NETWORKS IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION

UMA ANÁLISE TEMÁTICA DA PRODUÇÃO CIENTÍFICA

Authors

  • Edenilza Magalhães Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)
  • Roniberto Morato do Amaral Federal University of São Carlos image/svg+xml
  • Paulo Cesar Matui Federal University of São Carlos image/svg+xml

Keywords:

human resource management, people management, network theory, social networks, social network analysis

Abstract

Networks have been widely recognized as important mechanisms for the circulation of information, knowledge, and opportunities within organizations. Nevertheless, it remains unclear to what extent the Human Resource Management (HRM) literature has incorporated the network perspective as a theoretical framework and analytical tool for understanding people management phenomena. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the scientific literature that connects Human Resource Management and networks, identifying the main topics investigated and the degree to which network theory has been adopted in the field. A literature review was conducted based on 338 scientific articles, classified according to a taxonomy adapted from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and an analytical framework designed to identify the presence and use of the network perspective. The results show that 64.79% of the studies merely mention social networks or social relationships as part of the research context, while 17.46% focus on digital social networks. Only 15.38% of the articles explicitly employ network theories, concepts, or methods to investigate Human Resource Management phenomena, with a stronger concentration in Human Resource Strategy and Learning and Development. The findings suggest that although social relationships are widely acknowledged as relevant to people management, network theory remains underutilized as an analytical approach in the field. The study concludes that there is significant potential for expanding the incorporation of relational perspectives into HRM research, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of organizational phenomena.

Author Biographies

  • Edenilza Magalhães, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)

    A librarian graduated from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), currently pursuing a doctorate in the Information Science Graduate Program at the same institution. She possesses a solid academic background and consolidated experience in information management, with an emphasis on technologies applied to the organization and retrieval of documents. Her master's research focused on the use of artificial intelligence techniques in electronic document management (EDM) systems, emphasizing the identification of effective tools, methods, and models for organizational environments. In her doctoral studies, she investigates the synergistic connections between essential competencies in the context of startups, aiming to map critical factors for their development and success. She has worked for over a decade in electronic document management in corporate and industrial environments, advising large organizations on the implementation of digital solutions focused on informational efficiency. Currently, she is an EDM consultant, serving companies such as Siemens, Klabin, Arcadis, and WestRock.

  • Roniberto Morato do Amaral, Federal University of São Carlos

    Professor Associado da Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), vinculado ao Departamento de Ciência da Informação. Pesquisador no Núcleo de Informação Tecnológica em Materiais da UFSCar (NIT/Materiais) e no Centro de Estudos Sociedade, Universidade e Ciência (SoU_Ciência). Doutor (2010) e Mestre (2006) em Engenharia de Produção e Bibliotecário (2003) pela UFSCar. Atuo na investigação da atividade de Inteligência Competitiva com base na abordagem das competências e sua aplicação à gestão tecnológica e inovação, por intermédio da elaboração e análise de indicadores de produção científica e tecnológica.

  • Paulo Cesar Matui, Federal University of São Carlos

    Possui doutorado em Engenharia de Produção UFSCar (2017), mestrado em Administração pela UMESP (2011), e graduação em Engenharia Industrial Mecânica pela Escola de Engenharia Industrial de São José dos Campos (1993). É editor Associado de Artigos Tecnológicos e de Mídias Sociais na RAC/Anpad e parecerista de alguns periódicos e congressos nacionais na área da administração. É pesquisador colaborardor no IBEPES e pesquisador nos grupos de pesquisa Organizações, Estratégia e Instituições (UP) e Pesquisa em Inteligência Tecnológica e Organizacional - PERITO (DCI/UFSCar).

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Published

2026-11-13

Conference Proceedings Volume

2026: XXVI ENCONTRO NACIONAL DE PESQUISA E PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM CIÊNCIA DA INFORMAÇÃO

Section

GT 4 – Gestão da Informação e do Conhecimento

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