The “Best Conference Paper Award” distinguishes a PhD category that emphasizes the work of researchers in the initial phases of their careers. The 9th EMES Conference’s “Best Paper Award” winner in the PhD category is Ludger Voigt for his paper: “Human Resource Management in Co-operatives – A Systematic Literature Review“, co-authored with Dietrich Von Der Oelsnitz.
Ludger Voigt is a PhD student from the Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany), and he shares with us his reaction after receiving this Award and insights on writing this paper that led to creating an HRM model for cooperatives.
Could you summarize this paper and its main findings and contributions to the goals sought by the Award?
Our paper conducts a systematic literature review on Human Resource Management in cooperatives, with three main objectives. First, it aims to synthesize and analyze the literature in the area of HRM in cooperatives to generate an HRM model that encompasses the specific characteristics of cooperatives. Second, to discuss the findings in the context of sustainable HRM in order to investigate the extent to which HRM policies and practices in cooperatives can contribute toward sustainable development. Third, to extend our synthesis and contribute to advancing cooperative literature concerning HRM by identifying future research directions. The study’s key finding is that the unique features of cooperatives, such as membership and adherence to cooperative values, significantly shape the HRM model, with employment security emerging as a central HRM policy that influences practices and outcomes at individual, organizational, and societal levels.
Why did you decide to undertake the research described in the paper, and what was the process?
The motivation for this research stemmed from a prior study where we interviewed founders of cooperative zero-packaging grocery stores. We recognized the significant role that people in cooperatives can play in driving societal transformation towards sustainable development. This realization prompted us to delve deeper into the subject by searching for existing literature on HRM within cooperative organizations. Surprisingly, we found no comprehensive reviews in this area. As a result, we decided to undertake the task ourselves.
How do you think such an Award can contribute to advancing SE scholarship?
While we can’t represent the entire field of SE scholarship, receiving this award is a strong motivator for our team. It signifies our commitment to continue exploring this topic, and the recognition it brings greatly motivates us. This award demonstrates that our work in areas such as cooperatives and sustainability is not only worthwhile but also well-received and supported. We hope to see more research on HRM in cooperatives, particularly focusing on sustainable development. Thank you very much.
If you want to comment on Ludger’s work or share with him your related research, we encourage you to contact him directly.
Click here to download the full version of the EMES Selected Conference papers.