Title: An exploratory study of the role of HRM and the transfer of German MNC sustainability values to Brazil

Authors: Claudia Wehling, Andrea Guanipa Hernandez, Joyce Osland, Asbjorn Osland, Jurgen Deller, Betania Tanure, Antonio Carvalho Neto, Anu Sairaj

Addresses: Leuphana University of Luneburg, Wilschenbrucher Weg 84a D-21335, Luneburg, Germany. ' Leuphana University of Luneburg, Wilschenbrucher Weg 84a D-21335, Luneburg, Germany. ' Department of Organization & Management, College of Business, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0070, USA. ' Department of Organization & Management, College of Business, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0070, USA. ' Leuphana University of Luneburg, Wilschenbrucher Weg 84a D-21335, Luneburg, Germany. ' Fundacao Dom Cabral, Unidade Belo Horizonte, Rua Bernardo Guimaraes, 3071, Sto. Agostinho – 30140-083, Belo Horizonte – MG, Brazil. ' Fundacao Dom Cabral, Unidade Belo Horizonte, Rua Bernardo Guimaraes, 3071, Sto. Agostinho - 30140-083, Belo Horizonte – MG, Brazil. ' Department of Organization & Management, College of Business, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0070, USA

Abstract: Sustainability, defined here as the triple bottom line, is rapidly gaining importance as a societal and strategic business concern. Research on sustainability linked with Human Resource Management (HRM) is very limited. Although HR is often tasked with training and transferring values related to corporate strategy, an investigation of 10 German multinationals and their Brazilian subsidiaries found varying levels of HR involvement in the organisation of sustainability programmes or the transfer of German sustainability values to Brazilian subsidiaries. Content analysis of company reports resulted in an original model that includes five core components that characterise sustainability management in this sample: rationale, conceptual framework, direction, transfer and evaluation. Follow-up interviews with German and Brazilian executives specified the role of HRM in sustainability and the German-Brazilian transfer process. We conclude with suggestions for future research directions and a discussion of the model|s practical HR implications for implementing sustainability initiatives.

Keywords: corporate sustainability; German MNCs; Germany; multinational corporations; HRM; human resource management; corporate social responsibility; CSR; Brazilian subsidiaries; Brazil; sustainable development; values transfer.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2009.024321

European Journal of International Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.176 - 198

Published online: 31 Mar 2009 *

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