The process of managing employees is becoming increasingly automated, but some predict an even greater technological jump is underway, with employees themselves falling prey to systems that can learn and grow like flesh and bone workers. Some say a rapid paradigm shift is already underway. Making heads or tails of the new corporate culture on the horizon can be a daunting task, however the most likely to succeed will be those who stay abreast and adapt to the constantly changing environment.

It is conceivable that there will be a period of time where human resources technology will improve the efficiency of the hiring process, while other technologies will improve the viability of replacing employees altogether. Evidence suggests a period of limbo between those two competing technologies may be on the horizon.

DACs Are Potential Game-Changers

When wholesale, large-scale changes emerge there is inevitably a degree of disruption to the processes that businesses and customers are accustomed to using. Those disruptions are a new reality, according to a recent CIO column. At the crux of that new reality are Distributed Autonomous Corporations (DACs), which are businesses that are capable of handling billions of dollars in transactions using only autonomous computer processes.

Some examples of these DAC's provided in the piece are La’Zooz, Twister and Bitmessage, which operate even as many people view them as science fiction. Investments are also growing to augment the capabilities and availability of companies that do not require human employees. While the author acknowledges that the concept of companies with no employees seems far-fetched in the short-term, the proliferation of real-world examples is observable.

“The idea of a rigid corporation is evaporating, replaced instead by a collection of autonomous mechanisms that can function without the need for human intervention," the article states. "Today bots are already transacting trillions of dollars’ worth of stock market trades. The DAC takes this another step forward.” 

However, these companies are still competing in markets dominated by people. Processes to improve how well people can perform their work are also underway and it is difficult to tell how these two competing technological paths will comingle, if at all. The future of commerce will likely be decided by that relationship.

HR Model Leans on New Processes

Technology has allowed human resources to grow as a discipline, and its function as an objective and systematic process has helped turn it into a revolutionary tool for managing people. According to an article from Forbes, HR has “met” technology and culture is the key.

Forbes lists ten facets that are driving the changes in HR. Namely, Cloud computing and Big Data are at the forefront of fact-based and predictive analytics. Thinking globally has also become an important part of the HR landscape, as connectivity is faster and easier than ever.

HR is also becoming increasingly multifunctional. “Part of seeing HR as a 3-D function is covering all the phases of search and employ: recruitment and an ongoing talent search; performance tracking; training and onboarding; engagement; succession; compensation, recognition and rewards; and pipelining," the story reads. "All are approached with the same data-driven focus, and all are correlated to each other. Rather than disparate functions, these are all seamlessly related.” 

Staying Ahead of the Curve

For those interested, the University of Arkansas is offering a 15-session program at the University of Arkansas Global Campus aimed at helping HR professionals hone their skills and continue to learn about their field. The Society for Human Resource Management Learning System sessions will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 13 to Nov. 19, live online or in a classroom in Rogers, according to information from the university. The classes will help those interested prepare for certification exams and will provide an overview of the field and professional development.

“By enrolling in this course, students will benefit from instructors who are experts in the industry; Web resources and mobile applications; a structured learning environment; and the opportunity to build a peer network,” according to information from the university.