The initial research findings support the results of studies by those such as Towers Perrin (2008)
and Bussler and Davis (2001). Despite all four case studies stating that the implementation or
upgrade of their HRIS has been undertaken with the aim of utilising functions that are of a strategic
nature thereby enhancing the strategic contribution of the HR function (Beatty, 2001; Lengnick-Hall
et al., 2003; Ulrich, 1997; Walker, 2001), the data suggests that progress towards making these
changes is being hindered by a range of technological, managerial and organisational challenges.
While some of these challenges could be attributed to the management of new technologies in
general, our findings demonstrate that several are in fact specific to HR and reflect the complex
nature of the management of people, the role of HR in the organisation, the allocation of resources
to the HRIS, and technological issues related to the management of HR practice.