Mapping the main research themes in digital human resources

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic sped up the digitalization process and revolutionized the world of the digital employee. And today, advances in artificial intelligence are having a major impact on the field of Digital HR. In that context, further literature review work is needed on the term Digital HR to complement previous studies and lay the foundation for more pioneering literature on this topic. Then, the aim of this paper is to provide a framework for organizing the main themes discussed in the pioneering literature on digital HR by answering the following research question: What is the knowledge structure of the research in the field of digital human resources? An adaptation of the PRISMA model is used to structure the research design. Applying a mixed methodology, this paper uses a bibliometric technique to identify the main topics studied in Digital HR. Subsequently, in-depth analysis and logical reasoning are applied and a model is proposed based on four questions (how, what, where, who) in order to understand and develop research on digital HR. The RQ4 Digital-HR model constitutes a useful tool in academic, practical, professional, and social contexts. It is worth highlighting the importance of the inclusion of artificial intelligence in the daily processes of a company, and therefore in the progress of the proposed research topic.