Factors Influencing the Adoption of a National Integrated Human Resource Information System in the South African Health Sector

Abstract

Background Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) have garnered significant acclaim as indispensable tools in Human Resources for Health (HRH) management. HRIS enable access to timely and accurate workforce data, thereby enhancing evidence-based health workforce planning and decision-making. Following recommendations from global partners, South Africa has embraced the concept of adopting HRIS in the health sector. This study seeks to explore the factors that facilitate and hinder the adoption of HRIS in the South African health sector, while also examining the progress made in adopting the system thus far. In so doing, this study endeavours to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of HRIS adoption, and key factors shaping the adoption process. Methodology This qualitative exploratory study employed a purposively sampling strategy to select the study participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather insights into the factors influencing the adoption of the integrated HRIS in the South African health sector. The interviews were guided by a pre-set interview guide containing a set of open-ended questions. Using Atlas.ti, thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data, and this involved the systematic process of coding, categorizing and identifying patterns. The codes were organized into overarching themes and sub-themes, providing a structured framework to interpret and explain the study findings. Results A noted finding of this study was that the HRIS architecture with its components (HRH registry, data warehouse, and user portal) were all developed and complete at the time this study was conducted, however the system was not fully adopted into the entire health sector. Facilitators such as effective leadership, secure source of funding and rigorous stakeholder engagement were identified as essential for HRIS adoption. However, barriers included: inadequate capacity, change in organisational leadership, competing priorities and centralised decision making. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors at play in the HRIS adoption process in the South African health sector. x Implications The findings of this study provide invaluable insights into the factors influencing HRIS adoption within the health sector. These results underscore the need to prioritise the facilitating factors while mitigating the barriers. Focusing on this approach can enhance the likelihood of successful HRIS adoption in the South African health sector.