architecture? 4. How does an N-tier architecture simplify the IT department’s task of maintaining client software? . Research www.hropenstandards.org. How many transactions or interfaces do the standards support? How many software vendors are involved with the organization? 6. Take a specific industry, say the K-12 education industry. How might HireRight’s integration with Oracle’s PeopleSoft assist the process of hiring employees such as bus drivers, janitors, or campus security? 7. When might BOB not be best? 8. The systems development process has been discussed by many. Name five discussion topics that need to be completed during the planning process. 9. How does network bandwidth impact a two-tier (client-server) architecture? 10. How does an N-tier simplify IT departments’ task of maintaining client software? 11. How does the use of smartphones and other devices make delivery of HRIS functionality more effective? More complicated? a Case Study: Vignette Revisited This case is revisited with some additional information that involves the understanding of the material in this chapter. The additional information will be added to the situation described in the vignette at the beginning of this chapter. A billion-dollar retailer with more than 4,000 stores finds that it cannot move fast enough to beat the competition. The organization’s senior management arrives at the conclusion that it would be easier to achieve the strategic goals enumerated by the board of directors if the various organizational functions would share information. Shared information would enable them to develop and deploy new actions and tactics more quickly. The CEO and the president have therefore ordered the major functions to immediately update their information systems so that data sharing is possible. The SVPs of accounting and human resources immediately decide that the only solution is to decide jointly on an ERP product. ERP software applications are a set of integrateddatabase applications, or modules, that carry out the most common business functions, including human resources, general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, order management, inventory control, and customer relationship management. To speed the installation along, they will install it using a rapid implementation methodology that a company down the street used. The goal is to have the new systems operational in nine months. Shortly after this decision is made, the SVP of HR calls you into his office and tells you that you will be management sponsor for this project. You have to decide on everything. You sit back in your nice office and think: What’s the problem with this scenario? It shouldn’t be difficult to select a vendor and then borrow the methodology from down the street. It worked for them; it should work for us! We’ll call a few vendors in the morning and find out about cost, time frame, and implementation methods. In the meantime, I should find out a little more about how to do this and who will be using it. [remember from my information systems Class in college that this is a reasonable first step when it comes to buying software. What do you think your response would be to this inquiry? Has your response changed now that you have read this chapter? If so, how?New Information for the Case: Part 1 After some discussions with department heads from all the departments in the organization, you realize that there are a large number of people (stakeholders) who will be affected by the new systems. Furthermore, you come to realize how important HR data really are to these stakeholders. Based on this information, you think, “Wow, there are far more people who could be potentially using this information system than I expected!” The old textbook and the vendor information should provide a lot to think about. Using the information from the section of this chapter titled “HRIS Customers/Users: Data Importance,” please answer the following questions: 1. Identify some of the customers who would be logical members of the implementation team and explain why. 2. Think through an HR process and sketch out what data are necessary to complete your sample process well. How much history does the organization need to convert to continue functioning? 3. Pick one area of the HR function (e.g., recruiting), and make a list of processes that will need to be mapped and possibly reengineered during this implementation.New Information for the Case: Part 2 Over the next month, as you continue to obtain information about the design and implementation of the new system, you are still somewhat confused about what to do. Once again, we find you in your office thinking: There are so many potential decisions to make with regard to hardware! I wonder what we need to schedule, if we need to buy hardware, and how we should configure the servers to ensure maximum security. And this bring-your-own-device stuff is going to drive us nuts! It’s time to make another list of questions! Based on the information in the section of the chapter titled “HRIS Architecture,” please respond to the following: 1. Make a list of questions for each of the following individuals: lead hardware technical expert, network manager, and chief software manager. 2. What configuration should the company use? Make a suggestion and support it! 3. Make some recommendations about security and bring-your-own- device.New Information for the Case: Part 3 As part of your investigation, you have uncovered a system concept called “best of breed.” You are in your office again trying to decide what to do, and you think, “Perhaps best of breed might be the easiest and best way to go.” 1. Make a recommendation as to whether a BOB option should be chosen or a more standardized option with simpler interfaces between hardware and software should be selected. 2. Think about what the best answer should be when you have to connect your system with accounting and finance. Make a recommendation and support it!New Information for the Case: Part 4 You have just sat down in your office feeling as if there is way too much to do! Your IS software professional has given you the information from one of the potential vendors about the various steps that need to be taken in implementation of the HRIS. Your immediate reaction is, “Man, am I going to be at work late for the next many months!” Case Study Questions Based on the information in this chapter, answer the following questions: 1. Develop the first few steps of the project plan. 2. Discuss the potential political necessities outlined in this section as they relate to this type of implementation. 3. Think about and create a list of steps that make sense for your organization. 4. Is the nine-month rapid-implementation time frame feasible? Or will it just lead to failure? Industry Brief: Jim Pascarell, Vice President, Nfrastructure Designing and implementing an HRIS is one of those initiatives that every organization encounters, yet most of the individuals within an organization usually have little or no experience in going through the process. This combined with the continuous evolution of technology puts organizations in the precarious spot of trying to figure out the best approach to successfully choosing and implementing a solution that provides the organization with all of the necessary value-added benefits, yet manages the risk of a potential failed implementation. Organizations, whether they are commercial, education, or public sector, that have had the most success follow a design methodology that is centered on people, process, and technology. Those of us that have spent a great deal of our careers designing and implementing these systems have learned, sometimes through trial and error, that the planning and design of the systemarguably plays the most critical part in determining success. Common characteristics shared by organizations that have been and are most successful are as follows: Commitment: A frequently used word that is only proven to be true by actions. Defining and understanding what the system needs to provide so that it can be an enabler for the organization and used as a competitive differentiator. Proper Resource Allocation: Having your best and brightest be part of the design, participating throughout the lifecycle of an implementation. Insight is critical and to avoid sloppy design, it is worth the sacrifice to dedicate some of the most knowledgeable resources in the organization. The cost of not doing this will be paid later on due to rework and changes. Understanding of Technology: Designing a system that will evolve along with technology, not one that will be restricted as technology changes. There are too many organization design systems that are somewhat outdated in a short period of time. This is primarily caused by the lack of understanding as to what the capabilities of the technology are and how they can help the system continue to be enhanced. I unfortunately have been part of many projects where once a system was “tive” and operational, it almost immediately needed to be “upgraded” due to improper design upfront. Clear and Realistic Expectations: Once set, these expectations need to be constantly communicated to all stakeholders. This provides a common bond and keeps everyone focused on what needs to be accomplished. Acceptance of Change: Through education and training, acceptance defeats resistance. Too many organizations choose the right technology yet fail to allocate the proper attention to change management. Over 25 years of working and assisting with many diverse organizations as they design their HRIS, the most successful have truly understood and successfully managed the points above. Through dedication and perseverance, these organizations have become leaders in their industries by using all of the benefits a properly designed HRIS can provide. As we continue into the digital age with access to more data faster than we couldhave ever imagined, it has never been more important for organizations to “get it right” when it comes to designing their HRIS. Student Study Site Visit the Student Study Site at study.sagepub.com/kavanagh4e for additional learning tools such as access to SAGE journal articles and related Web resources.