From value-based human resource practices to i-deals: software companies in Vietnam

Purpose – Idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) are employees’ proactive individualized negotiations with their employer for higher job autonomy corresponding to their competencies and values. The path to i-deals in the organization can commence with value-based human resource (HR) practices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this path from value-based HR practices to i-deals through the mediating roles of corporate social responsibility (CSR), emotional intelligence (EI) and upward influence behaviors. Design/methodology/approach – The hypothesized model was verified through the structural equation modeling-based analysis of cross-sectional data from 362 respondents from Vietnam-based software companies. Findings – Research findings found value-based HR practices as the starting point of the path to i-deals, in which consecutive crucial milestones are ethical CSR, EI and organizationally beneficial upward influence behaviors. Originality/value – I-deals literature, through this empirical inquiry, is further extended by discovering the socialized driving forces, such as CSR and EI, behind individualized i-deals.