This article explores the characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that seek external human resource (HR) support and the circumstances in which they do so, drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm and recent growth theories. Original analysis of UK Longitudinal Small Business Survey data indicates that few SMEs seek HR support and that they are more likely to seek information than strategic advice. Resource deficiencies were not found to be a driver for seeking HR support, rather this was associated with business changes or challenges. Theoretically, we develop a model that identifies dynamic capabilities for HR support, integrated within an RBV framework. This is novel in integrating the concepts of ‘human process advantage’ and ‘human capital advantage’ from the strategic HR literature with dynamic capabilities theory. We draw out the implications of the findings and the model for future research and policy development.

本文利用企业的基于资源的观点（RBV）和最新的增长理论，探讨寻求外部人力资源（HR）支持的中小企业（SME）的特征以及在何种情况下寻求外部人力资源（HR）的支持。对英国纵向小型企业调查数据的原始分析表明，很少有中小型企业寻求人力资源支持，并且他们比战略建议更有可能寻求信息。资源不足并没有成为寻求人力资源支持的驱动力，而是与业务变化或挑战相关。从理论上讲，我们开发了一个模型，该模型标识了RBV框架中集成的人力资源支持的动态功能。这是将战略性人力资源文献中的“人力过程优势”和“人力资本优势”的概念与动态能力理论相结合的新颖方法。我们得出结论和模型对未来研究和政策制定的意义。