Digitalization has changed the work of HR, promoting new types of relationships between employees and leaders. In order to address these changes, five dimensions were considered to develop modern and effective HR strategies inside institutions. The ultimate goal of these strategies is to ensure both the achievement of good outcomes by institutions and the physical and psychological well-being of the people who make those outcomes possible.

We suggest you read chapter 5.5 of “Human resources in higher education” [1], published by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development to acquire the theoretical foundations on how to improve HR management in order to promote good performance. Also, we provide a PowerPoint presentation  which may be of help in summarising the concepts of modern HR management, along with its risks and opportunities.

We then consider the context in which these changes are taking place, showing how digitalization has radically altered the work scenario. In fact, we are witnessing a shift from a generally hierarchical structure, based on control and strict adherence to rules, to a more flexible structure, where trust is preferred to control and guidelines to rules. Therefore, we analyze how digital culture has made it necessary to rethink organisations in a more agile way, taking examples from companies founded or operating in the digital space [2]. It is clear how digital transformation has put the workers at the centre: they must be viewed as real persons and not merely as tools or resources for the institution.

To achieve a positive employee experience, it is therefore necessary to adopt new HR practices that take into account key digital principles, from speed and agility of processes to personalization of services.

Finally, we highlight the importance of learning about recent trends in HR work innovation processes from major digital companies, from simplifying recruitment practices to improving worker performance.

Additional reading materials are provided in the references section below.