The mediating role of innovation in the relationship between high-performance human resource management practices and firm performance

The study aims to evaluate the impacts of high-performance human resource management practices on firm performance through the mediating variable of innovation. The research model was developed and integrated from high-performance human resource management theory, innovation, and firm performance. The analysis results from 312 enterprises in industrial and service sectors indicated that high-performance human resource management practices had an indirect impact on firm performance and a direct effect on innovation. Furthermore, innovation plays a mediating role in the relationship between high-performance human resource manage-ment practices and firm performance. In addition, organizational size is also a characteristic variable that impacts firm performance. Finally, the study provides some theoretical and practical implications for managers to improve enterprises' human resource management systems.