The literature has told us that small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs) have different patterns of
HR practices from those of large enterprises. The purpose of this study was to answer the following
question: Do SMEs need to focus on different aspects or areas of HR depending on their overall HR
maturity? To answer this question, we used the data of 123 SMEs which applied for Korea Best Human
Resource Developer Certification(henceforth, Best HRD) in 2009 and in 2010. First, we compared the
scores of the SMEs which have been successfully certified as Best HRD companies(Group S) with the
scores of the SMEs which have failed to get certified(Group F). Second, among the SMEs in Group S,
we identified high performers(Group S1) and compared their scores with those of other SMEs in Group
S(Group S2). The analysis showed that the scores on the key areas of HR of the SMEs in Group
S(either Group S1 or Group S2) were significantly higher than the scores of those in Group F. Even
though the differences between Group S1 and Group S2 were not statistically significant, the HR areas
where Group S2 had strengths over Group F and the areas where Group S1 had strengths over Group
S2 were different. The former included promotion & rewards, placement, performance management, HRD
operation, and the latter included HRD planning & infrastructure, HRM system, and HRD evaluation.
The findings suggested that, in order to determine the HR areas a SME needs to focus on and invest
its limited resources in, its overall HR maturity should be taken into consideration.