Chapter 6 “Local Universe” and Uses of an HR Intranet: Discursive Results from the Case of Middle Management

E-HRM supposes to develop intranet tools in order to share HR information. The measure of the efficacy of this investment is quite difficult because this tool is used in various ways. The aim of this chapter is to identify and explain the diversity of those uses. The review of literature on this topic shows that the structurational perspective of technology developed by Orlikowski (2000) is considered as the most valuable conceptual framework to analyze them. We were asked by the HR management of a major aeronautical and space company called Aero to study the use of an HR intranet by middle management, one of the most important HR clients to satisfy. Using the conceptual framework of Orlikowski and from 53 interviews, we identified three different kinds of uses of this intranet — “reluctant use,” “utilitarian use,” and “innovative use.” Secondly, we linked them with specific interpretative schemes, norms, and facilities. In our discussion, we suggest to develop the concept of local universes to gather all dimensions that explain the diversity of use.