Title: The impact of Mexican culture on the human resource management practices of Mexican-American family firms

Authors: John James Cater III; Kevin James; Roland E. Kidwell; Kerri M. Camp; Marilyn Young

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Soules College of Business, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA ' Department of Management and Marketing, Soules College of Business, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA ' Department of Management Programs, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, 127 Fleming West, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA ' Department of Management and Marketing, Soules College of Business, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA ' Department of Management and Marketing, Soules College of Business, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA

Abstract: Mexican-American family firms comprise one of the fastest growing family business sub-groups in the USA. Effective use of human resources is important for the profitability of family firms and their capability for growth. We interviewed Mexican-American family firm leaders from 20 companies to gauge the extent to which the cultural dimensions of their country of origin, Mexico, were influencing the operation of their family firms. We found evidence that these cultural dimensions continued to influence Mexican-American family firm leaders. We present propositions regarding how Mexican-American family firm leaders retain and/or reduce their cultural ties to Mexico and if their HRM practices differ from other US family firms. We discuss which cultural dimensions may affect Mexican-American family firm HRM practices. Then, we present ideas for future research as well as implications for practice for Mexican-American family firms.

Keywords: Mexican; Mexican-American; family business; family firms; cultural dimensions theory; human resource practices; human resource management; qualitative approach; case study approach; grounded theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2022.122662

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2022 Vol.45 No.4, pp.518 - 550

Received: 01 May 2019
Accepted: 27 Jun 2019
Published online: 05 May 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article