HR analytics between ambition and reality

This exploratory study in the Journal “Group. Interaction. Organization” investigated the degree of implementation and the benefits of HR Analytics in Switzerland. As part of the study, 133 companies were surveyed. In addition, 12 interviews were conducted to obtain more in-depth insights into the core results. The results show that the majority of companies are still primarily doing backward-looking descriptive data analytics. Furthermore, there is a gap between expectations and actual achievements associated with HR Analytics. The interviews make it clear that data quality and the necessary competences are key challenges in terms of implementation. In order to achieve greater benefits with HR Analytics, the insights gained should lead to the implementation of measures and clearer reference to business-relevant parameters. Therefore, fully realizing the high potential of HR Analytics will require additional effort. In the discussion section, we consider the current literature and, based on our results, derive practical implications for a better establishment of HR Analytics. We also discuss the potential of Work and Organizational Psychology to shape the rapidly growing field of HR Analytics.