Final answer:
The advancements in technology during the 1980s and 1990s played a crucial role in enabling the outsourcing of operational HR activities, primarily due to the rise of global telecommunications and the internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advancements in technology during the 1980s and 1990s were a key factor resulting in the outsourcing of many operational HR activities. The development of global telecommunications and the internet made it easier for tasks such as accounting, payroll, human resources, and data processing services to be managed remotely. The use of technology-enabled companies to hire outside firms, sometimes in different countries, to perform tasks at a lower cost due to cheaper labor markets and the ease of transmitting information. This change also paralleled the globalization trend and trade agreements like NAFTA, which allowed for more seamless international trade and operations.