The use of technology-enabled human capital management tools in the practices of hiring, developing, managing, and retaining talent : experiences of top management of large multinational corporations in Hong Kong

Abstract

Effective and efficient human capital management has been a key attribute contributing to the success of companies. Given the significant technological improvements, company executives have been presented with more, and arguably better, options for enhancing their human capital management efficiency. For employers in Hong Kong, lingering tight labor market conditions as well as rising Chinese demand for Hong Kong's talent have led to fiercer competition for employees. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the adoption experience of human resources (HR) technology in multibillion-dollar multinational companies (MNCs) with significant operations in Hong Kong. Using the diffusion of innovations theory, this case study answered the following central research question: How do top managers of large multinational corporations in Hong Kong use emerging human resource technologies to hire, manage, develop, and retain employees? This study found that constant and effective communications with both internal and external stakeholders, the presence of a technology-welcoming environment, and the ability to consolidate data inputs from different sources and systems are key elements of the successful incorporation of technologies in companies. Implications for practice and areas for future research are discussed.