E-HRM: Innovation or Irritation. An Explorative Empirical Study in Five Large Companies on Web-based HRM

Huub Ru‰l (), Tanya Bondarouk () and Jan Kees Looise ()
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Huub Ru‰l: Utrecht University
Tanya Bondarouk: Twente University
Jan Kees Looise: Twente University

management revue. Socio-economic Studies, 2004, vol. 15, issue 3, 364-380

Abstract: Technological optimistic voices assume that, from a technical perspective, the IT possibilities for HRM are endless: in principal all HR processes can be supported by IT. E-HRM is the relatively new term for this IT supported HRM, especially through the use of web technology. This paper aims at demystifying e-HRM by answering the following questions: what actually is e-HRM?, what are the goals of starting with e-HRM?, what types can be distinguished? and what are the outcomes of e-HRM? Based upon the literature, an e-HRM research model is developed and, guided by this model, five organizations have been studied that have already been on the ?e-HR road? for a number of years. We conclude that the goals of e-HRM are mainly to improve HR?s administrative efficiency/to achieve cost reduction. Next to this goals, international companies seem to use the introduction of e-HRM to standardize/harmonize HR policies and processes. Further, there is a ?gap? between e-HRM in a technical sense and e-HRM in a practical sense in the five companies involved in our study. Finally, e-HRM hardly helped to improve employee competences, but resulted in cost reduction and a reduction of the administrative burden.

Keywords: Electronic Human Resource Management; Human Resource Management; Information Technology; Explorative Case Studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F23 J53 M10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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