Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence

Abstract Human resource management (HRM) becomes increasingly important in embedding sustainability into organisational strategies as global issues including climate change, resource constraint, and social inequality reshape corporate environments. Emphasising HRM's contribution to promoting en...

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Main Authors: J. Leema Christina, R. Alamelu, K. Nigama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01557-3
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author J. Leema Christina
R. Alamelu
K. Nigama
author_facet J. Leema Christina
R. Alamelu
K. Nigama
author_sort J. Leema Christina
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human resource management (HRM) becomes increasingly important in embedding sustainability into organisational strategies as global issues including climate change, resource constraint, and social inequality reshape corporate environments. Emphasising HRM's contribution to promoting environmental, social, and financial sustainability through innovative workforce practices, this paper investigates the intersection of HRM and corporate sustainability performance (CSP). The study uses the PRISMA 2020 framework (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) for systematic data collection and review to guarantee methodological rigour. A multi-method approach combines bibliometric analysis, systematic literature review, and meta-analysis to evaluate HRM's contributions to sustainability comprehensively. Using R software (Bibliometrix package), the bibliometric study revealed intellectual structures, research trends, and prominent field authors, and it mapped thematic clusters and co-authorship networks using VOSviewer. The systematic literature review synthesises empirical evidence, while the meta-analysis quantifies HRM's impact on CSP across economic, environmental, and social dimensions. The meta-analysis results confirm a significant positive relationship between HRM practices and sustainability outcomes, with the most substantial effect observed in economic sustainability. Despite HRM's strategic role, the study identifies persistent gaps, including geographic concentration in developed economies, limited theoretical integration, and underexplored technological advancements such as AI-driven HRM. The study proposes an integrated conceptual model linking HRM strategies with sustainability outcomes, offering a standardised framework for future research. The findings offer valuable insights for HR professionals, policymakers, and business leaders, advocating for integrating sustainability into talent management, performance evaluation, and employee engagement programs. Future research should prioritise cross-regional studies and the role of digital HRM technologies in enhancing corporate sustainability performance.
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spelling doaj-art-a2fda3f1bb534ddcaa61b68536afa6702025-08-20T03:45:39ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-07-016113410.1007/s43621-025-01557-3Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidenceJ. Leema Christina0R. Alamelu1K. Nigama2SRC, SASTRA Deemed to Be UniversitySRC, SASTRA Deemed to Be UniversitySASTRA Deemed to Be UniversityAbstract Human resource management (HRM) becomes increasingly important in embedding sustainability into organisational strategies as global issues including climate change, resource constraint, and social inequality reshape corporate environments. Emphasising HRM's contribution to promoting environmental, social, and financial sustainability through innovative workforce practices, this paper investigates the intersection of HRM and corporate sustainability performance (CSP). The study uses the PRISMA 2020 framework (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) for systematic data collection and review to guarantee methodological rigour. A multi-method approach combines bibliometric analysis, systematic literature review, and meta-analysis to evaluate HRM's contributions to sustainability comprehensively. Using R software (Bibliometrix package), the bibliometric study revealed intellectual structures, research trends, and prominent field authors, and it mapped thematic clusters and co-authorship networks using VOSviewer. The systematic literature review synthesises empirical evidence, while the meta-analysis quantifies HRM's impact on CSP across economic, environmental, and social dimensions. The meta-analysis results confirm a significant positive relationship between HRM practices and sustainability outcomes, with the most substantial effect observed in economic sustainability. Despite HRM's strategic role, the study identifies persistent gaps, including geographic concentration in developed economies, limited theoretical integration, and underexplored technological advancements such as AI-driven HRM. The study proposes an integrated conceptual model linking HRM strategies with sustainability outcomes, offering a standardised framework for future research. The findings offer valuable insights for HR professionals, policymakers, and business leaders, advocating for integrating sustainability into talent management, performance evaluation, and employee engagement programs. Future research should prioritise cross-regional studies and the role of digital HRM technologies in enhancing corporate sustainability performance.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01557-3Sustainable human resource management (sustainable HRM)Corporate sustainability performance (CSP)Green HRMPRISMA frameworkBibliometric analysisMeta-analysis
spellingShingle J. Leema Christina
R. Alamelu
K. Nigama
Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
Discover Sustainability
Sustainable human resource management (sustainable HRM)
Corporate sustainability performance (CSP)
Green HRM
PRISMA framework
Bibliometric analysis
Meta-analysis
title Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
title_full Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
title_fullStr Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
title_full_unstemmed Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
title_short Synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
title_sort synthesizing the impact of sustainable human resource management on corporate sustainability through multi method evidence
topic Sustainable human resource management (sustainable HRM)
Corporate sustainability performance (CSP)
Green HRM
PRISMA framework
Bibliometric analysis
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01557-3
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AT ralamelu synthesizingtheimpactofsustainablehumanresourcemanagementoncorporatesustainabilitythroughmultimethodevidence
AT knigama synthesizingtheimpactofsustainablehumanresourcemanagementoncorporatesustainabilitythroughmultimethodevidence