Overview
Understanding HR Dynamics in the Tech Sector Final Paper--Due December 16, 6pm. (Early draft of Part I is due prior: In the Week 14 Discussion, on December 3, you'll share a draft of Part I of your final paper for peer feedback.)
For this assignment, you will write a 5-6 page paper (1.5 space).
This assignment invites you to analyze real-world experiences or research themes related to Human Resources practices, challenges, and transformations in the tech industry. You may choose from three formats—personal reflection, interview-based inquiry, or a research paper. Whichever you choose, your paper should link individual or organizational experiences to broader systems, structures, or trends in the tech sector.
You have a choice between three formats or approaches. You may choose which.
Length: 5-6 pages (excluding references)
Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 spacing
Citation Style: APA or Chicago
Include: References page(s)
Every paper, regardless of the approach, should include:
Opening: Your question and why it matters (note: you can define “why it matters” however you want; you might write about why it matters to you personally, why it matters to the field of HR, why it matters to a scholarly debate, or why it matters to workers, businesses, the economy, or society. The important thing is to articulate in some way why the question is important.)
Literature Discussion: Brief discussion of the “literature” (or your information sources): Draw on or describe the journal articles/books/or other credible information sources that you are using to learn about, explore and "answer" this question, and summarize them. Include both course readings and at least one additional appropriate/relevant information source.
Your Analysis/Reflection/Conclusion: Your analysis and reflection.
Option 1: Personal Reflection (Autoethnographic Analysis)
Prompt: How does your own experience in a workplace—especially in or adjacent to the tech sector—shed light on a key issue in HR?
Instructions: Using autoethnographic writing, reflect on an aspect of your work life that intersects with an HR-related theme in tech, such as:
Onboarding, hiring, or promotion practices
Inclusion and belonging in remote or hybrid work environments
Performance management or team dynamics in agile environments
Recruitment or retention in a competitive labor market
AI or algorithmic tools in hiring or evaluation
Your paper must:
Thoughtfully apply course concepts to your personal reflection.
Cite at least three course readings and at least one additional reputable source. Include quotes or examples from the readings.
The format will be: Opening, Literature Review, Your Personal Reflection.
Option 2: Interview-Based Inquiry Prompt: How does someone else's work experience reflect broader HR trends, dilemmas, or innovations in the tech sector?
Instructions: Conduct a semi-structured interview with someone who works (or has worked) in tech or tech-adjacent sectors. Focus on an HR-related theme such as:
Talent acquisition in high-growth firms
DEI initiatives and challenges
People analytics
Employee well-being and burnout in high-demand roles
Pay transparency or equity
Your paper must:
Include at least six prepared interview questions (appendix)
Analyze the narrative in relation to HR frameworks or dilemmas discussed in class
Connect their experience to broader trends or structures
Cite at least three course readings and at least one additional reputable source. Include quotes or examples from the readings.
The format will be: Opening, Literature Review, Your Discussion and Analysis of the Interview.
Option 3: Research Paper Prompt: Choose an HR issue or practice in the tech sector that you would like to investigate in more depth.
Instructions: Conduct a mini literature review of at least three reputable, external sources on a relevant topic such as:
Scaling HR practices in startups
Ethics and bias in AI-based hiring tools
Building inclusive cultures in remote-first companies
Challenges of HR compliance in global tech firms
Labor market trends in the tech talent pipeline
Your paper should:
Summarize the current state of knowledge or debate around your chosen issue
Critically reflect on what organizations are doing (or not doing) in response
Make connections to at least one concept or framework covered in class
Cite at least three course readings and at least TWO additional reputable sources. Include quotes or examples from the readings.
The format will be: Opening, Literature Review, Your Discussion and Analysis of the Research.
A week ago we had an assignment that was a discussion post on the Sharing of Start of Final Paper Project. This is what I put:
The tech industry is currently undergoing a drastic transformation owing to automation and the concept of remote work. This raises one of the critical questions for this research: In what way is the tech industry changing its HR practices with regard to automation and the concept of remote work? This particular question is important for this thesis for several reasons. The HR department is very important for tech companies with regard to recruiting and treating employees during technological transitions. With tech companies adopting more advanced technological solutions and having more employees work from remote locations, the decisions made can impact the entire economy.
This is made more relevant by the advent of the concept of ghost work introduced by Gray and Suri (2019). The concept defines the invisible work done by human labor behind various automatically enabled technologies. It is important to state that while companies and organizations opt for AI solutions and automation, they still do tasks such as data labeling and content moderators manually. These tasks form important aspects that create key HR dilemmas for companies and organizations. As this paper seeks to investigate the impact that automation and remote work exert on HR functions within one of the most crucial sectors today, any significant relation between this field and the concept of ghost work would be made more relevant.