Evaluating Human Capital Sustainability in the Asaluyeh Oil Field: Strategies for Effective Policy Implementation
Seyed Asghar Mousavi
1
(
Department of Industrial Management, Isfahan(Khorasgan) Branch , Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
)
Mohammad Jalali Varnamkhasti
2
(
Department of Science, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
)
Mojtaba Aghajani
3
(
Department of Management, Mobarakeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mobarakeh, Isfahan, Iran.
)
Keywords: Human capital, Sustainability, Asaluyeh, Oil field, Policy implementation.,
Abstract :
This study investigates human capital sustainability in the Assaluyeh oil field, a pivotal area in Iran's energy sector, amid geopolitical and environmental challenges. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from an 18-question survey of 384 employees with qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews. The findings reveal a Human Resource Sustainability Index (HRSI) of 4.22, indicating strong employee satisfaction with training and job roles, yet exposing critical gaps in retention strategies and communication practices. A Triple Bottom Line (TBL) analysis highlights the need for enhanced social responsibility and environmental awareness. The paper proposes targeted policy recommendations, including improved retention initiatives, training effectiveness, and stakeholder engagement, to cultivate a resilient workforce. By integrating human capital strategies with corporate social responsibility initiatives, this research aims to enhance organizational performance while contributing to the socio-economic development of the surrounding community, ultimately promoting sustainable practices in the oil and gas sector.
[1] A. A. Abubakar, Y. H. Al-Mamary, H. P. Singh, A. Singh, F. Alam and V. Agrawal, Exploring factors influencing sustainable human capital development: Insights from Saudi Arabia. Heliyon, 10(16) (2024).
[2] V. Agarwal, K. Mathiyazhagan, S. Malhotra and T. Saikouk, Analysis of challenges in sustainable human resource management due to disruptions by Industry 4.0: an emerging economy perspective. International Journal of Manpower, 43(2) (2022) 513-541.
[3] S. L. Albrecht, A. B. Bakker, J. A. Gruman, W. H. Macey and A. M. Saks, Employee engagement, human resource management practices and competitive advantage: An integrated approach. Journal of organizational effectiveness: People and performance, 2(1) (2015) 7-35.
[4] H. Alhaddi, Triple bottom line and sustainability: A literature review. Business and Management studies, 1(2) (2015) 6-10.
[5] A. Anlesinya and P. Susomrith, Sustainable human resource management: a systematic review of a developing field. Journal of Global Responsibility, 11(3) (2020) 295-324.
[6] J. B. Arthur, Effects of human resource systems on manufacturing performance and turnover. Academy of Management journal, 37(3) (1994) 670-687.
[7] A. G. Awan, Human Capital: Driving Force of Economic Growth in Selected Emergine Economies. Global disclosure of economics and business, 1(1) (2012) 9-30.
[8] N. Azizi, P. Akhavan, M. Philsoophian, C. Davison, O. Haass and S. Saremi, Exploring the Factors Affecting Sustainable Human Resource Productivity in Railway Lines. Sustainability 14(2021) 225.
[9] S. Barua, Human capital, economic growth, and sustainable development goals: An evaluation of emerging economies. In The Dynamics of Intellectual Capital in Current Era, (2021) 129-148, Singapore: Springer Singapore.
[10] G. S. Becker, Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education. University of Chicago press (2009).
[11] Bensalah, N. (2024). Challenges and Opportunities in Energy Economics: Balancing Cost, Sustainability, and Innovation in the Global Energy Transition. Modern Economy, 15(11), 1147-1180.
[12] M. Biron, L. C. Christiansen and B. Kuvaas, Global human resource management casebook. J. C. Hayton (Ed.). New York, NY: Routledge (2012).
[13] M. Y. Chen, M. J. Huang and Y. C. Cheng, Measuring knowledge management performance using a competitive perspective: An empirical study. Expert systems with applications, 36(4) (2009) 8449-8459.
[14] J. Crisp, D. Pelletier, C. Duffield, A. Adams and S. U. E. Nagy, The delphi method?. Nursing research, 46(2) (1997) 116-118.
[15] T. J. Coelli, D. S. P. Rao, C. J. O'donnell and G. E. Battese, An introduction to efficiency and productivity analysis. springer science & business media (2005).
[16] K. A. Daniell, A. Morton and D. Ríos Insua, Policy analysis and policy analytics. Annals of Operations Research, 236 (2016) 1-13.
[17] I. Danvila del Valle and M. A. Sastre Castillo, Human capital and sustainable competitive advantage: an analysis of the relationship between training and performance. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 5 (2009) 139-163.
[18] D. G. Dickel and G. L. de Moura, Organizational performance evaluation in intangible criteria: a model based on knowledge management and innovation management. RAI revista de administração e inovação, 13(3) (2016) 211-220.
[19] A. Di Fabio, A. Bonfiglio, L. Palazzeschi, A. Gori and A. Svicher, Human capital sustainability leadership: From personality traits to positive relational management. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, (2023)1110974.
[20] I. Ehnert, Sustainable human resource management. Physica Verlag (2009).
[21] K. Ehsani, The social history of labor in the Iranian oil industry: The built environment and the making of the industrial working class (2014)1908–1941. PhD diss., Leiden University.
[22] D. P. Faeni, R. F. Oktaviani, H. A. Riyadh, R. P. Faeni and B. A. H. Beshr, Green Human Resource Management and Sustainable Practices on Corporate Reputation and Employee Well-being: A Model for Indonesia's F&B Industry. Environmental Challenges, (2025) 101082.
[23] D. Gillies, Human capital, education, and sustainability. Sisyphus—Journal of Education, 2(3) (2014) 78-99.
[24] G. P. Gomes, A. Coelhoand, N. Ribeiro, A systematic literature review on sustainable HRM and its relations with employees' attitudes: state of art and future research agenda. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance (2024).
[25] Y. Griep, S. D. Hansen, J. M. Kraak, U. Sherman and S. Bankins, Sustainable human resource management: The good, the bad, and making it work. Organizational Dynamics, (2024) 101112.
[26] M. Järlström, E. Saru and S. Vanhala, Sustainable human resource management with salience of stakeholders: A top management perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 152 (2018) 703-724.
[27] S. Jorgji, J. Teta, S. Mousa, V. Ponkratov, I. Elyakova, L. Vatutina, ... and M. Kosov, Sustainable Human Capital Management, ESG, and Firm Performance: Moderating Role of ESG Disclosure. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 5(2) (2024) 260-278.
[28] R. Kramar, Sustainable human resource management: Six defining characteristics. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 60(1) (2022) 146-170.
[29] R. Kramar, Beyond strategic human resource management: is sustainable human resource management the next approach. The international journal of human resource management, 25(8) (2014) 1069-1089.
[30] D. Kim and S. Go, Human capital and environmental sustainability. Sustainability, 12(11) (2020) 4736.
[31] A. Kumar, P. Bhaskar, S. P. Nadeem, M. Tyagi and J. A. Garza-Reyes, Sustainability adoption through sustainable human resource management: A systematic literature review and conceptual framework. International Journal of Mathematical, Engineering and Management Sciences, 5(6) (2020) 1014.
[32] Z. Hang, Assessing the economic viability of prolonged fuel cycles in the agricultural sector: Impacts on productivity, Human capital and sustainability. Heliyon, 10(23) (2024).
[33] M. A. Hitt, P. W. Beamish, S. E. Jackson and J. E. Mathieu, Building theoretical and empirical bridges across levels: Multilevel research in management. Academy of Management journal, 50(6) (2007) 1385-1399.
[34] E. Lashgari, A. Shirvani and M. Dalvi, Future Research of Human Resource Sustainability in Steel Industry: An Analysis on Facilitating the Sustainability Development by Ambidextrous Learning. Journal of Research in Human Resources Management, 16(2) (2024).
[35] D. Leigh, SWOT analysis. Handbook of Improving Performance in the Workplace, 1(3) (2009). 115-140.
[36] K. C. Lee, S. Lee and I. W. Kang, KMPI: measuring knowledge management performance. Information & management, 42(3) (2005)469-482.
[37] D. P. Lepak and S. A. Snell, Examining the human resource architecture: The relationships among human capital, employment, and human resource configurations. Journal of management, 28(4) (2002) 517-543.
[38] X. Liang and J. Li, Sustainable human resource management and employee performance: A conceptual framework and research agenda. Human Resource Management Review, (2024) 101060.
[39] Y. Lu, M. M. Zhang, M. M. Yang and Y. Wang, Sustainable human resource management practices, employee resilience, and employee outcomes: Toward common good values. Human Resource Management, 62(3) (2023) 331-353.
[40] M. Mirimoghadam and S. Ghazinoory, An institutional analysis of technological learning in Iran's oil and gas industry: Case study of south Pars gas field development. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 122 (2017) 262-274.
[41] W. Mohamed Shokry, S. Samir Darwish and S. Ebrahim Elshall, Human Capital Sustainability Leadership Educational Interventions: A Key for Promoting Nursing Managers’ Green management practices and Resilience. Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 15(3) (2024) 589-604.
[42] P. Namazie and A. M. Pahlavnejad, Human resource management in Iran. In Handbook of human resource management in the Middle East, (2016) 161-179. Edward Elgar Publishing.
[43] F. Oluwatoyin and R. Mardikaningsih, Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability of Human Resource Development in Industry 4.0. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 3(2) (2024) 9-16.
[44] C. Pellegrini, F. Rizzi and M. Frey, The role of sustainable human resource practices in influencing employee behavior for corporate sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(8) (2018) 1221-1232.
[45] K. Piwowar‐Sulej, Core functions of Sustainable Human Resource Management. A hybrid literature review with the use of H‐Classics methodology. Sustainable development, 29(4) (2021) 671-693.
[46] W. Rahmaningtyas, H. N. Purasani, N. Farliana and R. Widhiastuti, Greening the Workforce: A Roadmap for Sustainable Employment in the Era of Environmental Challenges. In International Conference of Economics Business and Economics Education Science, (2024)736-748. Atlantis Press.
[47] M. Renner, C. Garcia-Banos, D. Nagpal and A. Khalid, Renewable energy and jobs Annual review 2018. Masdar, Abu Dhai, UAE, IRENA. Accessed, 28 (2019).
[48] A. Sadegh, The Impact of Sanctions on Iran: An Effective Policy, (2012).
[49] I. Šlaus and G. Jacobs, Human capital and sustainability. Sustainability, 3(1) (2011) 97-154.
[50] B. Marr, Key Performance Indicators (KPI): The 75 measures every manager needs to know. Pearson UK (2012).
[51] S. Sandri, H. Hussein and N. Alshyab, Sustainability of the energy sector in Jordan: Challenges and opportunities. Sustainability, 12(24) (2020) 10465.
[52] F. Sands, Case Study: Gamification as a Strategic Human Resource Tool to gain Organisational Competitive Advantage via increased employee engagement (2013) (Doctoral dissertation, Dublin, National College of Ireland).
[53] C. A. Schuch Bork, J. F. de Souza, J. de Oliveira Gomes, V. Venancio Pappetti Canhete and D. J. De Barba, Methodological tools for assessing the sustainability index (SI) of industrial production processes. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 87 (2016) 1313-1325.
[54] P. Shammas, Iran: Review of petroleum developments and assessments of the oil and gas fields. Energy exploration & exploitation, 19(2) (2001) 207-260.
[55] P. Sparrow, C. Brewster and C. Chung, Globalizing human resource management. Routledge (2016).
[56] R. Stacey and D. Griffin, Introduction: Leading in a complex world. In Complexity and the experience of leading organizations (2005)1-16, Routledge.
[57] M., Tavakol and R. Dennick, Making sense of Cronbach's alpha. International journal of medical education, 2 (2011) 53.
[58] D. Ushakov, D. Ivanova, T. Podolskaya and E. Andreeva, Indicators of Human Capital Sustainability in Modern Societies: Principles of Cross-Country Comparison. In International Scientific Conference Fundamental and Applied Scientific Research in the Development of Agriculture in the Far East, (2023) 905-916, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
[59] Z. Varvasovszky and R. Brugha, A stakeholder analysis. Health policy and planning, 15(3) (2000) 338-345.
[60] Y. Wang and S. Liu, Education, human capital and economic growth: Empirical research on 55 countries and regions (1960-2009). Theoretical Economics Letters, 6(2) (2016) 347-355.
[61] P. M. Wright, B. B. Dunford and S. A. Snell, Human resources and the resource based view of the firm. Journal of management, 27(6) (2001) 701-721.
[62] X. Yu, H. Li, M. Ling, B. He, J. Wen and W. X. Jing, Measuring Sustainable Human Resource Management under the new economic era. In E3S Web of Conferences 275 (2021) 03068, EDP Sciences.