La GRH est-elle créatrice de valeur ? Une application au cas du e-RH

Within the deep transformation experienced by the HR function, the impact of internet technology is viewed as a critical lever of change. Starting with a short description of the France Telecom's HR function reengineering example using e-HR, this article builds upon a review of the HRM-strategy literature and points out the importance for HRM of the resource-based view framework (Barney, 1991,1997 ; Wernefelt, 1984). The process of value-creation is then analyzed with the key role played by corporate governance and, more recently, by the sustainable development approach (Ferone et al. 2001) that broadens the value creation perspective. The impact of HRM on value creation is then discussed on the basis of the Amit & Belcourt (1979)'s model emphasizing the role of HRM processes that possess some critical characteristics to create value: tacitness, robustness, complementary, rare and non substitutable. As an applied case, the impact of the e-HR on value creation is analyzed in the third part of the article. The research reviewed is either normative or mainly anecdotal. The rare empirical data (Watson Wyatt, 2002) are not really conclusive. Therefore, more rigorous research is needed in this field of HRM research that may become prominent in the future.