The role of LinkedIn as a Communication Platform in Human Resource Development: A Case of Employees and Human Resource Development: A Case of Employees and Human Resource Practitioners in Nairobi County

Abstract

As a professional social networking site carrying a philosophy of -Relationships matter-. LinkedIn has registered great popularity. Despite the fact that Linkedln is creating a common ground in connecting the job seekers and job recruiters. LinkedIn has been underutilized. Evidently, lack of elaborate communication platforms for human resource departments leads to employment of poorly skilled individuals translating to poor performance and productivity. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of LinkedIn as a communication platform in human resource development by formal sectors among the employees and human resource practitioners in Nairobi County. The objectives of the study were to explore the uses and gratifications of Linkedln, to examine how interactivity of Linkedln promotes professional networking and training, and to explore how hypertextuality and messaging in Linkedln creates interest and information in job recruitment. The sample population was gotten from a pool of employees working in formal sector within Nairobi County. A mixed research was approach employed because it gave an all rounded perspective of the phenomenon being studied. Findings showed that Linkedln is useful and gratified the human resources department communication needs and employees career development. However, the public sector gave reservations for the use of Linkedln. Linkedln also allows connections, and creates interactivity across geographical or corporate class differentiations. Further. Linkedln allows those connected to message each other, creating interest in job recruitments. Although majority of the employees indicated they were Linkedln savvy, this study concluded that many Linkedln users do not exhaust all the functionalities of Linkedln. This study indicates the glaring need of organizations to invest in Linkedln use, especially for e-recruitment and training employees. This study recommends an in depth look at contextual case studies of a specific organizational use of Linkedln and an explanation the adoptions of Linkedln as a communication technology.