HRM Strategies for Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Digital Skills, Employee Performance, and Inclusion in Evolving Workplaces

Ioannis Zervas () and Emmanouil Stiakakis
Additional contact information
Ioannis Zervas: Department of Applied Informatics, University of Macedonia, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Emmanouil Stiakakis: Department of Applied Informatics, University of Macedonia, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-35

Abstract: This study explores how Human Resource Management (HRM) can help organizations to face the challenges of digital transformation, focusing on reducing digital inequalities and improving employee performance. As digital tools become more important in workplaces, many employees still experience digital exclusion, which affects not only their productivity but also their sense of fairness and inclusion, as well. To investigate these issues, quantitative research was conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed online to employees across EU-based companies. The data were analyzed through PLS-SEM, including IPMA and mediation analysis, to understand the relations between HRM practices, digital skills, and perceptions of organizational justice. The findings show that HRM strategies have a significant impact on bridging the digital divide, especially by promoting digital adaptability and supporting inclusive work environments. Inclusion was also found to mediate the relation between HRM and employee performance. This research offers practical suggestions, like using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor digital participation and encouraging continuous learning. The study adds value by connecting digital empowerment with HRM policies in a way that supports both organizational efficiency and equality. Future research could focus on specific sectors or use longitudinal data to better capture how digital inclusion develops over time.

Keywords: digital empowerment; employee inclusion; human capital development; IPMA; mediation analysis; organizational justice; workplace transformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/7/267/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/7/267/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:7:p:267-:d:1697994

Access Statistics for this article

Administrative Sciences is currently edited by Ms. Nancy Ma

More articles in Administrative Sciences from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().