Exploring E-HRM as a catalyst for global digital transformation in organizations

Abstract

Electronic Human Resource Management (E-HRM) has emerged as a strategic enabler of digital transformation; however, existing research remains fragmented, context-specific, and inconclusive regarding its implementation and outcomes across different institutional settings. This study synthesizes the extant literature to examine how E-HRM facilitates digital transformation, compares its implementation between developed and developing economies, and investigates sectoral differences between public and private organizations in India. A triangulated review methodology integrating bibliometric analysis, a PRISMA-guided systematic review, and narrative synthesis was employed using the Scopus database. Bibliometric analyses utilized 9152 records to examine the disciplinary evolution of E-HRM and 956 publications from the business, management, accounting, and social sciences to analyze publication trends and geographical distribution. Following systematic screening, 497 studies informed the narrative synthesis, while 72 conceptually relevant studies were synthesized through expert-led thematic analysis to develop an integrated conceptual framework. The findings reveal six dominant themes demonstrating that E-HRM has progressed from a technology-driven HR innovation to a multidimensional strategic capability that shapes organizational digital transformation through the interaction of technological, organizational, institutional, and contextual factors, while simultaneously exposing substantial disparities in adoption arising from differences in digital infrastructure, institutional maturity, organizational readiness, sectoral characteristics, and benchmarking standards. The proposed conceptual framework integrates organizational, technological, and contextual perspectives to explain E-HRM-enabled digital transformation across countries and sectors. The study contributes to strategic HRM and digital transformation literature by providing a context-sensitive framework and practical implications for researchers, managers, and policymakers seeking to promote sustainable digital transformation and effective digital governance.