This study examined man, machine, and technology integration services in a digital economy. This arises out of the need to downplay the fear of machines and rapid technological changes towards replacing man and downgrading its importance. The study takes epistemological conceptual reasoning into consideration and exhibits man as unique that would remain the centre of force behind the digital economy. The chapter establishes that the effective use of machines with the right technology to revolutionize every sector of the economy by most developed countries has improved their growth and development with a positive impact on the citizens' standards of living. The study concludes that artificial intelligence machines are not bound to displace more jobs in the workplace than the benefits it meant to create for performing day-to-day business activities towards achieving meaningful productivity and the benefit of mankind in general.
TopIntroduction
Emerging development in the last three decades across the world has ushered in digital technological change that has deeply influenced the manner in which labour and capital interact and function (Agar, 2019a; Malik, Budhwar, & Srikanth, 2020). This means that the advent of the digital economy has brought the world closer than before, minimized constraints in business transactions to the barest minimum, and strengthens human resource management practices at various levels of organisational management.
This re-enforces effective integration which allowed organisational actors or stakeholders to effectively function and perform their professional roles towards managing and coordinating both human and material resources (Agar, 2019a; Malik, Budhwar, & Srikanth, 2020). To operate a digital economy is to digitalize business operations, engage in automation, e-transactions, and embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in solving problems and rendering services with little human physical involvement.
The importance of digital operations in today’s globally competitive and dynamic world prompted the World Bank to cautious the emerging and developing economies across the world that they would be at higher risk if failed to adequately embrace the right technology (World Bank, 2016; Agar, 2019a; Malik, Budhwar, & Srikanth, 2020). This warning has to do with the need to embrace the digital economy because digitalization helps “transforms management processes, stimulates digital thinking, and revolutionizes the workforce” through effective technologies (Nikpour & Semushkina, 2021 p2). Therefore, the objectives of the chapter include:
-
I.
The meaning of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
-
II.
Man, Machine and Technology Interaction
-
III.
Strategic HR: Translating Plans into Action through Artificial intelligence (AI)
-
IV.
Reasons for Deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Strategic Human Resources Management Functions
-
V.
Critical Issues of importance on Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources Management
-
VI.
Conclusion
TopBackground
Digitalize economy has become a nation’s and organisation’s main focus in the 21st century (Agar, 2019a), because of its ability to inject and advance the appropriate technology into all sectors of the economy, to become competitive (Agar, 2019a; Malik, Budhwar, & Srikanth, 2020; Agarwal, 2022). Nations and organisations that continue digitalizing their economic operations in line with the global trends would continue to experience efficiency and increase competitiveness.