Adoption of online recruitment systems in Banks in Saudi Arabia: A study of employer's perspectives.

Abstract

Over the last decade, there has been an increase interest of research on applicant perspectives to online recruitment systems (ORS). However, limited studies have investigated this phenomena form employers’ perspectives. This is of particular concern in light of the growing evidence of organizations that organizations have become increasingly reliant on ORS for recruiting applicants. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate employers’ perspectives of the adoption and use of online recruitment systems (ORS) in banks in Saudi Arabia, using the diffusion of innovation theory and Institution theory. Methodology included semi-structured interviews with sixteen managers and senior management personnel representing ten banks in Saudi Arabia. Qualitative data were analysed using the thematic analysis. The findings of this qualitative study revealed the following six categories of factors that could affect the adoption of the ORS in Saudi banks. The organisational factors included benefits, efficient way of updating information, challenges and barriers, organisational characteristics, organisational expertise, organisational policy, organisational strategy, and top management support. The technological factors identified were issues related to the current online recruitment system, future online recruitment system, technical support, challenges, and current situation. The regulatory factors included government pressure about ORS, government policies, and compliance to government reporting requirements. The Environmental factors were competitors’ pressure, keeping up with labour market changes and the market trend. The factors related to the staff as user of the ORS included staff reluctance to use an ORS, lack of staff expert in ORS, and staff training. The factors related to the applicants included ease of use for the applicant, applicant's positive experience and the volume of online applicants. The adoption of ORS in Saudi banks is still in transition. Overall, the adoption of ORS in Saudi banks has been advantageous but there are challenges like the issue of integration. Most of the banks are evaluating and looking forward to adopting the latest ORS, which could provide fully integrated functions.