•  Journal: Small Business International Review
  • eISSN: 2531-0046
  • Sección: Artículos de Investigación

Prácticas de recursos humanos para ampliar la diversidad de talento en las pequeñas empresas del sector manufacturero 

Disponible online el 10 noviembre 2026, Versión actual con fecha 10 noviembre 2026

Resumen

Para abordar la transformación de la Industria 4.0, es esencial hacer frente a la escasez de mano de obra cualificada. El cambio en el sector manufacturero, que pasa de tareas manuales a competencias especializadas, requiere talento competente para mantener la competitividad. Por lo tanto, las organizaciones deben reevaluar y adaptar sus estrategias de gestión de recursos humanos (GRH) para optimizar el éxito de los empleados. En la actualidad, existe un desequilibrio en la composición demográfica de la reserva de talento del sector manufacturero, ya que el 77 % de los trabajadores son blancos (U.S. Census, 2022), un porcentaje significativamente superior al 68 % de la población activa adulta blanca de Carolina del Norte (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2021). Al recurrir al talento racial nacional y a candidatos internacionales, las empresas pueden fomentar de forma deliberada una plantilla variada. Esta investigación pretende identificar estrategias de RR. HH. eficaces (estratégicas, tácticas y operativas) de las pequeñas empresas manufactureras de Carolina del Norte que refuercen la contratación y la retención de personal diverso. La investigación incluyó dos estudios de caso empresariales distintos, en los que se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas y notas de observación para la recopilación de datos. El estudio se basó en el enfoque de «sistemas de acción delimitados» de Merriam (1998) para identificar metodologías de RR. HH. de gran impacto. Los temas estratégicos de RR. HH. fueron: (1) la justificación empresarial, (2) la participación en la comunidad y (3) la diversidad de la plantilla. Los temas tácticos de RR. HH. fueron: (1) igualdad de oportunidades de formación y (2) formación estructurada/no estructurada. En cuanto a las prácticas operativas de RR. HH., los temas incluyeron: (1) comunicación abierta, (2) orientación del liderazgo y (3) empoderamiento de los empleados.
Palabras clave: Industria 4.0; gestión de recursos humanos (GRH); contratación y retención de personal diverso; pequeñas empresas manufactureras; diversidad de la plantilla

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