Bridging the Assimilation Gap: A User Centered Approach to IT Adoption in Corporate HR Processes

The successful adoption of IT innovation and the attraction of qualified human resources are both crucial for organizational performance. However, there is still surprisingly little research at the intersection of both fields: the adoption, diffusion and infusion of IT within corporate HR processes. This is astonishing as evolving IT support in recent years has substantially transformed HR processes showing attractive optimization potentials. In this paper, we apply findings from theory and own qualitative and quantitative research to the recruitment process. We present a stage model for the e-HR field and argue that with changing forms of IT support different theoretical models and constructs need to be applied. Also, as soon as locus of adoption and impact begin to deviate an assimilation gap emerges. We therefore adopt a user perspective and show how HR and IT managers can overcome this gap in order to successfully infuse IT in corporate recruitment processes.