August 2026 Academic Seminar: The Application of AI in Human Resource Management and Digital Innovation in Startups
On the afternoon of August 10, 2026, the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), Ton Duc Thang University, held its August Academic Seminar online, with the participation of the Faculty’s leadership and academic staff. During the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Hoa provided insights into how artificial intelligence in human resource management can drive digital innovation.
The study examined the role of artificial intelligence in human resource management and its impact on digital innovation in startups. AI is increasingly being applied to recruitment, training, goal setting, employee feedback, and job design. However, the mechanisms through which these applications foster innovation, particularly in resource-constrained startups, remain insufficiently understood.
Drawing on Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study proposed that AI-driven human resource management promotes strategic learning, thereby strengthening digital capabilities and enhancing organizational innovation. Strategic learning and digital capabilities serve as mediating mechanisms, while a digital transformation strategy reinforces these relationships.
The research comprised a pilot study involving 135 startup managers or owners, followed by two main studies with 237 and 422 observations, respectively. The findings indicated that AI-driven HRM positively affects digital innovation, both directly and indirectly through strategic learning and digital capabilities. This effect becomes stronger when startups adopt a clear digital transformation strategy.
The findings suggest that startups should regard AI as a strategic capability rather than merely a tool for supporting human resource functions. AI adoption should be integrated with knowledge sharing, digital skills development, experimentation with new ideas, and a consistent digital transformation orientation.
The seminar concluded with a lively discussion on the application of AI in human resource management, the role of digital capabilities, and digital transformation strategies in startups. Faculty members also discussed the study’s limitations and proposed directions for extending the research model to different contexts and countries.
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