Sustainable Human Resource Management and Leadership as Drivers of Competitive Performance: A Study on Sustainable Practices and Knowledge Management in Family Firms

Abstract

This study analyses the impact of Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Sustainable Leadership (SL) on competitive performance (CP) in Colombian coffee family firms (FF), considering Sustainable Practices (SP) as mediators and Knowledge Management (KM) as a moderator. Using a quantitative design and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) on 232 valid responses, results confirm that SHRM and SL indirectly enhance CP through SP, while KM strengthens this mediation. The findings highlight that economic and environmental practices exert stronger effects than social ones. These results provide empirical evidence from Latin American rural contexts and propose a systemic framework linking SHRM, SL, SP, and KM as drivers of CP in family firm.