Sagan, Michele Adelene
(2025)
Generative sustainability: a human resource framework to navigate the future of work.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
The Future of Work (FoW) has raised concerns about sustainability, leading to significant changes in the workplace. Key megatrends such automation displacing routine tasks, gig work transforming employer-employee contracts, remote and hybrid work impacting employee management, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns driving various diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives, are all impacting organisational and workforce resilience. As such, implementing future-proofed human resource management (HRM) practices can help navigate FoW challenges. Adopting an interpretivist-constructivist thinking, this research utilised a qualitative approach in the form of semi-structured interviews with 39 senior managers and human resource professionals from organisations implementing ESG, CSR and FOW practices. Data collected was then analysed through a qualitative analysis software.
Proposing a unified framework for organisations to navigate FoW, it began by identifying the impact of the megatrends into the 4Ds namely Disruption, Disconnect, Discontent and Degradation and proposing the 4Ps of Profit, People, Purpose and Planet as a way forward in navigating the 4Ds. A Generative Growth approach was identified to manage the tensions between the Ps by leveraging on growth theory to move beyond a focus on economic expansion to one that incorporates sustainable and adaptive growth. This research has also proposed for the need of Generative Organisations that are able to develop generative capability, that of absorptive, adaptive and generative capacity, to navigate FOW. A Generative Organisation matrix is also identified to identify the traits of organisations that are able to drive holistic and sustainable outcomes and future-proof in the face of FOW. This leads to the development of the Generative HRM Framework covering key themes such as strategy and foresight, organisational design, policies and processes, leadership and culture, change management, and organisational learning and growth and extends the role of Generative Leadership in supporting Generative HRM
initiatives for overall organisational success. Together, these theories form a unified framework
that promotes sustainable development, adaptability, and long-term resilience and brings us to the final model, that of Generative Sustainability.
Limitations to the study include the limited scope of comparison due to FoW’s lack of clear definition on FoW, the diverse theoretical framework variations of StHRM and SuHRM, the cultural and contextual impact of the study which is only limited to the Malaysian context, the inability to measure the longitudinal impact of megatrends and the generalisability of the study. Future research could include conducting more empirical studies to identify generative HRM solutions in practice as well to examine the impact of different country and sector-based influences on developing generative solutions. It would also be useful to conduct quantitative studies to development measurement scales to identify the maturity levels of different organisations and HR departments that would fall into the various grids proposed in the Generative Organisation and Generative HRM frameworks. Finally, expanding the participant base in future studies to include a broader range of organisational roles and types, particularly from SMEs, is crucial to obtain a fuller picture of organisational dynamics and HRM effectiveness.
| Item Type: |
Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
(PhD)
|
| Supervisors: |
Kaliannan, Maniam
Sim, Mandy |
| Keywords: |
future of work (FOW); sustainability; human resource management (HRM); automation; gig work; remote and hybrid work |
| Subjects: |
H Social sciences > HF Commerce |
| Faculties/Schools: |
University of Nottingham, Malaysia > Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Nottingham University Business School |
| Item ID: |
80363 |
| Depositing User: |
SAGAN, Michele
|
| Date Deposited: |
08 Feb 2025 04:40 |
| Last Modified: |
08 Feb 2025 04:40 |
| URI: |
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/80363 |
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