Mapping the evolution of digital human resource management: a systematic review and bibliometric analysis

Despite the recent, yet rapid advancements in the scholarly field of Digital Human Resource Management (DHRM), comprehensive studies mapping the field’s evolution and current knowledge breadth remain limited. To address this gap, the present research aims to comprehend the existing theoretical underpinning, interdependencies, models, and evolving concepts through a rigorous review of the existing literature and identify the current state of development and future research directions. Thus, bibliometric information from 532 documents, published between January 1, 1984, and September 6, 2024, was retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science Databases. These documents were then systematically analyzed using a two-tier method. The bibliometric analysis revealed a robust annual growth rate in DHRM research, with significant contributions from a diverse range of authors and a notable increase in publications post-2015. Authors from developed countries contributed significantly to the field’s development. The content analysis conducted on bibliographic-coupling-based clusters suggests that research in this scholarly area highlights the integration of digital technologies and data-driven strategies in HR processes, emphasizes the strategic use of data analytics in decision-making, and shows the adaptation of HR functions through digital interfaces, along with the alignment of HRM with organizational strategies through comprehensive resource management. From the literature synthesis, this research offers an integrated socio-technical definition of DHRM and a three-layer definition framework (operational, relational, and transformational) that explains how digital technologies reshape HR processes and strategic value creation. However, the study is limited by its selection of keywords that might not capture all relevant DHRM literature, potentially impacting the comprehensiveness and depth of the findings. Regardless, this study complements the existing literature on DHRM by systematically reviewing the area and rigorously implementing the bibliometric and content analysis techniques to comprehensively understand the field. The findings are intended to facilitate future researchers to develop a congenial underpinning of the theories and concepts while harmonizing the development of identified less-developed research clusters.