China's civil service adopts e‐HRM … up to a point: Most offices blend paper‐based and electronic systems

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how public‐sector organizations in the Chinese autonomous region of Guangxi Zhuang are applying e‐HRM practices.

Design

Concentrates on the operation of e‐recruitment, e‐training, e‐compensation, e‐benefits and e‐appraisal.

Findings

Reports that blended conventional and electronic HRM practices exist and are likely to continue for a little while into the future.

Practical implications

Reveals that, where e‐HRM is being used, its prime benefit is in reducing the amount of repetitive paperwork that HR specialists have to carry out.

Social implications

Explains that there is still a tendency for people to work too hard in the Chinese civil service, partly because it is seen as the decent thing to do and partly for employees to earn a lot of money. But there are signs, too, that increasing numbers of employees are seeking a decent work‐life balance.

Originality/value

Reveals how e‐HRM operates in the context of the Chinese public sector.

Citation

Han, Y., Zhang, J. and Huang, S. (2013), "China's civil service adopts e‐HRM … up to a point: Most offices blend paper‐based and electronic systems", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 33-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-04-2013-0022