Human Resource Management in the Digital Era of Business in Lao PDR

Abstract

The article examines Lao PDR business units' digital human resource management issues. Qualitative research uses an unstructured, in-depth interview. The interview sample included 12 entrepreneurs and human resources developers for business units in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Kaison Phomvihan, and Pakse municipalities. Random sampling without nonprobability sampling (purposeful sampling) was utilised. The study found that the business environment, notably technology and the digital world, affected human resource management in those districts in the digital age. Thus, business units must develop a new learning organisation and take advantage of global changes, as well as the necessity for each industry to adapt, digitise, and use digital technology to start a new business. Human resource management improvement in business organisations is crucial, especially training employees to learn the collaborative working environment, multidimensional, continuous development of oneself to gain new knowledge, increase capacity and related skills, such as foreign languages and IT skills needed for doing business, and adjust business management methods in a new way, linking modern technology and online social media. Business owners' human resource management is also challenged by changing global economic conditions and policies, such as the government's digital economy, shortages of qualified workers, low-skilled and inexperienced workers, and a lack of knowledge about business management, especially IT.