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Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development
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Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2023) | Viewed by 13862

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rollnik-Sadowska Ewa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska, Białystok, Poland
Interests: labour economics; labour market policy; labour market efficiency; competencies of the future
Dr. Marko Slavkovic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića бб, Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: human resource management; strategic management; strategic human resource management; project management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused important changes related to organisations and the labour market, accelerating the implementation of a flexible strategy approach to support employees’ health and the continuation of operations. Numerous effects of such an approach have already been revealed and they were accepted as a new reality, but without a long-term perception of delayed impacts on people, the labour market and organisations. Growing signs of the pandemic urge the need for new insights into the role of human capital within public organisations and companies as well as changes in both the supply of and demand for labour. Critical thinking on direct and side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on human capital should contribute to a better understanding of future actions and strategies to assure sustainable development.

In times of uncertainty and changes in the labour market, shaping the future of human capital emerges as a significant determinant for the growth of national economies, company competitiveness and the functioning of public organisations, i.e., schools, public services and healthcare institutions. The perceived effects and learned lessons on changes in human factors and behaviour during the pandemic influence future directions and insights in the business practice as well as academic research. Thus, studies focused on issues related to human capital during the COVID-19 pandemic, inducing new precepts and predictions on new trends and outlook insights, as well as research directed to already identified changes and trends are welcome.

This Special Issue explores current changes and developments in the labour market, public organisations and companies in terms of human resource issues. We look forward to receiving your contributions in different aspects of human capital in the area of economics, human resource management, talent management, strategic management, project management, public policy and new applications of technology in the context of the sustainable development of organisations and economies.

Dr. Rollnik-Sadowska Ewa
Dr. Marko Slavkovic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Labour market trends
  • Future of labour market institutions
  • People and organisation perspectives
  • People and technology perspectives
  • Human capital development
  • Human capital in public institutions
  • Strategic human resource management
  • Talent management
  • Learning and knowledge management.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 678 KiB  
Article
The Experiences of Layoff Survivors: Navigating Organizational Justice in Times of Crisis
by Sanghyun Lee, Sounman Hong, Won-Yong Shin and Bong Gyou Lee
Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16717; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416717 - 11 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
This study explores the impact of COVID-19 layoffs on surviving employees’ perceptions at Airbnb, a key player in the hospitality industry, during the global pandemic. The crisis brought organizational justice into sharp focus, raising questions about fairness, employee satisfaction, and trust in management. [...] Read more.
This study explores the impact of COVID-19 layoffs on surviving employees’ perceptions at Airbnb, a key player in the hospitality industry, during the global pandemic. The crisis brought organizational justice into sharp focus, raising questions about fairness, employee satisfaction, and trust in management. Utilizing an interpretivist approach, we conducted fifteen semi-structured interviews with Airbnb employees who survived the layoffs. Accompanied by a comprehensive literature review, our analysis delved into the challenges these employees encountered. The thematic analysis uncovered insights into organizational justice dimensions—distributive, procedural, interactive, and informational—and their role in shaping fairness perceptions and employee outcomes. Findings reveal that despite challenging circumstances, empathetic and proactive practices like regular check-ins and transparent communication significantly helped maintain fairness perceptions among survivors. This counters the common belief that layoffs invariably diminish justice perceptions. Our study demonstrates that negative impacts can be effectively mitigated through thoughtful organizational practices. In conclusion, the research underscores the importance of organizational justice during crisis-induced layoffs. It advocates for maintaining fairness and transparency to preserve employee trust and satisfaction, which are vital for organizational resilience and sustainability. This study enriches the literature on organizational justice and crisis management, providing valuable insights for businesses in similar situations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development)
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26 pages, 1565 KiB  
Article
Competencies and Capabilities for the Management of Sustainable Rural Development Projects in the Value Chain: Perception from Small and Medium-Sized Business Agents in Jauja, Peru
by Ronald Jiménez Aliaga, Ignacio De los Ríos-Carmenado, Amparo Elena Huamán Cristóbal, Hélida Aliaga Balbín and Alexander Martín Marroquín Heros
Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15580; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152115580 - 2 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1167
Abstract
The guinea pig value chain in Jauja, Peru, has been developed through the application of productive projects, institutional strengthening, and implementation of the Principles of Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). Given the smallholding conditions of the Jauja territory and the [...] Read more.
The guinea pig value chain in Jauja, Peru, has been developed through the application of productive projects, institutional strengthening, and implementation of the Principles of Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). Given the smallholding conditions of the Jauja territory and the proliferation of commercial guinea pig breeding, the actors in this chain constitute a key human capital for development. To improve the performance of the actors in the sustainable rural development of the territory of Jauja, Peru, the research carried out an evaluation of the competencies and capabilities for project management in 46 actors linked to the business programme on the CFS-RAI Principles, representing 1094 people in the guinea pig value chain in Jauja, using the Working With People (WWP) model and empirical instruments based on the Octagon method, project management competence evaluation, performance evaluation carried out by experts, attitudinal evaluation. and the Business Model Canvas. The results have helped to structure the actors of the value chain, who show an intermediate mastery of project management competencies (2.73/5), institutional capabilities in development (2.89/7), and a growing organisational management performance (26.2/100). In addition, trust and proactivity have been generated among the actors in the chain, with an interest in continuing with the implementation of the CFS-RAI Principles in order to achieve sustainability in their productive projects with commercial innovation. The results have allowed us to generate the design of an innovative programme for the development of competencies, which balances the three dimensions of project management competencies (perspective, people, and practice), as defined by the International Project Management Association (IPMA), in connection with the CFS-RAI Principles. Both processes complement the strengthening of human capital in agrifood value chains through sustainable project management and contributing to sustainable development in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development)
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16 pages, 485 KiB  
Article
Sustainability of Human Capital Efficiency in the Hotel Industry: Panel Data Evidence
by Marko Slavković, Jasmina Ognjanović and Marijana Bugarčić
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032268 - 26 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2212
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant changes to business operations, particularly addressing human resources and their role within the firm. This study aims to assess the sustainability of human capital efficiency in the hotel industry, including the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant changes to business operations, particularly addressing human resources and their role within the firm. This study aims to assess the sustainability of human capital efficiency in the hotel industry, including the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with the value-based approach, the human capital efficiency (HCE) coefficient was calculated on a sample of 157 hotels in a five-year period, including the year in which the pandemic was declared. We employed a quantitative methodology based on the VAICTM method of assessing human capital efficiency and Annual Compounded Growth Rate (ACGR) to evaluate the trend of human capital efficiency. The research results showed a change in the trend of human capital efficiency in the hotel industry in 2020, as well as a change in the mean value of the HCE coefficient. Hotels with a higher category demonstrated a better ability to create value using human capital. The contribution of this work is represented in the quantification of the sustainability of human capital efficiency in the observed period and the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the value-added efficiency of human capital in the hotel industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development)
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18 pages, 1030 KiB  
Article
Talent Retention of New Generations for Sustainable Employment Relationships in Work 4.0 Era—Assessment by Fuzzy Delphi Method
by Lung-Hsin Lin and Kung-Jeng Wang
Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11535; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141811535 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2641
Abstract
The transformation in Industry 4.0 has impacted not only manufacturing systems but also work, essentially changing the nature of work. “Work 4.0” is referred to as “Industry 4.0”, but with a focus on sustainable employment relationships and the forms of work. However, the [...] Read more.
The transformation in Industry 4.0 has impacted not only manufacturing systems but also work, essentially changing the nature of work. “Work 4.0” is referred to as “Industry 4.0”, but with a focus on sustainable employment relationships and the forms of work. However, the issue of talent retention (TR) in the Work 4.0 context remains unsolved. The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing TR among different generations for the development of sustainable employment relationships from a Work 4.0 perspective. Accordingly, we put forward propositions concerning TR and generational effects in Work 4.0 scenarios. By evaluating the influencing factors using the fuzzy Delphi method, 19 TR determinants were eventually extracted. Furthermore, considering generational effects, our results indicate that Work 4.0 has a higher impact on TR for Gen Y than for Gen X and Baby Boomers. The talents of the new generation seem to pay more attention to autonomy and digitalization at work (e.g., flexible work arrangements and knowledge management through digitalization) but are tired of bureaucracies. The results provided in this study may offer organizations a reference for better meeting the preferences of talents, regarding work in the context of Work 4.0, allowing them to fine-tune their strategies for sustainable talent management, thus enhancing TR in the digital era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development)
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25 pages, 1028 KiB  
Article
The Moderator Effect of Communicative Rational Action in the Relationship between Emotional Labor and Job Satisfaction
by Ahmet Yavuz Çamlı, Türker B. Palamutçuoğlu, Nicoleta Bărbuță-Mișu, Selin Çavuşoğlu, Florina Oana Virlanuta, Yaşar Alkan, Sofia David and Ludmila Daniela Manea
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7625; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137625 - 22 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2029
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether emotional labor behavior has an effect on job satisfaction, and if there is an effect, to reveal whether communicative rational action has a moderator effect. This research was carried out in the banking sector. [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to determine whether emotional labor behavior has an effect on job satisfaction, and if there is an effect, to reveal whether communicative rational action has a moderator effect. This research was carried out in the banking sector. The sample group consisted of administrators of foreign capital bank managers (427) at all levels in Turkey. The collected data were analyzed with the IBM SPSS 21 program. Multiple regression analysis and SPSS PROCESS v3.5 (model1) methods were used in the analysis. According to the analysis, the three sub-dimensions of communicative rational action (practical-rational action, rational communication, and rational action) have a moderator role in the effect of emotional labor and job satisfaction. The other two sub dimensions (value–rational–action and firm family) do not have a moderator role in this effect. In the analysis made according to the total score of communicative rational action, the moderator role of communicative rational action in the effect of emotional labor and job satisfaction was determined. As a result of the research and analysis, it was determined that emotional labor has a positive effect on the phenomenon of job satisfaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development)
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30 pages, 626 KiB  
Article
Prolonged Emergency Remote Teaching: Sustainable E-Learning or Human Capital Stuck in Online Limbo?
by Petar Vrgović, Jasmina Pekić, Milan Mirković, Andraš Anderla and Bojan Leković
Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4584; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084584 - 12 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2223
Abstract
We introduce the term “prolonged emergency remote teaching” to accentuate the temporal aspect of the current educational crisis. In-depth lived experiences of students and teaching staff in one engineering education institution were examined, in order to depict what being involved in an exclusively [...] Read more.
We introduce the term “prolonged emergency remote teaching” to accentuate the temporal aspect of the current educational crisis. In-depth lived experiences of students and teaching staff in one engineering education institution were examined, in order to depict what being involved in an exclusively online communication feels like from the personal perspective, thus examining e-learning sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews with samples of students and teaching staff were conducted, and then psychological phenomenology was employed to produce rich descriptions of their personal experiences and impressions. Both the students and the faculty employees observed e-learning during the Fall semester of 2020 as challenging and artificial. Although trying to function as everything is in order, as the semester unfolded, motivation deteriorated, communication turned more and more superficial, and limitations became more prominent. For both sides, although there were some conveniences, the educational process yielded sub-optimal results and was hard to sustain; intellectual and social capital of both sides appeared to be underutilized. We present conclusions and recommendations, suggesting that modern technologies should help both sides to adapt to the new reality, instead of feeling stuck in an online “limbo”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future of Human Capital from the Perspective of Sustainable Development)
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