Examining Digital Challenges in Recruitment and Selection Process of a Public Enterprise in South Africa | Chapter 4 | New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 5

 

In response to external environmental changes and demands, the Human Resource function has slowly but steadily evolved from labour welfare to personnel administration to strategic HR and now to digital or smart HR. However, digital implementation in public sector organisations is very slow, leading to inefficiencies, which is a concern as these entities have the mandate to support economic development. This study examined the challenges that are faced by a South African public enterprise in using technology in the Human Resource Management (HRM) department, particularly in the recruitment and selection function. A qualitative research approach was used with data obtained using structured interviews from a public enterprise, and Human Resource Practitioners were used to conduct interviews in this study. Purposive non-probability sampling was applied in engaging 15 participants in a public sector organisation, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that the HRM department does not entirely make use of technology in the recruitment and selection process. The inability to use technology is due to a lack of in-house digital training, and the organisation’s inability to swiftly respond to environmental changes due to its bureaucratic structure. It was revealed that the public entity does not have enough employees in the department. This seems to limit employee capability to meet deadlines, and the lack of technology is contributing to employee frustration due to work overload. Data revealed that employees still have a fear of moving to digitalisation. This may be due to the existence of many baby boomers in public entities, who may not have yet embraced digitalisation. it is also showing that employees do not have adequate digital training to effectively use existing forms of digitalisation in the organisation. There seem to be problems with resources for the effective implementation of technology. It was therefore recommended that public entities embark on extensive employee digital training and implementation of effective internal digital systems for organisational effectiveness.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Arvid Muzanenhamo
Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Sabina Duduzile Khazamula
Regenesys Business School, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nhstc/v5/6107