Technological

The introduction of innovative devices, methods and machinery into internal work practices, altering demand for human labour. 

A major source of improvements in productivity for firms, resulting in changes to HR processes.

How this impacts HR:

• New technologies can replace jobs previously performed by human labour (this leads to redundancy payments, retraining, performance measurement (who goes?) against operational KPI;

• Low skilled jobs are typically most at threat of automated advances; upskilling and training for new roles in ‘new economy’ performed by HR;

• Resistance to change: new work patterns can result in resistance;

• AI bots and computer programs are set to replace information heavy jobs (lawyers, doctors);