Adopting Technology in the Management of Human Resources (e-HRM) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): A Paradox

Abstract

This paper discusses the paradox of technology and human resource functions in higher education institutions (HEIs). The paper identifies areas where technology has enabled human resource as well as non-HR managers to have access to tools that have been found to ease communication as well as facilitating self-service. While the importance of technology is not disputable, there remain three important questions: (1) what are the benefits of e-HRM in the execution of HRM functions in higher education institutions? (2) What are the technology-related challenges faced by managers in these institutions? And (3) how can the human touch be maintained in the core HRM functions while using technology in these institutions? A qualitative method was augmented by integrative synthesis to collect data, through interviews, summaries from existing research literature, observation and personal experience. Results were analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Technology was found to be mostly used in instruction, advertisement, recruitments and payroll management. These institutions still employed a dual system of traditional HRM and e-HRM, but found technology very effective in accomplishing HRM functions. There were however, dependability and infrastructural technology-related challenges. The paper concludes that regardless of such challenges, technology was just a scarecrow, and did not pause any danger on human relationships.