Case Notes For
Human Resource Information Systems Basics, Applications, and Future
Directions 5th Edition Johnson
Chapter 1: The Evolution of HRM and HRIS
Position Description and Specification for an HRIS Administrator
Case Summary
This case examines an actual job description for an HRIS Administrator. The job description
highlights the essential duties of the role as well as the requirements and qualification of the role.
Examining this job description allows the student to draw connections between the role of HRIS
and strategy and success of the organization. The job description showcases traditional,
transitional, and transformational HR activities, and it depicts the alignment of the HRIS role
with the system and the model of the organization.
Case Analysis
One way to assess the nature and importance of a particular function or position in an
organization is to examine the job description and job specifications for this position, as they tell
us what activities, duties, and tasks are involved in the job as well as what knowledge, skills, and
abilities (KSA) are required to perform the job. This is an actual job description that can be
analyzed to show the alignment between the strategy of an organization and the important role
that HRIS plays within organizations. Reviewing an actual job description in the field benefits
the students by giving them real-world sightlines into how the HRIS function is deployed and
how the role fits into the broader context of an organization.
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. How does this position help the HR function become a strategic partner of the organization?
There are multiple aspects of this position description that help the HR function become a
strategic partner. You can pick almost any one of the responsibilities from the list and
SCHOLARVAULT
, indicate #jhthat #jhthis #jhresponsibility #jhwould # jhnot # jhbe #jhpart #jhof # jhthe #jhjob #jhdescription # jhfor
#jh HR #jh in #jh a #jh “caretaker” #jhpassive #jhrole, #jh whereas #jha #jh strategic #jhpartner #jhis #jha #jh much #jh more
#jh active #jh role. #jhFor #jh example, # jh consider # jh the #jh following:
● Ensures #jhdata # jhintegrity #jhin # jhboth #jhpersonnel # jhfiles #jhand # jhthe #jhonline #jh human
#jh resource #jh information #jh system. #jh Without #jh data #jhintegrity, #jh there #jh would #jh be #jh no
#jh way #jhto #jh measure #jhthe #jh contribution #jh of #jh the # jh firm’s #jh human # jh capital #jh to # jh the
#jh “bottom # jh line,” #jh which # jh is #jh a #jh critical #jh part #jh of #jh strategic #jh planning.
● Organizes #jhand #jh manages #jhpersonnel #jhfile #jhaudits # jhto #jhensure #jhcompliance # jhwith
#jh all #jh regulations, #jhpolicies, #jhprocedures, #jh and #jh guidelines #jh for #jhrecords
#jh management. #jh Lack #jhof # jh compliance # jh with # jh governmental #jh rules # jh and
#jh regulations #jh can # jh be #jh very #jh costly #jh for #jh a #jh firm # jh in #jhterms #jhof #jhclass #jhaction #jh suits
#jh for #jh unlawful #jhdiscrimination #jhor #jh unfair #jhdismissals. #jhYou #jh can # jh point #jh to #jh any
#jh number #jh of #jh court # jh cases #jh where #jh companies #jh had # jh to #jh pay # jh major #jh damages # jh in
#jh such #jh litigation.
● Works #jhwith #jhend # jhusers #jhand #jhbusiness #jh managers #jhto #jh understand #jhbusiness
#jh processes #jh and #jh determine #jh how # jh to #jh use #jh the #jh system # jh to #jh meet #jh those #jh needs.
#jh These #jh activities #jh are #jh closely #jh linked # jh to #jh the #jh idea #jh of #jh a # jh partnership #jh between
#jh HR #jh and # jh the #jh operationalization # jh of #jhthe #jh strategic #jhplan #jhof #jhthe #jh company.
#jh Feedback #jh from #jhthese #jhpartnerships #jhcould #jh have #jh major #jh effects # jh on # jh the
#jh strategic #jh planning #jh process.
2. From #jhthe #jhposition #jhdescription, #jhidentify #jhthe #jhtraditional, #jhtransactional, #jhand
#jhtransformational #jhHR #jh activities #jh that #jh this #jh position #jh is #jh involved # jh with.
Transactional
● Ensures #jhdata #jhintegrity #jhin #jhboth #jhpersonnel #jhfiles #jhand #jhthe #jhonline #jhhuman
#jhresource #jh information #jh system
● Updates #jhand # jhadministers #jhenhancements #jhto #jhthe #jh human #jhresource #jhinformation # jh system
● Updates #jhand #jhmaintains#jhsystem
tables #jhTraditional
#jh
● Supervises #jhthe #jh human #jhresources #jhinformation #jh management #jhteam
● Organizes #jhand #jhmanages #jhpersonnel #jhfile #jhaudits #jhto #jhensure #jhcompliance
#jhwith #jhall # jh regulations, #jh policies, #jh procedures, #jh and #jh guidelines #jh for
#jh records #jh management
● Ensures #jh security #jhof # jhthe #jhHRIS #jhand #jhtime #jhand # jhattendance #jh system
● Works #jhin #jhcollaboration #jhwith #jhpayroll #jhand #jhfinance #jhto #jhmaintain #jhthe #jhonline
#jhinteractive # jh position #jh control, #jh personnel, #jh and #jh payroll #jh database #jh systems
● Develops #jhHR #jhdashboards #jhand #jhdevelops #jhand #jhruns #jhreports, #jhboth
#jh scheduled #jhand #jh ad #jh hoc
● Provides #jhdetail #jhand #jhaggregate #jhinformation #jhfor #jhsalary #jhsurveys #jhand
#jhregulatory #jh reporting # jh (i.e., #jh CUPA, # jh EEO, #jh OSHA, # jh and #jh IPEDS)
SCHOLARVAULT
, Transformational
● Works #jhwith #jhend #jhusers #jhand #jhbusiness #jhmanagers #jhto #jhunderstand #jhbusiness
#jhprocesses # jh and #jh determine # jh how #jh to #jh use #jh the # jh system # jh to #jh meet # jh those
#jh needs
● Partners #jhwith #jhtechnology #jhsystems #jhresources #jhto #jhsupport #jhupgrades, #jhtesting,
#jh and #jhother #jh technical #jh projects
● Collaborates #jhwith #jhthe #jhhuman #jhresource #jhtechnical #jhconsultant #jhand #jhother
#jh human # jh resource # jh staff # jh on #jh operational #jh issues #jh and # jh special #jh projects
● Maintains #jhcurrent #jhknowledge #jhof #jhbest #jhpractices, #jhvendor #jhofferings, #jhand
#jh market # jh trends
3. Using #jhthe #jhkey #jhresponsibilities #jhidentified #jhfor #jhthis #jhposition, #jhexplain #jhwhy #jhand #jhhow
#jh the #jhHRIS #jh function # jh plays # jh a #jh pivotal #jh role # jh in # jh the #jh organizational # jh model #jh as
#jh described #jh in # jh this #jh chapter.
Actually, #jhall #jhof #jhthe #jhresponsibilities #jhcan #jhbe #jhrelated #jhto #jhthe #jhparts #jhof #jhthe
#jh organizational #jh model, #jh although # jh some #jh students # jh may #jh disagree #jh with #jh other
#jh students’ #jh allocations. #jh This #jh could #jh be #jh a #jh good #jh class # jh project #jh by #jh having # jh students
#jh work #jh in # jh groups #jh for #jh 10–15 #jh min #jh to # jh allocate #jh all # jh of # jh the #jh responsibilities #jh to #jh a
#jh part #jh of #jh the #jh organizational #jh model. # jh Then, # jh have #jh each #jh group #jh report #jh and # jh have
#jh open #jh discussion # jh on #jh what # jh are #jh the #jh correct # jh allocations. #jh Of # jh course, #jh a #jh number #jh of
#jh these #jh responsibilities #jhcan #jhbe #jhassigned #jhor #jh allocated #jhto #jh multiple #jhparts #jhof #jhthe
#jhorganizational #jh model, #jh and #jh thus, # jh there #jh is # jh no #jh “right” #jh answer.
Case Notes # jh
Chapter 2: Systems Considerations in the Design of an HRIS
#jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh
Vignette Revisited#jh
Case Summary#jh
This # jhcase #jh focuses # jhon #jha #jhbillion-dollar #jhretailer # jhwith #jh4,000+ #jhstores # jhthat #jhcannot # jh move
#jh fast #jhenough # jhto #jhbeat # jhout # jhthe #jhcompetition. # jhThere # jhare #jha # jhnumber # jhof # jhaspects #jhof # jhthe #jhcase
#jh that #jh showcase #jhthe #jh needs #jhfor #jha #jh strong #jh human # jhresource #jhinformation #jh system #jhor #jhERP,
#jh and # jhthe #jh student # jhis #jhinvited # jhto #jhdesign # jhthe #jhplanning #jhand # jhimplementation #jhprocess # jhfor
#jh the # jh system.
SCHOLARVAULT
, Case Analysis
#jh
These #jhquestions #jh help # jhthe #jh student #jhto #jhthink #jhabout # jhthe #jhprocess # jhof # jhplanning # jhand
#jh implementing #jh a #jh human #jh resource #jh information # jh system # jh or #jh ERP. #jh Students # jh should #jh be
#jh thinking #jh about # jh the #jh customer #jh of #jh the #jh data #jhand #jh the #jh process #jh and #jh the #jh decisions #jh that #jh will
#jh be #jh made. #jh The #jh case #jh showcases #jh the #jh importance #jh of #jh giving #jh attention #jh to # jh every # jh step #jh in
#jh the # jh system # jh design #jh process.
Sample Answers to Case Questions
#jh #jh #jh #jh
1. Develop #jhthe #jhfirst #jh few # jh steps # jhof #jhthe #jhproject #jhplan.
The #jhsteps #jhin #jhthe #jhproject #jhplan #jh should #jhinclude # jhthe # jhfollowing:
● Define #jhwho #jhthe # jhproject #jh manager # jhwill #jhbe.
● Identify #jha #jh steering #jhcommittee/project #jhcharter.
● Form #jhthe #jhimplementation # jhteam.
● Define #jhproject #jh scope.
2. Discuss # jhthe #jhpotential # jhpolitical #jhnecessities #jhoutlined # jhin #jhthis # jh section #jhas # jhthey #jhrelate #jhto
#jh this #jhtype #jhof #jhimplementation.
The #jhlargest #jhpolitical #jh necessity # jhis #jhto # jhidentify # jhand #jhaddress #jhthe # jhneeds #jhof #jhthe # jhkey
#jh stakeholders # jhin #jhthe #jhprocess. # jhThe # jhimplementation #jhwill #jh not #jhbe #jh successful # jhwithout
#jh engaging #jh these #jh individuals # jh in #jh the #jh planning #jh process # jh as #jh well #jh as # jh the
#jh implementation # jhprocess.
3. Think #jhabout # jhand # jhcreate #jha #jhlist #jhof #jh steps # jhthat #jh make #jh sense #jhfor # jh your #jhorganization.
The #jhfull #jhprocess/list #jhof # jh steps #jhwill #jhinclude #jhthe # jhfollowing:
● Define #jhwho #jhthe #jhproject #jh manager #jhwill #jhbe.
● Identify #jha #jh steering #jhcommittee/project #jhcharter.
● Form #jhthe #jhimplementation # jhteam.
● Define #jhproject #jh scope.
● Management #jhsponsorship.
SCHOLARVAULT
Human Resource Information Systems Basics, Applications, and Future
Directions 5th Edition Johnson
Chapter 1: The Evolution of HRM and HRIS
Position Description and Specification for an HRIS Administrator
Case Summary
This case examines an actual job description for an HRIS Administrator. The job description
highlights the essential duties of the role as well as the requirements and qualification of the role.
Examining this job description allows the student to draw connections between the role of HRIS
and strategy and success of the organization. The job description showcases traditional,
transitional, and transformational HR activities, and it depicts the alignment of the HRIS role
with the system and the model of the organization.
Case Analysis
One way to assess the nature and importance of a particular function or position in an
organization is to examine the job description and job specifications for this position, as they tell
us what activities, duties, and tasks are involved in the job as well as what knowledge, skills, and
abilities (KSA) are required to perform the job. This is an actual job description that can be
analyzed to show the alignment between the strategy of an organization and the important role
that HRIS plays within organizations. Reviewing an actual job description in the field benefits
the students by giving them real-world sightlines into how the HRIS function is deployed and
how the role fits into the broader context of an organization.
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. How does this position help the HR function become a strategic partner of the organization?
There are multiple aspects of this position description that help the HR function become a
strategic partner. You can pick almost any one of the responsibilities from the list and
SCHOLARVAULT
, indicate #jhthat #jhthis #jhresponsibility #jhwould # jhnot # jhbe #jhpart #jhof # jhthe #jhjob #jhdescription # jhfor
#jh HR #jh in #jh a #jh “caretaker” #jhpassive #jhrole, #jh whereas #jha #jh strategic #jhpartner #jhis #jha #jh much #jh more
#jh active #jh role. #jhFor #jh example, # jh consider # jh the #jh following:
● Ensures #jhdata # jhintegrity #jhin # jhboth #jhpersonnel # jhfiles #jhand # jhthe #jhonline #jh human
#jh resource #jh information #jh system. #jh Without #jh data #jhintegrity, #jh there #jh would #jh be #jh no
#jh way #jhto #jh measure #jhthe #jh contribution #jh of #jh the # jh firm’s #jh human # jh capital #jh to # jh the
#jh “bottom # jh line,” #jh which # jh is #jh a #jh critical #jh part #jh of #jh strategic #jh planning.
● Organizes #jhand #jh manages #jhpersonnel #jhfile #jhaudits # jhto #jhensure #jhcompliance # jhwith
#jh all #jh regulations, #jhpolicies, #jhprocedures, #jh and #jh guidelines #jh for #jhrecords
#jh management. #jh Lack #jhof # jh compliance # jh with # jh governmental #jh rules # jh and
#jh regulations #jh can # jh be #jh very #jh costly #jh for #jh a #jh firm # jh in #jhterms #jhof #jhclass #jhaction #jh suits
#jh for #jh unlawful #jhdiscrimination #jhor #jh unfair #jhdismissals. #jhYou #jh can # jh point #jh to #jh any
#jh number #jh of #jh court # jh cases #jh where #jh companies #jh had # jh to #jh pay # jh major #jh damages # jh in
#jh such #jh litigation.
● Works #jhwith #jhend # jhusers #jhand #jhbusiness #jh managers #jhto #jh understand #jhbusiness
#jh processes #jh and #jh determine #jh how # jh to #jh use #jh the #jh system # jh to #jh meet #jh those #jh needs.
#jh These #jh activities #jh are #jh closely #jh linked # jh to #jh the #jh idea #jh of #jh a # jh partnership #jh between
#jh HR #jh and # jh the #jh operationalization # jh of #jhthe #jh strategic #jhplan #jhof #jhthe #jh company.
#jh Feedback #jh from #jhthese #jhpartnerships #jhcould #jh have #jh major #jh effects # jh on # jh the
#jh strategic #jh planning #jh process.
2. From #jhthe #jhposition #jhdescription, #jhidentify #jhthe #jhtraditional, #jhtransactional, #jhand
#jhtransformational #jhHR #jh activities #jh that #jh this #jh position #jh is #jh involved # jh with.
Transactional
● Ensures #jhdata #jhintegrity #jhin #jhboth #jhpersonnel #jhfiles #jhand #jhthe #jhonline #jhhuman
#jhresource #jh information #jh system
● Updates #jhand # jhadministers #jhenhancements #jhto #jhthe #jh human #jhresource #jhinformation # jh system
● Updates #jhand #jhmaintains#jhsystem
tables #jhTraditional
#jh
● Supervises #jhthe #jh human #jhresources #jhinformation #jh management #jhteam
● Organizes #jhand #jhmanages #jhpersonnel #jhfile #jhaudits #jhto #jhensure #jhcompliance
#jhwith #jhall # jh regulations, #jh policies, #jh procedures, #jh and #jh guidelines #jh for
#jh records #jh management
● Ensures #jh security #jhof # jhthe #jhHRIS #jhand #jhtime #jhand # jhattendance #jh system
● Works #jhin #jhcollaboration #jhwith #jhpayroll #jhand #jhfinance #jhto #jhmaintain #jhthe #jhonline
#jhinteractive # jh position #jh control, #jh personnel, #jh and #jh payroll #jh database #jh systems
● Develops #jhHR #jhdashboards #jhand #jhdevelops #jhand #jhruns #jhreports, #jhboth
#jh scheduled #jhand #jh ad #jh hoc
● Provides #jhdetail #jhand #jhaggregate #jhinformation #jhfor #jhsalary #jhsurveys #jhand
#jhregulatory #jh reporting # jh (i.e., #jh CUPA, # jh EEO, #jh OSHA, # jh and #jh IPEDS)
SCHOLARVAULT
, Transformational
● Works #jhwith #jhend #jhusers #jhand #jhbusiness #jhmanagers #jhto #jhunderstand #jhbusiness
#jhprocesses # jh and #jh determine # jh how #jh to #jh use #jh the # jh system # jh to #jh meet # jh those
#jh needs
● Partners #jhwith #jhtechnology #jhsystems #jhresources #jhto #jhsupport #jhupgrades, #jhtesting,
#jh and #jhother #jh technical #jh projects
● Collaborates #jhwith #jhthe #jhhuman #jhresource #jhtechnical #jhconsultant #jhand #jhother
#jh human # jh resource # jh staff # jh on #jh operational #jh issues #jh and # jh special #jh projects
● Maintains #jhcurrent #jhknowledge #jhof #jhbest #jhpractices, #jhvendor #jhofferings, #jhand
#jh market # jh trends
3. Using #jhthe #jhkey #jhresponsibilities #jhidentified #jhfor #jhthis #jhposition, #jhexplain #jhwhy #jhand #jhhow
#jh the #jhHRIS #jh function # jh plays # jh a #jh pivotal #jh role # jh in # jh the #jh organizational # jh model #jh as
#jh described #jh in # jh this #jh chapter.
Actually, #jhall #jhof #jhthe #jhresponsibilities #jhcan #jhbe #jhrelated #jhto #jhthe #jhparts #jhof #jhthe
#jh organizational #jh model, #jh although # jh some #jh students # jh may #jh disagree #jh with #jh other
#jh students’ #jh allocations. #jh This #jh could #jh be #jh a #jh good #jh class # jh project #jh by #jh having # jh students
#jh work #jh in # jh groups #jh for #jh 10–15 #jh min #jh to # jh allocate #jh all # jh of # jh the #jh responsibilities #jh to #jh a
#jh part #jh of #jh the #jh organizational #jh model. # jh Then, # jh have #jh each #jh group #jh report #jh and # jh have
#jh open #jh discussion # jh on #jh what # jh are #jh the #jh correct # jh allocations. #jh Of # jh course, #jh a #jh number #jh of
#jh these #jh responsibilities #jhcan #jhbe #jhassigned #jhor #jh allocated #jhto #jh multiple #jhparts #jhof #jhthe
#jhorganizational #jh model, #jh and #jh thus, # jh there #jh is # jh no #jh “right” #jh answer.
Case Notes # jh
Chapter 2: Systems Considerations in the Design of an HRIS
#jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh #jh
Vignette Revisited#jh
Case Summary#jh
This # jhcase #jh focuses # jhon #jha #jhbillion-dollar #jhretailer # jhwith #jh4,000+ #jhstores # jhthat #jhcannot # jh move
#jh fast #jhenough # jhto #jhbeat # jhout # jhthe #jhcompetition. # jhThere # jhare #jha # jhnumber # jhof # jhaspects #jhof # jhthe #jhcase
#jh that #jh showcase #jhthe #jh needs #jhfor #jha #jh strong #jh human # jhresource #jhinformation #jh system #jhor #jhERP,
#jh and # jhthe #jh student # jhis #jhinvited # jhto #jhdesign # jhthe #jhplanning #jhand # jhimplementation #jhprocess # jhfor
#jh the # jh system.
SCHOLARVAULT
, Case Analysis
#jh
These #jhquestions #jh help # jhthe #jh student #jhto #jhthink #jhabout # jhthe #jhprocess # jhof # jhplanning # jhand
#jh implementing #jh a #jh human #jh resource #jh information # jh system # jh or #jh ERP. #jh Students # jh should #jh be
#jh thinking #jh about # jh the #jh customer #jh of #jh the #jh data #jhand #jh the #jh process #jh and #jh the #jh decisions #jh that #jh will
#jh be #jh made. #jh The #jh case #jh showcases #jh the #jh importance #jh of #jh giving #jh attention #jh to # jh every # jh step #jh in
#jh the # jh system # jh design #jh process.
Sample Answers to Case Questions
#jh #jh #jh #jh
1. Develop #jhthe #jhfirst #jh few # jh steps # jhof #jhthe #jhproject #jhplan.
The #jhsteps #jhin #jhthe #jhproject #jhplan #jh should #jhinclude # jhthe # jhfollowing:
● Define #jhwho #jhthe # jhproject #jh manager # jhwill #jhbe.
● Identify #jha #jh steering #jhcommittee/project #jhcharter.
● Form #jhthe #jhimplementation # jhteam.
● Define #jhproject #jh scope.
2. Discuss # jhthe #jhpotential # jhpolitical #jhnecessities #jhoutlined # jhin #jhthis # jh section #jhas # jhthey #jhrelate #jhto
#jh this #jhtype #jhof #jhimplementation.
The #jhlargest #jhpolitical #jh necessity # jhis #jhto # jhidentify # jhand #jhaddress #jhthe # jhneeds #jhof #jhthe # jhkey
#jh stakeholders # jhin #jhthe #jhprocess. # jhThe # jhimplementation #jhwill #jh not #jhbe #jh successful # jhwithout
#jh engaging #jh these #jh individuals # jh in #jh the #jh planning #jh process # jh as #jh well #jh as # jh the
#jh implementation # jhprocess.
3. Think #jhabout # jhand # jhcreate #jha #jhlist #jhof #jh steps # jhthat #jh make #jh sense #jhfor # jh your #jhorganization.
The #jhfull #jhprocess/list #jhof # jh steps #jhwill #jhinclude #jhthe # jhfollowing:
● Define #jhwho #jhthe #jhproject #jh manager #jhwill #jhbe.
● Identify #jha #jh steering #jhcommittee/project #jhcharter.
● Form #jhthe #jhimplementation # jhteam.
● Define #jhproject #jh scope.
● Management #jhsponsorship.
SCHOLARVAULT
