Human resource management in the emerging work ecosystem: Propositions for scholarship and implications for practice

Abstract

The confluence of changing employment norms and technological innovations is bringing forth a work ecosystem characterized by increases in episodic work, virtuality, individualization of labour, and transformation of jobs. Our paper builds upon existing scholarship, and data on labour trends to propose a framework that views the interactions between key entities (workers, customers, organizations, and platforms) and institutions as continuously shaping the nature of work. Viewing micro-ecosystems, such as gig work performed using technology platforms and traditional employment ecosystems, as subsets of this emergent work ecosystem, we generate specific propositions to guide human resource management (HRM) research and explore the implications of the emerging work ecosystem for HRM practice.