Perceived challenges: Unfounded reasons for not forging ahead with digital human resource management practices

Orientation: Understanding the challenges that influence the adoption of digital human resource management (HRM) practices across the human resource (HR) value chain enables HRM departments and organisations to optimise HRM digitalisation. Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify challenges that influence the adoption of digital HRM practices across the HR value chain in the South African workplace. Motivation for the study: Challenges hindering the adoption of digital HRM practices needed to be identified and proactively addressed to accelerate the process of HRM digitalisation. Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional quantitative research design was adopted, with an on-line questionnaire as data collection tool. A purposive and snowball sampling method was used. Data were collected from 312 HRM professionals and line managers in the automotive industry in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The data were processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27, and analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), descriptive analysis, Pearson Product Moment correlations and regression analysis. Main findings: The study revealed people, organisational, technological and environmental aspects that posed challenges to the adoption of digital HRM practices. However, these challenges did not become deterrents in the adoption of digital HRM practices in the automotive manufacturing organisations surveyed. Practical/managerial implications: Organisations need to forge ahead with the digitalisation of HRM practices. The challenges experienced in the process should be addressed proactively. Contribution/value-add: This study emphasises the challenges that should be monitored and addressed throughout the implementation of digital HRM practices in South Africa.