Human Resource Resilience in Facing Business Uncertainty: Experiences of MSME Actors in Makassar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59971/jumawa.v3i3.449Keywords:
HR Resilience, Business Uncertainty, Fashion MSMEs, Phenomenology, Makassar CityAbstract
Business uncertainty generated by rapid technological disruption, shifting consumer behavior, and post-pandemic market volatility has placed micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under unprecedented pressure. Human resource (HR) resilience, the capacity of individuals and organizations to absorb, adapt, and recover from adversity, has emerged as a critical determinant of MSME survival. Despite growing scholarly interest in organizational resilience, empirical evidence from developing-country urban MSME contexts, particularly in Eastern Indonesia, remains scarce. This study explores how MSME owners and employees in Makassar, South Sulawesi, construct and sustain HR resilience amid market and technological uncertainties. Employing a phenomenological qualitative approach, data were gathered through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation analysis with twelve purposively selected informants across six business sectors. Thematic analysis following the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña interactive model was applied, with data credibility established through source triangulation and member checking. Five overarching themes emerged: (1) adaptive learning culture, (2) entrepreneurial leadership flexibility, (3) social capital and network resilience, (4) psychological resilience of HR, and (5) organizational adaptability. Findings reveal that HR resilience in Makassar's MSMEs is not a pre-formed trait but a dynamic, socially embedded, and culturally mediated process. This study contributes novel theoretical insights into resilience theory within Southern Global MSME contexts and offers practical implications for HR development, policy design, and entrepreneurial education.
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