Jaroslav Belas

Alexander Dubček University in Trenčín,

Trenčín, Slovakia

belas111@gmail.com 

ORCID 0000-0002-5900-997X

The impact of selected HRM factors on company´s survival of SMEs: Empirical research in V4 countries

Renata Machova

Department of Management, J. Selye University,

Slovak Republic

machova@ujs.sk 

ORCID 0000-0002-7817-0187

Judit Oláh

John von Neumann University,

Kecskemét, Hungary;

College of Business and Economics,

University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa;

University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics and Business, Hungary

olah.judit@econ.unideb.hu

ORCID 0000-0003-2247-1711

Zdenko Metzker

Tomas Bata University in Zlín,

Czech Republic

metzker@utb.cz 

ORCID 0000-0002-6962-2428

Abstract. This paper aimed to present and quantify the impact of significant HRM factors on the survival of SMEs in the V4 countries. In June 2022, researchers conducted a study in the Visegrad Four countries to understand the attitudes of SMEs. The study employed a random sampling method and included 1,398 respondents. The established scientific hypothesis was verified using linear regression modelling at a significance level of ɑ = 5%. The study found a link between specific HR practices and the medium-term survival of SMEs in the Visegrad Four countries. The intensity of this dependence varies across the V4 countries. Czech respondents emphasized the importance of investing in improving the qualification of their employees in the context of firm sustainability. At the same time, Slovak SMEs drew attention to the importance of the existing incentive system for employees. SMEs in Poland strongly and positively perceived the importance of human capital in the company and regular evaluation of employee performance in their attitudes. A somewhat surprising finding is that in Hungary, the individual HRM factors were not statistically significant. The aggregate model for all V4 countries showed the highest intensity of dependence between the defined variables.

Received: April, 2023

1st Revision: January, 2024

Accepted: March, 2024

DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2024/17-1/7

JEL Classification: J24, J53, L26

Keywords: small and medium-sized enterprises, Human Resource Management, factors of HRM, company´s survival