An Exploration of the Role of Social Media Platforms in the Employee Recruitment Process Nadine Munro PhD Thesis 2018 i Contents Contents .............................................................................................................................ii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. viii Abstract................................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1 – Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Research Aim and Objectives and Research Questions ......................................... 4 1.3 The Significance of the Study ................................................................................. 6 1.4 Summary of Literature Themes ............................................................................... 9 1.5 Overview of the Methodology ................................................................................ 17 1.6 Considerations for the Methodological Approach .................................................. 19 1.7 Chapter Conclusion .............................................................................................. 22 Chapter 2 – Review of the Literature ................................................................................... 23 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Structure and Scope of the Chapter ........................................................................... 25 2.3 Recruitment ............................................................................................................... 27 2.3.1 Conceptual Framework Jeske and Holland’s (2017) ............................................ 27 2.3.2 Human Resource Management ............................................................................... 29 2.3.3 Research in Recruitment ........................................................................................... 32 2.3.4 Defining Recruitment and Selection ........................................................................ 35 2.3.5 Social Media in Human Resource Management ................................................... 40 2.3.6 Social Media in Recruitment and Competitive Advantage in Recruitment ........ 43 2.3.7 e-Recruitment ............................................................................................................. 45 2.3.8 Talent Management ................................................................................................... 47 2.3.9 Candidate Attraction and Recruitment Message ................................................... 49 2.3.10 Recruitment and Social Media ................................................................................. 55 2.3.11 Employer Branding ..................................................................................................... 61 2.3.11 The use of AI and Algorithms in the Recruitment Process................................... 64 2.3.12 Section Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 66 2.4 Social Media ......................................................................................................... 67 2.4.1 Introduction to Social Media ..................................................................................... 67 ii 2.4.2 Defining Social Media ............................................................................................... 68 2.4.3 Social Media Platforms .............................................................................................. 70 2.4.4 Social Media as a Business Tool and within the Workplace ............................... 73 2.4.5 Social Media Marketing and Employer Brand .............................................................. 78 2.4.6 Legalities and the Use of Social Media in the Workplace .......................................... 80 2.4.7 Section Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 89 2.5 Technology and the Panoptic Gaze ........................................................................... 89 2.5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 89 2.5.2 Exploring Bentham’s Pantopticon .................................................................................. 91 2.5.3 Foucault – Discipline and Punishment .......................................................................... 92 2.5.4 Post-Panoptic Theories ................................................................................................... 93 2.5.5 Haggarty and Ericson’s Assemblage – Beyond the Panoptic Structure .................. 94 2.5.6 Section Conclusion Contemporary Conceptualisation of Surveillance .................... 96 2.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 96 Chapter 3 - Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 98 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 98 3.2 Justification for the use of Inductive and Qualitative Methods. ................................... 99 3.3 Research Philosophies and Research Methods....................................................... 102 3.4 Research Design ..................................................................................................... 107 3.4.1 The Principles of the Case Study Approach .............................................................. 107 3.4.2 Exploratory Case Studies.............................................................................................. 115 3.4.3 Selection of Organisations and Individuals ................................................................ 118 3.4.4 Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 120 3.4.5 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 126 3.4.6 Unit of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 130 3.4.7 Issues with the Unit of Analysis .................................................................................... 132 3.4.8 Sample Selection ............................................................................................................ 133 3.4.9 Background to the Study Participants ......................................................................... 135 3.4.10 Firm – Organisational Level Logic Model ................................................................. 162 3.4.11 Triangulation Analysis ................................................................................................. 164 3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 164 Chapter 4 – Social Media Presence in Practice (Real or Imagined) .................................. 166 4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 166 4.1.2 The Key Themes ............................................................................................................ 168 4.1 Summary of Key Themes ................................................................................................. 168 iii 4.2 Nature and Extent of Social Media Use ................................................................... 171 4.2.1 Social Media is Used for Making and Developing Connections. ............................ 174 4.2.2 Social Media Use for Collaboration Activities and Collaborative Behaviour ......... 177 4.2.3 Adoption of a Strategic Approach ................................................................................ 179 4.2.4 Social Media use as an Applicant Attraction Tool ..................................................... 186 4.2.5 Social Media Enhances Employer Brand ................................................................... 190 4.2.6 Social Media Use Depends on the Culture of the Organisation. ............................ 193 4.2.7 Changes to the Recruitment Process ......................................................................... 197 4.3 Actors and Platforms ............................................................................................... 201 4.3.1 LinkedIn ........................................................................................................................... 204 4.3.2 Facebook and Twitter .................................................................................................... 208 4.3.3 Yammer ..........................................................................................................................