People analytics—A scoping review of conceptual boundaries and value propositions

This mixed-method ‘scoping review’ mapped the emergence of the term People Analytics (PA), the value propositions offered by vendors of PA tools and services and the PA skillsets being sought by professionals. Analysis of academic research and online search traffic since 2002 revealed changes in the relative trajectory of PA and conceptually related terms over the past fifteen years, indicating both the re-branding of similar innovations and a differentiation of priorities and communities of practice. The market in commercial PA tools and services is diverse, offering numerous functional and strategic benefits, although published evidence of these outcomes remains sparse. Companies marketing PA systems and services emphasise benefits to employers more than to personnel. Across the sources examined, including specialised online courses, PA was largely aligned with HRM, however its development reflects the shifting focus of HR departments from supporting functional to strategic organisational requirements. Consideration of ethical issues was largely absent.