E-HR and international HRM: a critical perspective on the discursive framing of e-HR

Helen Francis (Lead / Corresponding author), Carole Parkes, Martin Reddington

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In the current global economic climate, international HRM is facing unprecedented pressure to become more innovative, effective and efficient. New discourses are emerging around the application of information technology, with ‘e-HR’ (electronic- enablement of Human Resources), self-service portals and promises of improved services couched as various HR ‘value propositions’. This study explores these issues through our engagement with the emergent stream of ‘critical’ HRM, the broader study of organizational discourse and ethical management theories. We have found that while there is growing research into the take-up of e-HR applications, there is a dearth of investigation into the impact of e-HR on the people involved; in particular, the (re) structuring of social relations between HR functions and line managers in the move away from face-to-face HR support services, to more technology-mediated ‘self- service’ relationships. We undertake a close reading of personal narratives from a multinational organization, deploying a critical discourse lens to examine different dimensions of e-HR and raise questions about the strong technocratic framing of the international language of people management, shaping line manager enactment of e- HR duties. We argue for a more reflexive stance in the conceptualization e-HR, and conclude with a discussion about the theoretical and practical implications of our study, limitations and suggestions for future research.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1327-1350
    Number of pages24
    JournalInternational Journal of Human Resource Management
    Volume25
    Issue number10
    Early online date8 Jan 2014
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

    Fingerprint

    Personnel
    Managers
    Information technology
    Lenses
    Human resources
    International HRM
    Critical perspective
    Economics
    Discourse
    Line managers

    Keywords

    • critical discourse analysis; e-HR; ethics; innovation; language; relationships and IHRM; voice

    Cite this

    Francis, Helen ; Parkes, Carole ; Reddington, Martin. / E-HR and international HRM : a critical perspective on the discursive framing of e-HR. In: International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2014 ; Vol. 25, No. 10. pp. 1327-1350.
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    abstract = "In the current global economic climate, international HRM is facing unprecedented pressure to become more innovative, effective and efficient. New discourses are emerging around the application of information technology, with ‘e-HR’ (electronic- enablement of Human Resources), self-service portals and promises of improved services couched as various HR ‘value propositions’. This study explores these issues through our engagement with the emergent stream of ‘critical’ HRM, the broader study of organizational discourse and ethical management theories. We have found that while there is growing research into the take-up of e-HR applications, there is a dearth of investigation into the impact of e-HR on the people involved; in particular, the (re) structuring of social relations between HR functions and line managers in the move away from face-to-face HR support services, to more technology-mediated ‘self- service’ relationships. We undertake a close reading of personal narratives from a multinational organization, deploying a critical discourse lens to examine different dimensions of e-HR and raise questions about the strong technocratic framing of the international language of people management, shaping line manager enactment of e- HR duties. We argue for a more reflexive stance in the conceptualization e-HR, and conclude with a discussion about the theoretical and practical implications of our study, limitations and suggestions for future research.",
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    Francis, H, Parkes, C & Reddington, M 2014, 'E-HR and international HRM: a critical perspective on the discursive framing of e-HR', International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 25, no. 10, pp. 1327-1350. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.870309

    E-HR and international HRM : a critical perspective on the discursive framing of e-HR. / Francis, Helen (Lead / Corresponding author); Parkes, Carole; Reddington, Martin.

    In: International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol. 25, No. 10, 2014, p. 1327-1350.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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    AB - In the current global economic climate, international HRM is facing unprecedented pressure to become more innovative, effective and efficient. New discourses are emerging around the application of information technology, with ‘e-HR’ (electronic- enablement of Human Resources), self-service portals and promises of improved services couched as various HR ‘value propositions’. This study explores these issues through our engagement with the emergent stream of ‘critical’ HRM, the broader study of organizational discourse and ethical management theories. We have found that while there is growing research into the take-up of e-HR applications, there is a dearth of investigation into the impact of e-HR on the people involved; in particular, the (re) structuring of social relations between HR functions and line managers in the move away from face-to-face HR support services, to more technology-mediated ‘self- service’ relationships. We undertake a close reading of personal narratives from a multinational organization, deploying a critical discourse lens to examine different dimensions of e-HR and raise questions about the strong technocratic framing of the international language of people management, shaping line manager enactment of e- HR duties. We argue for a more reflexive stance in the conceptualization e-HR, and conclude with a discussion about the theoretical and practical implications of our study, limitations and suggestions for future research.

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    Francis H, Parkes C, Reddington M. E-HR and international HRM: a critical perspective on the discursive framing of e-HR. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2014;25(10):1327-1350. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.870309

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