Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department

The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers faced by Department X, a government body in Gauteng, South Africa, when trying to apply Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) principles. To help businesses become more sustainable and accelerate the transition to a green economy, GHRM combines...

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Main Authors: Farai Nyika, Precious Nompumelelo Nqobile Nkosi-Mahla, Khalida Akbar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Zaporizhzhia National University 2024-12-01
Series:Менеджмент та підприємництво: тренди розвитку
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Online Access:https://management-journal.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/541/290
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author Farai Nyika
Precious Nompumelelo Nqobile Nkosi-Mahla
Khalida Akbar
author_facet Farai Nyika
Precious Nompumelelo Nqobile Nkosi-Mahla
Khalida Akbar
author_sort Farai Nyika
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers faced by Department X, a government body in Gauteng, South Africa, when trying to apply Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) principles. To help businesses become more sustainable and accelerate the transition to a green economy, GHRM combines environmental management with HR initiatives. Design/methodology/approach: With Institutional Theory and the Resource-Based View guiding the study, eight HR experts participated in semi-structured interviews as part of a qualitative approach. These experts were selected from a population of 650 employees through purposeful sampling, which was employed to identify the participants who were most pertinent to the research objectives. Purposeful sampling guarantees that participants have firsthand knowledge or participation in GHRM practices within Department X. Findings: The study finds barriers that include resistance to change, a lack of commitment from leadership, limited resources, and regulatory hurdles. The department's ability to align HR practices with sustainability objectives is hindered by these challenges, which in turn harms environmental efforts. Practical implications: The findings highlight the critical role of effective leadership, efficient distribution of resources, and adherence to regulations in fostering GHRM, increasing resistance to climate change, and enabling development programs targeted towards young people and lead to greater efficiency in the South African public service. Originality/value: This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the public sector-specific challenges to GHRM implementation in a developing nation setting, with a focus on the interplay between organisational and institutional dynamics.
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issn 2522-1566
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series Менеджмент та підприємництво: тренди розвитку
spelling doaj-art-f0bbc871e09a49cc9819f3db50f97bc02025-08-20T03:30:14ZengZaporizhzhia National UniversityМенеджмент та підприємництво: тренди розвитку2522-15662024-12-01430344810.26661/2522-1566/2024-4/30-03Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government departmentFarai Nyika0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9759-7007Precious Nompumelelo Nqobile Nkosi-Mahla1Khalida Akbar2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3530-6697MANCOSA, Durban, South AfricaMANCOSA, Durban, South AfricaMilpark Education, South AfricaThe purpose of this study is to identify the barriers faced by Department X, a government body in Gauteng, South Africa, when trying to apply Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) principles. To help businesses become more sustainable and accelerate the transition to a green economy, GHRM combines environmental management with HR initiatives. Design/methodology/approach: With Institutional Theory and the Resource-Based View guiding the study, eight HR experts participated in semi-structured interviews as part of a qualitative approach. These experts were selected from a population of 650 employees through purposeful sampling, which was employed to identify the participants who were most pertinent to the research objectives. Purposeful sampling guarantees that participants have firsthand knowledge or participation in GHRM practices within Department X. Findings: The study finds barriers that include resistance to change, a lack of commitment from leadership, limited resources, and regulatory hurdles. The department's ability to align HR practices with sustainability objectives is hindered by these challenges, which in turn harms environmental efforts. Practical implications: The findings highlight the critical role of effective leadership, efficient distribution of resources, and adherence to regulations in fostering GHRM, increasing resistance to climate change, and enabling development programs targeted towards young people and lead to greater efficiency in the South African public service. Originality/value: This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the public sector-specific challenges to GHRM implementation in a developing nation setting, with a focus on the interplay between organisational and institutional dynamics.https://management-journal.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/541/290environmental sustainabilitygreen human resource managementorganizational culturechange management
spellingShingle Farai Nyika
Precious Nompumelelo Nqobile Nkosi-Mahla
Khalida Akbar
Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department
Менеджмент та підприємництво: тренди розвитку
environmental sustainability
green human resource management
organizational culture
change management
title Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department
title_full Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department
title_fullStr Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department
title_full_unstemmed Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department
title_short Investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a South African government department
title_sort investigating barriers to green human resource management implementation at a south african government department
topic environmental sustainability
green human resource management
organizational culture
change management
url https://management-journal.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/541/290
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AT preciousnompumelelonqobilenkosimahla investigatingbarrierstogreenhumanresourcemanagementimplementationatasouthafricangovernmentdepartment
AT khalidaakbar investigatingbarrierstogreenhumanresourcemanagementimplementationatasouthafricangovernmentdepartment