The Digital Dance of HRM: New Skills, Professional Debates, and Shifting Dynamics?

Rapp, M., Diefenhardt, F., Sarabi, A., Boon, C., Lau, Annica ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8956-4755, Parry, E., Jennifer, L., Duggan, J., Jooss, S., Margherita, A. and Rapp, M. (2025) The Digital Dance of HRM: New Skills, Professional Debates, and Shifting Dynamics? Academy of Management Proceedings, Academy of Management Proceedings, 2025 (1). ISSN 0065-0668

Abstract

The increasing datafication and digitalization of organizational life are profoundly reshaping HRM as a professional field. This symposium explores how these technological transformations affect HRM practitioners' roles, expertise, and relationships with stakeholders. While data analytics presents opportunities for HRM to demonstrate business value, it also creates tensions with traditional aspects of HR work, particularly in areas requiring tacit people skills such as conflict management and cultural sensitivity. Through four complementary presentations, we examine these dynamics across various levels of social complexity. Our symposium combines multiple methodological approaches, including mixed-methods analysis of changing skill profiles, expert forecasting through a Delphi study, reviewing algorithmic HRM in frontline service work, and a conceptual paper including case studies of skill-based job matching systems. Together, these presentations reveal how HRM practitioners and professional communities negotiate technological change. The symposium contributes to broader discussions about the adaptation of managerial professions to data-driven technologies in contemporary organizations. Our findings suggest that while technological impact on HRM may be less dramatic than often portrayed, it nevertheless requires careful consideration of how to implement new tools while preserving decent working conditions and effective stakeholder relationships. From Gut Feelings to Data Dealings? The Transformation of HRM Expertise in the Age of Digitalization Author: Felix Diefenhardt; Vienna University of Economics and Business Author: Julius Ernst Lechner; Vienna University of Economics and Business Author: Marco Leander Rapp; University of Amsterdam Author: Verena Bader; The future role of HRM and leadership in the context of digital transformation ? A Delphi study Author: Liehr Jennifer; Author: Sven Hauff; Helmut Schmidt University - University of the Federal Armed Forces of Hamburg Author: Tobias Schloemer; Helmut Schmidt University - University of the Federal Armed Forces of Hamburg Author: Karen Schwien; Helmut Schmidt University - University of the Federal Armed Forces of Hamburg Algorithmic HRM in Service Work: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective and Future Research Agenda Author: James Duggan; Author: Stefan Jooss; The University of Queensland Digitization for Innovative Future HRM: A Skill-Based Approach Author: Alessandro MARGHERITA; University of SalentoThe increasing datafication and digitalization of organizational life are profoundly reshaping HRM as a professional field. This symposium explores how these technological transformations affect HRM practitioners' roles, expertise, and relationships with stakeholders. While data analytics presents opportunities for HRM to demonstrate business value, it also creates tensions with traditional aspects of HR work, particularly in areas requiring tacit people skills such as conflict management and cultural sensitivity. Through four complementary presentations, we examine these dynamics across various levels of social complexity. Our symposium combines multiple methodological approaches, including mixed-methods analysis of changing skill profiles, expert forecasting through a Delphi study, reviewing algorithmic HRM in frontline service work, and a conceptual paper including case studies of skill-based job matching systems. Together, these presentations reveal how HRM practitioners and professional communities negotiate technological change. The symposium contributes to broader discussions about the adaptation of managerial professions to data-driven technologies in contemporary organizations. Our findings suggest that while technological impact on HRM may be less dramatic than often portrayed, it nevertheless requires careful consideration of how to implement new tools while preserving decent working conditions and effective stakeholder relationships. From Gut Feelings to Data Dealings? The Transformation of HRM Expertise in the Age of Digitalization Author: Felix Diefenhardt; Vienna University of Economics and Business Author: Julius Ernst Lechner; Vienna University of Economics and Business Author: Marco Leander Rapp; University of Amsterdam Author: Verena Bader; The future role of HRM and leadership in the context of digital transformation ? A Delphi study Author: Liehr Jennifer; Author: Sven Hauff; Helmut Schmidt University - University of the Federal Armed Forces of Hamburg Author: Tobias Schloemer; Helmut Schmidt University - University of the Federal Armed Forces of Hamburg Author: Karen Schwien; Helmut Schmidt University - University of the Federal Armed Forces of Hamburg Algorithmic HRM in Service Work: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective and Future Research Agenda Author: James Duggan; Author: Stefan Jooss; The University of Queensland Digitization for Innovative Future HRM: A Skill-Based Approach Author: Alessandro MARGHERITA; University of Salento

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