HUMAN RESOURCES BETWEEN GENERATING AND ASSUMING ORGANIZATIONAL RISKS

Abstract

This study addresses the complex issue of human resource risks within organizations, highlighting the dual role of the human factor—both as a subject exposed to risks and as a source of such risks. Based on a systematic review of the literature, a conceptual model was developed that takes into account the interdependencies between human resource risks, employee behaviors, and organizational outcomes. The initial version of the model was empirically tested using a questionnaire administered to nine companies in Romania. The results revealed a number of limitations, particularly the predominantly linear nature of the relationships and the absence of feedback mechanisms. Consequently, an expanded systemic model was proposed, integrating the influences of the external context, analysis at multiple levels (micro, meso, macro), as well as both the negative and positive effects of human behavior. The improved model highlights the dynamic and recursive nature of risk processes by including feedback loops and moderating variables, such as organizational culture, human resource processes, digitalization, and leadership. By combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, the model provides an integrative framework for understanding and managing human resource-related risks. The research contributions consist in developing a systemic and integrated approach to organizational risks generated by the human factor.