DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF HRM PRACTICES: ROLE OF BLOCKCHAIN IN CANDIDATE VERIFICATION

ABSTRACT
Candidate verification remains a critical yet inefficient process in Human Resource
Management (HRM), often hampered by delays, errors, and credential fraud. Estimates
suggest that 25-30% of applications in sectors like India’s IT industry are affected. As digital
transformation reshapes HRM practices, blockchain technology emerges as a decentralized,
secure solution to address these challenges. This conceptual study explores the role of
blockchain in enhancing candidate verification, utilizing a narrative review from five seminal
papers and a theoretical framework grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Key findings highlight
blockchain’s potential to improve accuracy, reduce fraud, and streamline processes, though
adoption faces barriers such as technical complexity and regulatory issues. A proposed model
integrates perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, and transparency to predict
adoption intention, offering a novel contribution to HRM literature. The study suggests
implications for efficient HRM practices and organizational performance, while advocating
for empirical validation and exploration across diverse contexts. This research provides a
foundation for future studies and practical applications, aligning with the global push for
digital innovation in HRM.
Keywords: Blockchain, HRM, Candidate Verification, Digital Transformation, Technology
Acceptance Model (TAM), UTAUT, Recruitment