Scoping Literature Review: What Factors Influence the Adoption of HR Analytics in Western Settings? - An investigation of the environmental, technological, organizational, and individual context

Abstract

Purpose: This thesis investigates the factors that influence the adoption of Human Resource Analytics (HRA) in Western settings. Despite the growing strategic relevance of HRA, adoption remains challenging due to fragmented understanding and misalignment with existing structures, processes, and practices. The study aims to provide a consolidated view of the complex landscape shaping HRA adoption by integrating multiple contexts. Theory: The research is grounded in the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and the Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM3). These complementary frameworks are applied to examine the technological, organizational, environmental, and individual contexts that collectively shape the adoption of HRA. Method: A scoping literature review was conducted, leading to the identification of 24 relevant and peer-reviewed articles. An inductive thematic analysis was employed to identify, refine, and organize 30 subthemes under 11 overarching themes, which were then allocated to the four influencing contexts defined by the theoretical models. Result: The findings reveal a broad set of factors across all four contexts. Key themes include regulatory context, data governance, leadership commitment, and user motivation, among others. The study underscores the importance of ethical considerations, cross-functional collaboration, and layered training strategies. By offering a structured synthesis, the thesis contributes to both academic theory and practical efforts to advance the responsible adoption of HRA in Western settings.