. "HRM and Performance: A Plea for Reflexivity in HRM Studies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 143-155, January.
    4. Ina Ehnert & Wes Harry & Klaus J. Zink, 2014. "Sustainability and HRM," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Ina Ehnert & Wes Harry & Klaus J. Zink (ed.), Sustainability and Human Resource Management, edition 127, pages 3-32, Springer.
    5. Werner Nienhueser, 2011. "Empirical Research on Human Resource Management as a Production of Ideology," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 22(4), pages 367-393.
    6. Paul J. Gollan & Ying Xu, 2014. "Fostering Corporate Sustainability," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Ina Ehnert & Wes Harry & Klaus J. Zink (ed.), Sustainability and Human Resource Management, edition 127, pages 225-245, Springer.
    7. Megan Reitz, 2015. "Dialogue in Organizations," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-48912-8.
    8. Michelle Greenwood & Harry J. Van Buren, 2017. "Ideology in HRM Scholarship: Interrogating the Ideological Performativity of ‘New Unitarism’," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(4), pages 663-678, June.
    9. Jeffrey Goldstein & James K. Hazy & Benyamin B. Lichtenstein, 2010. "Complexity and the Nexus of Leadership," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-10771-7.
    10. Mariappanadar, Sugumar, 2020. "Do HRM systems impose restrictions on employee quality of life? Evidence from a sustainable HRM perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 38-48.
    11. Hugo Letiche & Michael Lissack & Ron Schultz, 2011. "Coherence in the Midst of Complexity," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-00180-1.
    12. Mari Kira & Svante Lifvergren, 2014. "Sowing Seeds for Sustainability in Work Systems," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Ina Ehnert & Wes Harry & Klaus J. Zink (ed.), Sustainability and Human Resource Management, edition 127, pages 57-81, Springer.
    13. Ina Ehnert, 2014. "Paradox as a Lens for Theorizing Sustainable HRM," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Ina Ehnert & Wes Harry & Klaus J. Zink (ed.), Sustainability and Human Resource Management, edition 127, pages 247-271, Springer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Roel Schouteten & Beatrice van der Heijden & Pascale Peters & Sascha Kraus-Hoogeveen & Leonie Heres, 2021. "More Roads Lead to Rome. HR Configurations and Employee Sustainability Outcomes in Public Sector Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matthijs Bal & Andy Brookes, 2022. "How Sustainable Is Human Resource Management Really? An Argument for Radical Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Michelle Greenwood & Harry J. Van Buren, 2017. "Ideology in HRM Scholarship: Interrogating the Ideological Performativity of ‘New Unitarism’," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(4), pages 663-678, June.
    3. Astrid Kainzbauer & Parisa Rungruang, 2019. "Science Mapping the Knowledge Base on Sustainable Human Resource Management, 1982–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Živilė Stankevičiūtė & Asta Savanevičienė, 2018. "Designing Sustainable HRM: The Core Characteristics of Emerging Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, December.
    5. Živilė Stankevičiūtė & Asta Savanevičienė, 2018. "Raising the Curtain in People Management by Exploring How Sustainable HRM Translates to Practice: The Case of Lithuanian Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-31, November.
    6. Maria Järlström & Essi Saru & Sinikka Vanhala, 2018. "Sustainable Human Resource Management with Salience of Stakeholders: A Top Management Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 703-724, October.
    7. De Prins, Peggy & Van Beirendonck, Lou & De Vos, Ans & Segers, Jesse, 2014. "Sustainable HRM: Bridging theory and practice through the ‘Respect Openness Continuity (ROC)’-model," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 25(4), pages 263-284.
    8. Barbara Sypniewska & Małgorzata Baran & Monika Kłos, 2023. "Work engagement and employee satisfaction in the practice of sustainable human resource management – based on the study of Polish employees," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1069-1100, September.
    9. Helen Francis & Anne Keegan, 2020. "The Ethics of Engagement in an Age of Austerity: A Paradox Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 593-607, March.
    10. Mine Karatas‐Ozkan & Çağla Özgören & Sibel Yamak & Shahnaz Ibrahim & Melike Nur Tunalıoğlu & Ashly Pinnington & Katerina Nicolopoulou & Yehuda Baruch, 2022. "Dual nature of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and human resource management: A blessing or a curse?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1578-1594, September.
    11. Natàlia Cugueró-Escofet & Pilar Ficapal-Cusí & Joan Torrent-Sellens, 2019. "Sustainable Human Resource Management: How to Create a Knowledge Sharing Behavior through Organizational Justice, Organizational Support, Satisfaction and Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-20, September.
    12. Coun, Martine J.H. & Peters, Pascale & Blomme, Rob J., 2019. "‘Let's share!’ The mediating role of employees' self-determination in the relationship between transformational and shared leadership and perceived knowledge sharing among peers," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 481-491.
    13. Azra Ahmic & Selma Smajlovic, 2022. "Sustainable Human Resource Management Relationship With The Human Resource Risk Reduction," Economic Review: Journal of Economics and Business, University of Tuzla, Faculty of Economics, vol. 20(2), pages 65-78, November.
    14. Muhammad Mohiuddin & Elahe Hosseini & Sedigheh Bagheri Faradonbeh & Mehdi Sabokro, 2022. "Achieving Human Resource Management Sustainability in Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-19, January.
    15. Pedro Ferreira & Carla Gabriel & Sílvia Faria & Pedro Rodrigues & Manuel Sousa Pereira, 2020. "What if Employees Brought Their Life to Work? The Relation of Life Satisfaction and Work Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-12, March.
    16. Andrew Lynn, 2022. "Ethics, Economics, and the Specter of Naturalism: The Enduring Relevance of the Harmony Doctrine School of Economics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 661-673, July.
    17. Chen, Jian-xun & Zhang, Bo & Zhan, Wu & Sharma, Piyush & Budhwar, Pawan & Tan, Hui, 2022. "Demystifying the non-linear effect of high commitment work systems (HCWS) on firms’ strategic intention of exploratory innovation: An extended resource-based view," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    18. Shao-Long Li & Fang Sun & Mingze Li, 2019. "Sustainable Human Resource Management Nurtures Change-Oriented Employees: Relationship between High-Commitment Work Systems and Employees’ Taking Charge Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-15, June.
    19. Joe Tidd, 2014. "Conjoint Innovation: Building A Bridge Between Innovation And Entrepreneurship," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 18(01), pages 1-20.
    20. James K. Hazy, 2012. "Leading large: emergent learning and adaptation in complex social networks," International Journal of Complexity in Leadership and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(1/2), pages 52-73.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10853-:d:646683. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.