IMPROVING HRM SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CONNECTIVE LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY
Nadezhda Gotcheva, Department of Industrial Management, Tampere University of Technology, Finland

Abstract
This empirical comparative study aims at better understanding how different sets of managerial behaviour patterns are related to human resource management (HRM) sustainability in two different environments. We assess leadership behaviour of managers from Bulgaria as a post-socialist transition economy and Finland as a knowledge-based economy. The Achieving Styles/Connective Leadership Model was used as a theoretical framework for this quantitative study, while the L-BL Achieving Styles Inventory (ASI) was utilised to assess the goal-directed behaviour of Bulgarian and Finnish managers. The results revealed that there are significant differences in the ways Bulgarian and Finnish managers accomplished their objectives which implies that different approaches to accomplishing HRM sustainability do exist as well. We argue that managers’ capability to integrate diverse stakeholders’ needs is pivotal for developing sustainable organizations. Finally, we discuss the findings and implications.
Keywords: connective leadership, achieving styles, human resource management sustainability, Bulgaria, Finland