Employee perceptions towards web-based human resource management systems in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Despite the great volume of theoretical foundations on technological influence on human resource management (HRM), there has been little empirical evidence in the area of web-based electronic HRM systems. Further, all such empirical research attempts have been taken in the Western world. In the context of globalization of business operations and interlocking supply chains, research on web-based HRM systems in Sri Lanka is interesting, relevant and timely since there is an increasing interest in understanding technological influence on workers in non-Western cultures, especially in an emerging economy that has a reputation for information technology outsourcing. The purpose of the study was to investigate employee perceptions towards web-based electronic HRM systems in Sri Lanka. For the research, 30 firms with web-based HRM systems as a stand-alone automation serving employees' HRM needs belong to service and manufacturing sectors operating in Sri Lanka were surveyed. The findings suggested that system usage is high and user satisfaction is moderate. The level of complexity of the system is moderate and it significantly correlates with system usage. When the age of the system in operation is younger, it is more likely that the users were to be satisfied with it. Further, users did not perceive web-based electronic HRM system as a method of shifting administrative responsibilities of HRM activities to them.