Theorizing HR Intranets: Contextual, Strategic and Configurative Explanations

Introduction

The paper presents some interesting results of an exploratory and longitudinal survey based on a sample of French firms. The survey identifies the diffusion of HRM practices, together with their developmental stages. Investigation aims at answering the following questions: How are Intranet networks linked with the development of HR competences? How could they support the HR-function? What are the best French practices linking IT and HR management? A questionnaire is submitted as an application file and includes open questions on the firms and their Intranet (techniques, cost, assessment, perspectives). In the first part, we analyze stakes, organizational and strategic risks linked with HR Intranet use. Theoretical IT concepts and technological infusion aspects are explained. Intranet contexts, development stages, performance and Intranet content are presented. In the second part, we propose an organizational configurative analysis resulting from a HR Intranet perspective. Research hypotheses are based on HR and IT theories. A final discussion offers an opening towards a scientific research protocol aiming to validate assumptions and confirm the positive aspect of HRM-IT integration. Three perspectives are proposed. The first one leads to the concept of technological infusion; the second one to strategic alignment between the Intranet and HR; the third one is larger and concerns the concept of configurations including HR Intranet.