Importance of Integrating HR Analytics to Measure Employee Learning and Development: A Descriptive Study towards Human Return on Investment

Abstract

In the strategic management of Human Resources (HR), the portrayal of employees as human assets has significant inferences as it highlights the human investment perspective in firms. It necessitates an appropriate and integrated approach to managing the workforce with the organization’s strategy. However, it needs the best HR practices and metrics to identify the effectiveness of productivity, profit, growth, and innovation. This involves dilemmas related to the investment in the workforce. Accordingly, this study helps to identify the significance of integrating HR analytics to measure employee learning and development in a selected University in the United Arab Emirates. A questionnaire was developed based on the intensive literature review. The primary data was collected by interviewing employees from different strata. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and tested the crafted hypotheses through a Confirmatory Factor analysis (CFA). The results prove the significance of HR analytics in employee development toward organizational effectiveness. Organizations that invest in their talent force are more attractive to prospective employees and can retain the best talents for firms’ future growth and stability. Well-trained employees increase a competitive advantage to firms in the marketplace and ensure a Return On Investment (ROI). Hence, this study can be a roadmap to determine the actual “value” of each employee. Valuation of human assets has a high impact on performance, compensation, career development, and retention strategies in firms. Future studies can be concentrated on these areas.