Study Guide Flashcards
What is HRIS?
Systems used to acquire, store, manipulate, analyze, retrieve, and distribute information regarding an organization’s human resources.
What are the three ways HRIS adds value to an organization?
1) They automate HR processes to conduct transactional activities more efficiently.
2) By providing accurate and timely information to the HR personnel and managers, an HRIS can help them make better decisions
3) By providing new forms of information, HRIS can help HR more fully support the strategic mission of the firm.
What is eHRM?
This technology-enabled collection of HR processes.
What happens when technology enables eHRM?
Enables the HR function to be done differently, allows transactional things to be done while HR staff focuses on transformational.
What is the main function of eHRM and HRIS?
eHRM is a way of conducting HR and HRIS is the technology through which hrm is enabled.
What are the advantages of HRIS?
1) providing a comprehensive information picture as a single, integrated database; this enables organizations to provide structural connectivity across units and activities and to increase the speed of information transactions 2)
increasing competitiveness by improving HR operations and management processes;
3) improved timeliness and quality of decision making;
streamlining and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of HR administrative functions 4)
shifting the focus of HR from the processing of transactions to strategic HRM 5)
improving employee satisfaction by delivering HR services more quickly and accurately. 6) the implementation of a HRIS can lead to dramatic cost and time savings.
What factors decide the usage of HRIS?
1) the size of the organization, with large firms generally reaping greater benefits;
2) the amount of top management support and commitment;
3) the availability of resources (time, money, and personnel);
4) the HR philosophy of the company as well as its vision, organizational culture, structure, and systems;
5) managerial competence in cross-functional decision making, employee involvement, and coaching;
6) the ability and motivation of employees in adopting change, such as increased automation across and between functions
What are some risks of HRIS?
1) management by computer and substitution of technology for human judgment—managers may begin to base performance evaluations exclusively on the data captured by the HRIS. Thus, soft-skill behaviors such as teamwork and customer service may not be fully considered.
2) privacy concerns—employees and applicants may feel that their data are being accessed and used by those internal and external to the organization.
3) system rigidity and lack of flexibility—standardization of HR processes can benefit the organization, but some systems may not allow for the inevitable exceptions that arise and as the HR legal environment changes.
4) employee stress and resistance to the use of electronic performance monitoring.
5) performance reduction in complex tasks when performance monitoring systems are used.
What are the critical aspects of the model for HRIS?
1) a framework for learning
2) a system model
3) HRIS and HR program evaluation results
4) alignment
Successful implantation is a what type of goal?
The central goal
What two groups will use the HRIS?
Employees: Managers, Analyst (power user), Technicians, Clerical EE’s, Organizational EE’s
Non-Employees: Job Seekers, Sourcing Partner Orgs
In HRIS, the term “dinosaurs” refers to:
the main frame computers built by IBM.
The ______ are perhaps the most demanding user of the HRIS.
Analysts
In what ways would you expect a manager to use a HRIS system?
Managers use the system to gain real-time access to accurate data that facilitate decision-making regarding their people. They may also use HRIS data for performance management, recruiting and retention, team management, project management, and employee development. Additionally, they use the HRIS for information necessary to help make decisions that will contribute to the achievement of the unit’s strategic goals and objectives.
Discuss what is meant by cloud computing.
Computing architecture that uses the internet and central remote servers to maintain data and applications.
Discuss the pros and cons of best-of-breed (BoB) solutions.
Pros: Easier execution, faster time, greater user adoption and experience
Cons: integration challenges, retraining and reskilling the workforce, and unfamiliarity with new systems.
Which HRIS users need the most HR knowledge, and why?
HR analysts
The ______ is referred to as a power user because this person accesses more areas of the HRIS than almost any other user.
Analyst
______ ensure that appropriate HR staff have all the access, information, and tools necessary to do their jobs.
HRIS Experts
True or False
The implementation process does not provide opportunities to reengineer and systematically improve non-software processes to reflect best practices in HRM.
False
True or False
Clerical employees rarely interact with the HRIS.
False
Employees may interface with the HRIS through a ______.
Web Portal
True or False
BoB solutions reduce the complexity of the software architecture.
False
True or False
The HRIS expert must take what the technical staff provides and interpret that into language HR users understand so as to indicate how processes and activities might change.
True
SDLC refers to…
to system development life cycle, a formal, multistage process through which information systems are implemented.
Why is it important for senior management to be involved in a new implementation project?
It is critical to the success of the project because if they are not involved in the beginning it may be hard to get buy in down the road.
Why are person-to-person interviews more effective than handing out questionnaires?
Person interviews are a rich source of opinions, ideas, and suggestions. People feel questionnaires gives optional completion.
What are a few different ways to conduct a needs analysis interview?
Completely unstructured or structured
Why is it a bad idea to skip the analysis stage of the systems development life cycle?
This phase is particularly important, because unless the requirements are specified in detail, the organization cannot select the best vendor package or design its own system effectively.
What are the data collection methods for the needs analysis?
Interviews, Questionnaires, Observation, Focus Groups
What are the stages of the needs assessment process?
1) planning
2) observation
3) exploration
4) evaluation
5) reporting
______ is a process of comparing an organization’s needs against its current capabilities.
Gap Analysis
_______ analysis report is often viewed as a sales presentation to management.
The final needs
What are the stages of the SDLC?
1) planning
2) analysis
3) implementation
4) Maintenance
What support do you need to gain for the needs analysis?
Top Management
In a data flow diagram, an entity is defined as
any external agent (e.g. an individual department business system) that either receives or supplies data to the HR system.
The highest level of a data flow diagram (DFD)?
Context Level Diagram
The strength of the _______ model is that it focuses on how the hardware and software will operate.
physical
The strength of using ______ model is that the HR staff and developers can focus specifically on business processes, policies, and procedures instead of on technology, leading to stronger solutions.
logical
What perspective of system modeling focuses on organizational data but is not concerned with how the data are used within the organization?
The data perspective
A ________ is a graphical representation of the key business activities and processes in the HR system, the system boundaries, and any external individuals or departments that interact with the system.
Data flow diagram
__________ solicits proposals and bids for proposed work from potential consultants or vendors and defines the organization’s goals and requirements for the new HRIS.
A Request for Proposal (RFP)
The goal of ______ feasibility analysis is to determine whether the costs of developing, implementing, and running the system are worth the benefits derived from its use.
economic
Prewritten or developed software or hardware products that already exist for purchase are called
Commercial- Off the shelf (COTS)
One of the questions that is asked as part of a legal and political feasibility analysis is “What is the risk of system sabotage?” True or False
True
True or False
A logical model of the system graphically illustrates what the system does, independent of any technological architecture (e.g., hardware, software, networking).
True
Using an application service provider (ASP) is
A third-party firm that hosts and provides access to a bundle of one or more software application services from a central location to multiple clients via the Internet. Clients pay a subscription fee, which generally entails data management and software upgrades. ASPs are often considered a cost-effective way for organizations to manage their information requirements. Many learning management systems are ASP based; that is, access to applications is available through ASPs.
Logical Design is
A model of the system that graphically illustrates what the system does, independent of any technological architecture (e.g., hardware, software, networking).
What is an entity in the DFD?
An external person, department, or agent that interacts with the system through receiving or sending data. An entity is represented as a square on the DFD (data flow diagram)
What is a data store in the DFD?
A DFD (data flow diagram) component that represents the temporary or permanent storage of data within the system. A data store is represented by an open-ended rectangle in the data flow diagram.
What is Data Flow in the DFD?
Graphical tool that represents the flow of data through a system and the various processes that manipulate or change the data.
What is a “Process” in the DFD?
A business function or activity through which data are created, manipulated, or transformed. A process is represented on a DFD (data flow diagram) by a square with rounded edges.
What is Change Management?
A systematic process of applying the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to effect change in transforming an organization from its current state to some future desired state as defined by its vision.
What is Lewins Change Model?
a comprehensive change model aiming to understand why change occurs and what must be done to deliver change in the most seamless way possible. Lewin developed the change model to illustrate how people react when facing changes in their lives.
What are the three stages of the Lewins Change Model?
unfreezing (the person has an existing state), moving or changing towards new ways of being, and then refreezing into a new state altogether!