Human Resource Management Practices of Sunshine Coast Small Firms with Reference to the Prescribed Models

The small business sector is an important avenue for absorbing the increasing number of unemployed persons, many laid off from the public sector and by large firms. Small business owner-managers, however, have little or no experience with staff management, given that many small businesses are labour intensive. Research into HRM in small firms is limited, particularly in Australia. However, management processes in small firms are unique and may differ significantly from contemporary management theory and principles. This article aims to fill gaps in the literature by assessing the extent to which small firms on the Sunshine Coast region of Australia meet prescribed HRM practices.