The Ethics of People Analytics: Risks, Opportunities and Recommendations

Aizhan Tursunbayeva; Claudia Pagliari; Stefano Di Lauro; Gilda Antonelli

doi:10.1108/PR-12-2019-0680

The Ethics of People Analytics: Risks, Opportunities and Recommendations

Aizhan Tursunbayeva, Claudia Pagliari, Stefano Di Lauro, Gilda Antonelli

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Purpose
This research analyzed the existing academic and grey literature concerning the technologies and practices of people analytics (PA), to understand how ethical considerations are being discussed by researchers, industry experts and practitioners, and to identify gaps, priorities and recommendations for ethical practice.
Design/methodology/approach
An iterative “scoping review” method was used to capture and synthesize relevant academic and grey literature. This is suited to emerging areas of innovation where formal research lags behind evidence from professional or technical sources.
Findings
Although the grey literature contains a growing stream of publications aimed at helping PA practitioners to “be ethical,” overall, research on ethical issues in PA is still at an early stage. Optimistic and technocentric perspectives dominate the PA discourse, although key themes seen in the wider literature on digital/data ethics are also evident. Risks and recommendations for PA projects concerned transparency and diverse stakeholder inclusion, respecting privacy rights, fair and proportionate use of data, fostering a systemic culture of ethical practice, delivering benefits for employees, including ethical outcomes in business models, ensuring legal compliance and using ethical charters.
Research limitations/implications
This research adds to current debates over the future of work and employment in a digitized, algorithm-driven society.
Practical implications
The research provides an accessible summary of the risks, opportunities, trade-offs and regulatory issues for PA, as well as a framework for integrating ethical strategies and practices.
Originality/value
By using a scoping methodology to surface and analyze diverse literatures, this study fills a gap in existing knowledge on ethical aspects of PA. The findings can inform future academic research, organizations using or considering PA products, professional associations developing relevant guidelines and policymakers adapting regulations. It is also timely, given the increase in digital monitoring of employees working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Original language	English
Journal	Personnel Review
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-12-2019-0680
Publication status	Published - 23 Mar 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Workforce analytics
People Analytics
Future of Work
Human Resource Information Systems
Big Data
AI
Profiling
Surveillance
COVID-19
Digital Health
Privacy
Data Ethics
Digital Ethics
AI Ethics
Workers' rights

Access to Document

10.1108/PR-12-2019-0680Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

Authors' Accepted Manuscript. Ethics of People Analytics
Personnel Review offers 'Green Route' Open Access Publishing to The University of Edinburgh
Accepted author manuscript, 980 KB
Ethics of People Analytics: risks, opportunities and recommendations
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Final published version, 633 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PR-12-2019-0680/full/htmlLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

1 Finished
2 Active

Human Resources for Health - Data and Systems in Practice
Pagliari, C.
1/01/15 → 1/12/25
Project: Research
Ethics and Governance of Digital Health
Pagliari, C.
1/01/05 → 1/12/30
Project: Research
Strengthening Health Systems in Malawi through ICT
Grant, L. & Pagliari, C.
EU other
1/01/14 → 31/03/17
Project: Research

5 Article
3 Paper
3 Digital or Visual Products
1 Chapter (peer-reviewed)
More
- 1 Book/Film/Article review
- 1 Other contribution

"Planned benefits" can be misleading in digital transformation projects. Insights from a case study of Human Resource Information Systems implementation in healthcare.
Tursunbayeva, A., Bunduchi, R. & Pagliari, C., 24 Jun 2020, In: SAGE Open. 10, 2
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
Coping with institutional complexity: Intersecting logics and dissonant visions in a nation-wide healthcare IT implementation project
Bunduchi, R., Tursunbayeva, A. & Pagliari, C., 2020, In: Information Technology & People. 33, 1, p. 311-339
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
Health Data Dilemmas: Ethical Benefits and Risks: (Data Ethics, AI and Responsible Innovation)
Pagliari, C., 19 Dec 2019
Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

Open Access

The best HR & People Analytics articles of April 2021
Claudia Pagliari & Aizhan Tursunbayeva
29/04/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Project or Organisational News Item
Watched Over by Machines: AI and Surveillance at Work
Claudia Pagliari
15/01/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Microsoft Productivity Score feature comes in for criticism
Claudia Pagliari
27/11/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment

3 Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
2 Invited talk
1 Oral presentation

Chair, National Expert Group on Digital Ethics. Scottish Government
Claudia Pagliari (Chair)
Mar 2020 → Feb 2022
Activity: Consultancy types › Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
Member Ethics Task Group - Data Intelligence Network, Scotland
Claudia Pagliari (Contributor)
2020 → 2021
Activity: Consultancy types › Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
Digital Technologies and the Future Health Workforce
Claudia Pagliari (Invited speaker)
12 Dec 2019
Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Invited talk

File

Cite this

@article{50d1bf3e80a6439895aacb1b516b72ae,

title = "The Ethics of People Analytics: Risks, Opportunities and Recommendations",

abstract = "PurposeThis research analyzed the existing academic and grey literature concerning the technologies and practices of people analytics (PA), to understand how ethical considerations are being discussed by researchers, industry experts and practitioners, and to identify gaps, priorities and recommendations for ethical practice.Design/methodology/approachAn iterative “scoping review” method was used to capture and synthesize relevant academic and grey literature. This is suited to emerging areas of innovation where formal research lags behind evidence from professional or technical sources.FindingsAlthough the grey literature contains a growing stream of publications aimed at helping PA practitioners to “be ethical,” overall, research on ethical issues in PA is still at an early stage. Optimistic and technocentric perspectives dominate the PA discourse, although key themes seen in the wider literature on digital/data ethics are also evident. Risks and recommendations for PA projects concerned transparency and diverse stakeholder inclusion, respecting privacy rights, fair and proportionate use of data, fostering a systemic culture of ethical practice, delivering benefits for employees, including ethical outcomes in business models, ensuring legal compliance and using ethical charters.Research limitations/implicationsThis research adds to current debates over the future of work and employment in a digitized, algorithm-driven society.Practical implicationsThe research provides an accessible summary of the risks, opportunities, trade-offs and regulatory issues for PA, as well as a framework for integrating ethical strategies and practices.Originality/valueBy using a scoping methodology to surface and analyze diverse literatures, this study fills a gap in existing knowledge on ethical aspects of PA. The findings can inform future academic research, organizations using or considering PA products, professional associations developing relevant guidelines and policymakers adapting regulations. It is also timely, given the increase in digital monitoring of employees working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.",

keywords = "Workforce analytics, People Analytics, Future of Work, Human Resource Information Systems, Big Data, AI, Profiling, Surveillance, COVID-19, Digital Health, Privacy, Data Ethics, Digital Ethics, AI Ethics, Workers' rights",

author = "Aizhan Tursunbayeva and Claudia Pagliari and {Di Lauro}, Stefano and Gilda Antonelli",

note = "Claudia Pagliari and Aizhan Tursunbayeva have been engaged in research on the use of digital technologies for understanding and managing human resources since 2015, initially with a focus on their use within healthcare systems. In 2017 their attention was turned to a new breed of software products and services referred to as People Analytics, which combines elements of traditional workforce informatics with digital surveillance and predictive analytics. They began analysing the emergent literature and published a scoping review on the topic in 2018. One finding was the absence of ethical discourse in this literature, despite the many ethical challenges such technologies present. In late 2018 they organised a half-day workshop at the British Academy of Management conference, focused on the Ethics of People Analytics. They continued researching, writing and speaking about the topic, in academic and non-academic forums, culminating in the submission of this latest paper at the end of 2019. The journal review process was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and during this time, the topic of workforce surveillance became increasingly prominent in the media, due to the growth of home-working. As such, the authors were able to take account of these developments in their manuscript, which was accepted for publication in February 2021. ",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

day = "23",

doi = "10.1108/PR-12-2019-0680",

language = "English",

journal = "Personnel Review",

issn = "0048-3486",

publisher = "Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Ethics of People Analytics

T2 - Risks, Opportunities and Recommendations

AU - Tursunbayeva, Aizhan

AU - Pagliari, Claudia

AU - Di Lauro, Stefano

AU - Antonelli, Gilda

N1 - Claudia Pagliari and Aizhan Tursunbayeva have been engaged in research on the use of digital technologies for understanding and managing human resources since 2015, initially with a focus on their use within healthcare systems. In 2017 their attention was turned to a new breed of software products and services referred to as People Analytics, which combines elements of traditional workforce informatics with digital surveillance and predictive analytics. They began analysing the emergent literature and published a scoping review on the topic in 2018. One finding was the absence of ethical discourse in this literature, despite the many ethical challenges such technologies present. In late 2018 they organised a half-day workshop at the British Academy of Management conference, focused on the Ethics of People Analytics. They continued researching, writing and speaking about the topic, in academic and non-academic forums, culminating in the submission of this latest paper at the end of 2019. The journal review process was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and during this time, the topic of workforce surveillance became increasingly prominent in the media, due to the growth of home-working. As such, the authors were able to take account of these developments in their manuscript, which was accepted for publication in February 2021.

PY - 2021/3/23

Y1 - 2021/3/23

N2 - PurposeThis research analyzed the existing academic and grey literature concerning the technologies and practices of people analytics (PA), to understand how ethical considerations are being discussed by researchers, industry experts and practitioners, and to identify gaps, priorities and recommendations for ethical practice.Design/methodology/approachAn iterative “scoping review” method was used to capture and synthesize relevant academic and grey literature. This is suited to emerging areas of innovation where formal research lags behind evidence from professional or technical sources.FindingsAlthough the grey literature contains a growing stream of publications aimed at helping PA practitioners to “be ethical,” overall, research on ethical issues in PA is still at an early stage. Optimistic and technocentric perspectives dominate the PA discourse, although key themes seen in the wider literature on digital/data ethics are also evident. Risks and recommendations for PA projects concerned transparency and diverse stakeholder inclusion, respecting privacy rights, fair and proportionate use of data, fostering a systemic culture of ethical practice, delivering benefits for employees, including ethical outcomes in business models, ensuring legal compliance and using ethical charters.Research limitations/implicationsThis research adds to current debates over the future of work and employment in a digitized, algorithm-driven society.Practical implicationsThe research provides an accessible summary of the risks, opportunities, trade-offs and regulatory issues for PA, as well as a framework for integrating ethical strategies and practices.Originality/valueBy using a scoping methodology to surface and analyze diverse literatures, this study fills a gap in existing knowledge on ethical aspects of PA. The findings can inform future academic research, organizations using or considering PA products, professional associations developing relevant guidelines and policymakers adapting regulations. It is also timely, given the increase in digital monitoring of employees working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

AB - PurposeThis research analyzed the existing academic and grey literature concerning the technologies and practices of people analytics (PA), to understand how ethical considerations are being discussed by researchers, industry experts and practitioners, and to identify gaps, priorities and recommendations for ethical practice.Design/methodology/approachAn iterative “scoping review” method was used to capture and synthesize relevant academic and grey literature. This is suited to emerging areas of innovation where formal research lags behind evidence from professional or technical sources.FindingsAlthough the grey literature contains a growing stream of publications aimed at helping PA practitioners to “be ethical,” overall, research on ethical issues in PA is still at an early stage. Optimistic and technocentric perspectives dominate the PA discourse, although key themes seen in the wider literature on digital/data ethics are also evident. Risks and recommendations for PA projects concerned transparency and diverse stakeholder inclusion, respecting privacy rights, fair and proportionate use of data, fostering a systemic culture of ethical practice, delivering benefits for employees, including ethical outcomes in business models, ensuring legal compliance and using ethical charters.Research limitations/implicationsThis research adds to current debates over the future of work and employment in a digitized, algorithm-driven society.Practical implicationsThe research provides an accessible summary of the risks, opportunities, trade-offs and regulatory issues for PA, as well as a framework for integrating ethical strategies and practices.Originality/valueBy using a scoping methodology to surface and analyze diverse literatures, this study fills a gap in existing knowledge on ethical aspects of PA. The findings can inform future academic research, organizations using or considering PA products, professional associations developing relevant guidelines and policymakers adapting regulations. It is also timely, given the increase in digital monitoring of employees working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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KW - People Analytics

KW - Future of Work

KW - Human Resource Information Systems

KW - Big Data

KW - AI

KW - Profiling

KW - Surveillance

KW - COVID-19

KW - Digital Health

KW - Privacy

KW - Data Ethics

KW - Digital Ethics

KW - AI Ethics

KW - Workers' rights

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DO - 10.1108/PR-12-2019-0680

M3 - Article

SN - 0048-3486

JO - Personnel Review

JF - Personnel Review

ER -

The Ethics of People Analytics: Risks, Opportunities and Recommendations

Abstract / Description of output

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

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Research output

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