Strategic Human Resource Management in Women's Entrepreneurship: Challenges, Processes, and Recommendations
1Fahri Özsungur Mersin University*
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the strategic human resource management (SHRM) challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Conducted with 142 women entrepreneurs in the manufacturing and service sectors in Adana, Turkey, this research adopts the phenomenology method, a qualitative approach. The study explores SHRM challenges across ten key areas: sustainable competitive advantage, organizational culture and climate, corporate social responsibility, teamwork, career planning and development, conflict management, continuous development and improvement, personal rights management, occupational health and safety, and leadership and management impact. Main findings reveal that women entrepreneurs emphasize the importance of communication, coordination, harmony, empathy, justice, equality, and sustainability in addressing SHRM challenges. The study highlights the influence of demographic factors such as age, education, experience, marital status, and sector on the adoption and implementation of SHRM practices. Additionally, the research uncovers the significant role of spousal influence on less experienced women entrepreneurs. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of SHRM challenges specific to women entrepreneurs and offering practical recommendations for policy makers and practitioners to enhance SHRM practices. It underscores the necessity for tailored SHRM strategies to support the unique needs of women entrepreneurs and promote sustainable business growth.
Keywords: Strategic human resource management, women entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility.
