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IT Human Resource Management Configurations and IT Turnover: Theoretical Synthesis and Empirical Analysis

Author

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  • Thomas W. Ferratt

    (School of Business Administration, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio 45469-2130)

  • Ritu Agarwal

    (Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1815)

  • Carol V. Brown

    (Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405-1701)

  • Jo Ellen Moore

    (School of Business, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois 62026-1106)

Abstract

Increasingly, scholars and practitioners acknowledge that information technology (IT) human capital is a strategic resource and that its effective management represents a significant organizational capability. We use configurational theory to examine organizational practices related to the management of IT human capital. In contrast to much prior work in IT human resource management (HRM) that is focused at the individual level, our inquiry is focused at the organizational level of analysis. Building on strategic human resource management (SHRM) research in general and research on the management of IT professionals in particular, we examine the broad question: Are different configurations of IT HRM practices associated with different IT staff turnover rates ? A multidimensional view of IT HRM practices is presented, based on prior IT and SHRM literature. We formalize hypotheses regarding the relationship of turnover with configurations of IT HRM practices grounded in prior theory and empirical research. Based on survey responses from 106 organizations, IT HRM dimensions and configurations are derived and the hypotheses are tested. A five-configuration solution, obtained via cluster analysis, includes two contrasting configurations consistent with two archetypes found in the prior literature. Specifically, the configuration with a human capital focus has lower turnover than the task-focused configuration, providing support for our first hypothesis. Although the hypothesis on intermediate configurations and their relationship with turnover is not supported, we discover and interpret three additional configurations that embody patterns of practices with unique emphases. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas W. Ferratt & Ritu Agarwal & Carol V. Brown & Jo Ellen Moore, 2005. "IT Human Resource Management Configurations and IT Turnover: Theoretical Synthesis and Empirical Analysis," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 237-255, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:16:y:2005:i:3:p:237-255
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1050.0057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sunil Mithas & M. S. Krishnan, 2008. "Human Capital and Institutional Effects in the Compensation of Information Technology Professionals in the United States," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(3), pages 415-428, March.
    2. Pham Quang Huy & Vo Van Nhi & Pham Tra Lam, 2019. "The Interaction Effect of Task – Technology Fit and Job Satisfaction on Job Performance in ERP Context: Case Study of Vietnamese Enterprises," Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance, Eurasian Publications, vol. 7(1), pages 48-61.
    3. Mary C. Lacity & Vidya V. Iyer & Prasad S. Rudramuniyaiah, 2008. "Turnover intentions of Indian IS professionals," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 225-241, April.
    4. Badrinarayan Srirangam Ramaprasad & Sethumadhavan Lakshminarayanan & Yogesh P. Pai, 2021. "Exploring the Mediating Role of Employee Attitudes in the Relationship between High-Performance Work Systems and Turnover Intention among IT Professionals in India: A Serial Mediation Approach," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 22(1), pages 197-218, February.
    5. Olivera Marjanovic & Vijaya Murthy, 2022. "The Emerging Liquid IT Workforce: Theorizing Their Personal Competitive Advantage," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1775-1793, December.
    6. Sunil Mithas & Henry C. Lucas, Jr., 2010. "Are Foreign IT Workers Cheaper? U.S. Visa Policies and Compensation of Information Technology Professionals," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(5), pages 745-765, May.
    7. Rohit Aggarwal & Michael J. Lee & Vishal Midha, 2023. "Differential Impact of Content in Online Communication on Heterogeneous Candidates: A Field Study in Technical Recruitment," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(2), pages 609-628, June.
    8. Keongtae Kim & Sunil Mithas & Jonathan Whitaker & Prasanto K. Roy, 2014. "Research Note —Industry-Specific Human Capital and Wages: Evidence from the Business Process Outsourcing Industry," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 618-638, September.
    9. Trapati Narwaria & Rajiv Dwivedi & Anil Vashisht & Apoorva Mishra & Pratiksha Saxena & Vivek Gupta & Abhishek Singhal & Sandeep Raghuwanshi, 2024. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Employee Turnover Intention among IT Sector Employees," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 14(6), pages 355-363, October.
    10. Choi, Byounggu & Poon, Simon K. & Davis, Joseph G., 2008. "Effects of knowledge management strategy on organizational performance: A complementarity theory-based approach," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 235-251, April.
    11. Jonathan Whitaker & Sunil Mithas & Che-Wei Liu, 2019. "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder: Toward a Contextual Understanding of Compensation of Information Technology Professionals Within and Across Geographies," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 892-911, September.
    12. Pankaj Patel & Sherry Thatcher & Katerina Bezrukova, 2013. "Organizationally-relevant configurations: the value of modeling local dependence," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 287-311, January.
    13. Feng Guo & Yijun Li & Likoebe M. Maruping & Adi Masli, 2023. "Complementarity Between Investment in Information Technology (IT) and IT Human Resources: Implications for Different Types of Firm Innovation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(3), pages 1259-1275, September.
    14. Thomas W. Ferratt & Jayesh Prasad & Harvey G. Enns, 2012. "Synergy and Its Limits in Managing Information Technology Professionals," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(4), pages 1175-1194, December.
    15. Sunil Mithas & M. S. Krishnan, 2009. "From Association to Causation via a Potential Outcomes Approach," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(2), pages 295-313, June.
    16. Janice Lo, 2015. "The information technology workforce: A review and assessment of voluntary turnover research," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 387-411, April.
    17. Tommy Krabberød, 2015. "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? Exploring Consensus on the Validity Status of Mintzberg’s Configuration Theory After a Negative Test," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, October.

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