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

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

HR data are important for effective management and organisational efficiency.

“which highlighted the importance of HR data for effective management and organisational efficiency (Tursunbayeva, Bunduchi, Franco, & Pagliari, 2016).”

• cites Tursunbayeva, Bunduchi, Franco, & Pagliari, 2016 sourceSupported

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Scoping reviews address broad rather than narrow research questions and seek to profile the literature and understand it holistically, rather than to critically appraise the methodological quality of individual studies.

“Scoping reviews thus address broad rather than narrow research questions and seek to profile the literature and understand it holistically, rather than to critically appraise the methodological quality of individual studies (Holeman, Cookson, & Pagliari, 2016).”

• cites Holeman, Cookson, & Pagliari, 2016 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Scoping reviews are often used to examine emerging topics that are poorly understood, where research is at an early stage, or where pertinent knowledge is being generated outside academia.

“Scoping reviews are often used to examine emerging topics that are poorly understood, where research is at an early stage, or where pertinent knowledge is being generated outside academia.”

• cites Arksey and O'Malley (2005) sourceSupported
• cites Holeman, Cookson, & Pagliari, 2016 sourceSupported

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

PA promises to help organisations understand their workforce as a whole, as departments or work groups, and as individuals, by making data about employee attributes, behaviour and performance more accessible, interpretable and actionable.

“PA promises to help organisations understand their workforce as a whole, as departments or work groups, and as individuals, by making data about employee attributes, behaviour and performance more accessible, interpretable and actionable (Pape, 2016).”

• cites Pape, 2016 sourcePartly supported

  Section 4.1 (p. 9) describes analyses of employee performance and headcount, while section 4.2 (p. 10) says analyses can be broken down by location, role, department and manager. Appendix A (p. 13) includes decisions about individual employees. These passages support using HR analytics to understand the workforce at several levels, but they do not establish the claim that it makes employee data more accessible and interpretable. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

The market in commercial PA tools and services is diverse, offering numerous functional and strategic benefits.

“The market in commercial PA tools and services is diverse, offering numerous functional and strategic benefits”

May combine two claims.

Searches for Human Capital Analytics appeared and rose from 2004.

“Searches for Human Capital Analytics appeared and rose from 2004”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The keywords used in Marler and Boudreau's review included HR Analytics and Human Resource Analytics; Information Systems including Human Resource Information Systems; and generic HR terms such as Human Resource or Human Resource Management.

“These keywords included: HR Analytics and Human Resource Analytics; Information Systems including Human Resource Information Systems; and generic HR terms such as Human Resource or Human Resource Management.”

• cites Marler and Boudreau, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

One fifth of recent articles found in Scopus are affiliated with IBM.

“indeed one fifth of recent articles found in Scopus are affiliated with IBM”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The most common keyword with our Scopus search terms was Human Capital, reflecting the focus of the HCA group.

“with our Scopus search terms was Human Capital, reflecting the focus of the HCA group.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The scoping review process enabled identification of a more comprehensive set of search terms than previously known.

“Here, this enabled us to identify a more comprehensive set of search terms than we had previously been aware of”

May combine two claims.

Technical disciplines such as the computing and mathematical sciences are strongly represented in Scopus and somewhat in Marler and Boudreau's lists but absent in the HCA group's list.

“Most significantly, technical disciplines such as the computing and mathematical sciences are strongly represented in Scopus and somewhat in Marler and Boudreau's lists but absent in the HCA group's list.”

May combine two claims.

Using our targeted search terms in Scopus yielded only studies published after 2008, whilst the HCA group's list goes back to 2002.

“Using our targeted search terms in Scopus yielded only studies published after 2008, whilst the HCA group's list goes back to 2002.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Including emerging terms such as 'Human Capital Data', 'Human Resource data', 'Talent data', 'Workforce data', 'Analytics in HR', 'HR metrics', 'HR predictive analytics', 'Collaboration Analytics', 'People Intelligence', 'Labor Analytics' and 'Relationship Analytics' is important for people analytics searches.

“and of including emerging terms such as “Human Capital Data”, “Human Resource data”, “Talent data”, “Workforce data”, “Analytics in HR”, “HR metrics”, “HR predictive analytics”, “Collaboration Analytics”, “People Intelligence”, “Labor Analytics” and “Relationship Analytics”.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

All of the companies identified through our online searches are either service providers or technology creators.

“All of the companies identified through our online searches are either service providers or technology creators.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Google users began searching for People Analytics in 2005.

“Google users began searching for People Analytics in 2005”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The most popular keywords specified in articles derived from our Scopus search results were: Workforce Analytics; HR Analytics; Human Resource Management; People Analytics; and Human Resource Analytics.

“The most popular keywords specified in articles derived from our Scopus search results were: Workforce Analytics; HR Analytics; Human Resource Management; People Analytics; and Human Resource Analytics.”

May combine two claims.

All three courses are introductory-level courses, explaining how PA can be used for diverse HRM practices.

“All three are introductory-level courses, explaining how PA can be used for diverse HRM practices (see Table 3).”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The openly accessible information describing MOOC is sufficient to assess their learning objectives.

May combine two claims.

Our broader scoping analysis reveals similar objectives to Marler and Boudreau's definition of HR analytics, but we note that vendors such as Accenture, IBM and QuestionPRO have begun to extend this to improvements in employee experience and satisfaction.

“While our broader scoping analysis reveals similar objectives, we note that vendors such as Accenture, IBM and QuestionPRO have begun to extend this to improvements in employee experience and satisfaction.”

May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

The following overlapping categories of promised benefit emerged from the qualitative analysis of vendors' online marketing narratives: (A) Better strategic decision making through access to reliable information and analytical tools; (B) Improved data handling processes using innovative approaches to data collection, combination, analysis and interpretation; (C) Improved people management from HRM

“The following overlapping categories of promised benefit emerged from the qualitative analysis of vendors' online marketing narratives:”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Vendors' online promotional narratives accurately represent the value propositions of their PA tools and services.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

PA technology vendors offer IT systems for achieving these aims by making workforce intelligence and predictive analytics more accessible, thus supporting strategic decision making and improving business outcomes.

“PA technology vendors offer IT systems for achieving these aims by making workforce intelligence and predictive analytics more accessible, thus supporting strategic decision making and improving business outcomes, reflecting the vision of 'actionable analytics' (Dykes, 2016).”

• cites Dykes, 2016Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

In practice, many of these terms are being used interchangeably, both by academics and vendors, although some practitioners align HR analytics with conventional HR and PA with a broader range of enterprise-level and strategic analytics.

“In practice, many of these terms are being used interchangeably, both by academics and vendors, although some practitioners align HR analytics with conventional HR and PA with a broader range of enterprise-level and strategic analytics (Van Vulpen, 2016).”

• cites Van Vulpen, 2016Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Some people analytics practices are covert or reach beyond the boundaries of organizations themselves.

“some of which are covert or reach beyond the boundaries of organisations themselves.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Widening searches beyond academic databases is important for uncovering relevant grey literature.

“It also demonstrated the importance of widening searches beyond academic databases to uncover relevant grey literature”

May combine two claims.

The top search terms were Human Capital Analytics in the USA, Talent Analytics in India, and Workforce Analytics in Australia, while searches in the UK were more evenly spread across terms.

“For example, the top search terms were, in the USA Human Capital Analytics, in India Talent Analytics and in Australia Workforce Analytics, while searches in the UK were more evenly spread across terms.”

May combine two claims.

Cross-referencing vendors' stated solutions with the coded articles in our review revealed some overlap in vision and intentions, but little evidence of the benefits promised.

“Cross-referencing vendors' stated solutions with the coded articles in our review revealed some overlap in vision and intentions, but little evidence of the benefits promised.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Vendors' online promotional narratives accurately represent the value propositions of their PA tools and services.

May combine two claims.

Most of the academic articles and PA courses included in our review approach PA as a sub-field of HR, which was also reflected in the headline curricula of the three MOOC.

“Most of the academic articles and PA courses included in our review approach PA as a sub-field of HR, which was also reflected in the headline curricula of the three MOOC.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Studies that did not belong to the 7 pillars categories were grouped into separate categories: collaborations, diversity and inclusion, People Risks, and inter-organisational relationships.

“These included studies that focused on: collaborations (e.g.studying work patterns from employees' collaboration activities); diversity and inclusion (e.g.understanding how demographic factors and workforce composition can affect individual, team or organisational performance); People Risks (e.g.quantifying human risks and reviewing existing risk measures); and inter-organisational relationships (”

May combine two claims.

Academic articles specific to PA emerged only in the last two years and PA is now the most popular of the relevant terms according to Google Trends, closely followed by HR Analytics.

“Academic articles specific to PA emerged only in the last two years and this is now the most popular of the relevant terms according to Google Trends, closely followed by HR Analytics.”

May combine two claims.

The results of our scoping review demonstrate the emergence of the term People Analytics and related concepts over the last 15 years, both within academic research and in online searches.

“The results of our scoping review demonstrate the emergence of the term People Analytics and related concepts over the last 15 years, both within academic research and in online searches.”

May combine two claims.

The most popular objectives and practices, based on Isson and Harriot's 7 pillars model, were performance assessment and development and employee lifetime values; onboarding, culture fit, and engagement, and workforce planning.

“The most popular objectives and practices, based on Isson and Harriot's 7 pillars model, were performance assessment and development and employee lifetime values; onboarding, culture fit, and engagement, and workforce planning.”

• cites Isson and Harriot's 7 pillars modelNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

The changes in relative trajectory of PA and conceptually related terms indicate both the re-branding of similar innovations and a differentiation of priorities and communities of practice.

“indicating both the re-branding of similar innovations and a differentiation of priorities and communities of practice”

May combine two claims.

PA is still not well understood in the business or academic communities beyond HR innovators, or in high-risk sectors such as defence and financial services.

“Despite this potential, PA is still not well understood in the business or academic communities (Marler & Boudreau, 2017) beyond HR innovators, or in high-risk sectors such as defence and financial services, where such practices are often shrouded in commercial secrecy.”

• cites Marler & Boudreau, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

With advances in privacy regulations, such as the recently enforced European General Data Protection Directive, people analytics practitioners may soon have to re-think some of these approaches.

“With advances in privacy regulations, such as recently enforced European General Data Protection Directive, PA practitioners may soon have to re-think some of these approaches.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Other recent trends include the use of linked employee data and analytics as a substitute for conventional psychometric testing in the acquisition and management of talent.

“Other recent trends include the use of linked employee data and analytics as a substitute for conventional psychometric testing in the acquisition and management of talent”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The growth in professional conferences focused on PA indicates the desire, primarily amongst international HR professionals, to fill this gap.

“In the meantime, the growth in professional conferences focused on PA (e.g. the Wharton People Analytics Conference or HR Analytics India Summit 2017) indicates the desire, primarily amongst international HR professionals, to fill this gap.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Since PA is an emergent topic, it was appropriate to use a broad scoping approach rather than concentrating on a narrow and likely unrepresentative academic research literature and specific and narrow research questions.

“Since PA is an emergent topic it was appropriate to use this broad approach rather than concentrating on a narrow and likely unrepresentative academic research literature and specific and narrow research questions.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The emergence of these categories illustrates the rapid development and diversification of the field.

“The emergence of these categories illustrates the rapid development and diversification of the field, as already discussed with reference to terminologies and disciplines.”

May combine two claims.

Manual inspection of the pre- and post-2008 publications suggests that PA emerged from organisational psychology and psychometrics but has since been marked by a trend towards the computing and data sciences.

“Manual inspection of the pre-and post-2008 publications suggests that PA emerged from organisational psychology and psychometrics but has since been marked by a trend towards the computing and data sciences.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The scoping review represents only a snapshot of the people analytics field to date.

“Given the rapid pace of technological change, this represents only a snapshot of the field to date.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Changes in terminology also suggest a re-branding of similar concepts by successive practitioner cohorts and vendors, as they seek to differentiate their knowledge, services or products in a competitive market.

“They also suggest a re-branding of similar concepts by successive practitioner cohorts and vendors, as they seek to differentiate their knowledge, services or products in a competitive market.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The increasing inclusion of PA within university curricula on business and management, along with new programmes in data science, and the emergence of other relevant online courses will go some way towards addressing this deficit.

“Nevertheless, the increasing inclusion of PA within university curricula on business and management (e.g. the HR Analytics and Research course from the University of Denver, USA), along with new programmes in data science (e.g. the MSc in Data Science, Technology and Innovation from the University of Edinburgh, UK), and the emergence of other relevant online courses (e.g.People Analytics training”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

To check the inclusivity of our search results, the titles of articles judged to be relevant were cross-referenced with those appearing in two benchmark literature sources.

“To check the inclusivity of our search results, the titles of articles judged to be relevant were cross-referenced with those appearing in two benchmark literature sources”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The first page of Google results for each key search term provides only a snapshot of the vendor ecosystem.

“The first page of Google results arising from each key search term provides only a snapshot of the vendor ecosystem.”

May combine two claims.

An increasing emphasis on measuring people risks via analytics is noteworthy, including conventional risks such as staff attrition, organisational reputation or customer safety, and new forms of cyber-risk such as hack vulnerability or data theft.

“An increasing emphasis on measuring people risks (Marsh Risk Consulting, 2017) via analytics is also noteworthy, including not only conventional risks such as staff attrition, organisational reputation or customer safety, but also new forms of cyber-risk for which these new methods are well-suited, such as hack vulnerability or data theft (e.g.Royal & Windsor, 2016).”

• cites Marsh Risk Consulting, 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Royal & Windsor, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

The Internet cluster seems to be unique to the People Analytics keyword, suggesting that the scope of the PA concept extends beyond internal HR processes and practices.

“The Internet cluster seems to be unique to the People Analytics keyword, suggesting that the scope of the PA concept extends beyond internal HR processes and practices.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Monitoring personal social media or email activity has implications for privacy.

“Examples include the monitoring of personal social media or email activity, which have implications for privacy”

May combine two claims.

Our analysis of the PA-associated terms used in academic sources and in Google searches reveals an evolving and diversifying field originating in the traditional HRM profession, through a critical period of innovation in digital infrastructure, technologies and analytical capabilities, reflecting broader trends in the digital economy over the period studied.

“Our analysis of the PA-associated terms used in academic sources and in Google searches reveals an evolving and diversifying field originating in the traditional HRM profession (historically influenced by industrial psychology), through a critical period of innovation in digital infrastructure, technologies and analytical capabilities, reflecting broader trends in the digital economy over the”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

We included only the organic results and omitted paid advertisements.

“For our analysis we included only the organic results (Ratliff & Rubinfeld, 2014), and omitted paid advertisements.”

• cites Ratliff & Rubinfeld, 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source