The integration and utilisation of HRIS in strategic employee performance at a textile factory in the Western Cape

Abstract

Ineffective utilisation of HRIS at the textile factory located in the Western Cape led to employees focusing mainly on administrative roles and rarely on strategic functions. This resulted in poor strategic employee performance, which led to ineffective organisational productivity. The textile factory recognised the need to enhance its HR operations and gather valuable data for decision-making. The philosophy used in the research is the interpretivism paradigm, which explores HRIS comprehensively. The research design is detailed and interpretive case study research which is widely used in information systems. A qualitative research approach is used for the study as it aligns with the chosen research paradigm. The purposive sampling technique was applied to different research population units, including the executive, middle management, administrative and production employees at the textile factory, forming a sample size of 30 employees. The study used a semi-structured interview for data collection and conducted interviews using an interview guide. The research findings show pivotal information about the integration and use of HRIS. Employee familiarity with HRIS was found to be a key determinant of implementation success consistent with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which posits that perceived usefulness and ease of use significantly influence user acceptance. Participants shared positive feelings about the benefits, which included increased ease of accessing information, time savings, and simplified bureaucratic procedures. Possibilities of centralising employee data were noted for improving the decision-making processes, talent management and overall performance enhancement. However, challenges were discovered, such as reluctance to change, lack of adequate training support and concerns about the organisation's IT infrastructure. Several benefits were perceived by employees, including efficiency gained through the automation of tasks, a more informed approach to decision-making due to improved analytics in the flow of business information, simplified organisational processes and an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. The research emphasizes the need not only to introduce HRIS but also to ensure awareness among employees and provide methods to deal with challenges through proper training and strong technical support. These discoveries supply beneficial understandings for organisations that would want to improve their HR operations and overall productivity by integrating effective HRIS into their business operations.