e-HRM: Should We Adopt or Ignore?

Strohmeier (2007) defined e-HRM as a composite application of Information Systems using both networking and supporting actors for planning, implementing and performing HR activities. e-HRM is the system where the users are not only the HR personnel within the organization, rather the line managers also use it for various activities of operational, relational HRM. Furthermore job seekers, prospective clients or even accidental web surfer may find it useful in a lot of sense. E-HRM, can be used as a tool for HR branding for organization too. For instance, a job applicant may attract to the organization if s/he find the career page nicely designed, user friendly and full of insides  with organizations HR policy, career support etc.

In present era it may sound impetuous, if anyone said that e-HRM or HRIS (Human Resources Information System) enables HR personnel to complete basic HR tasks faster with its automated processes. Nothing new by talking it saves time and cost or it generates compiled and needed reports. Rather, e-HRM has been used for higher end analysis, making the HR personnel more competent and enable the HR function as a strategic partner for the organization.

My two cents with the reader is: if your management or CEO/MD doesn’t feel interested about e-HRM or poised that its just wastage of money, please download one of the free version of close to e-HRM from any of the bellow company, install it and run. Then you may find it useful and go for your own customized e-HRM. People Soft, SAP or something similar is not advised in my write-up due to high expense related issue.

Use e-HRM and become a STAR. Cheers!!!

P.S: Any of my articles/write-ups can be shared, modified, used anytime for better Human Capital Management, with or without giving credentials. I do believe: Sharing is Caring :)

© Shaki, Ahmed R (2013), Candidate of PhD in HRM, UUM

e-HRM for Academic Institution for Better Performance Management!

Managing performance is one of the crucial responsibilities not only for the HR personnel as well as all head of departments or line manager. The way performance managed and supervised in the corporate world in present challenging global market is really impressive. However, in my observation Academic Institution (Universities) is far behind of this trend and somehow academicians are not properly judged or even less utilized. My point is not against to the academicians nor even raising my finger to them, but the main reason is still we may see that registrar department doing the recruitment work for the university, no proper HR department or practices there. Even worst there always very badly visible two stream. One academician and another one is administrative staffs, even the rules, policies, etc. also significantly different which caused huge grievances.

Pic Source: brihaspathionline.com

To resolve this issue, again I am requesting to the management of academic institution to implement e-HRM. Various researchers have shown that online performance appraisal systems reduce costs and increase the speed through the process. Additional advantages of those systems include the shortage of previous year’s data that helps top management to compare the employees’ results and evaluations for the last years in an easier way. Across the world, we have seen that requirements for talented scholars as academicians rapidly growing. So, there is always the presence of local as well expat academicians in academic institutions. Some create different performance management system for local and international academic staff. Honestly speaking it just creates more trouble in a long run. No parties will feel ownership for the institution then. Creating a challenging performance management system for the academic staff will push them to think out of the box, and for sure they won’t stick up only the textbook then. University’s need to employ a lecturer only those who at least have one or two-year corporate experiences. Thus, it will ensure the fine mix of knowledge both from academic text books and real-life experience.

As we knew that business leaders are counting on academic institutions: schools, colleges, universities and other training establishments for infusing well-qualified fresh talent into industry. In turn, academic institutions are continually determined for improving their output both in terms of numbers, and the quality of talent offered for varying jobs in different types of organizations. The excellence of output from an academic institution depends on the quality of their faculty, support services and infrastructure. Attaining these higher levels of excellence, institutions need to set high-performance goals for their academic and non-academic staff. These goals should be effectively measured at frequent intervals to bridge performance gaps, if any. Institutions which can efficiently manage the performance of their faculty, and other employees can leave their mark on industry.

Thus, having the best from class performance management system which only can be ensured through implementing e-HRM is not only a need of the hour but an enabler of excellence in an academic institution. Think about it and put your comments.

P.S: Any of my articles/write-ups can be shared, modified, used anytime for better Human Capital Management, with or without giving credentials. I do believe: Sharing is Caring :)

© Shaki, Ahmed R (2012), Candidate of PhD in HRM, UUM

KPI for HR: How, When and Where?

Key Performance Indicators (KPI) also known as KSIs which stand for Key Success Indicators are not specifically linked only to HRD, but has to do with the entire organization. Since HR is the heart of any organization usually HR is assists other department also to set and identified their KPIs, which are measurable and quantifiable in nature so as to measure the success of the organization in terms of the organization's mission and goals. Hence KPIs can be defined as measurements for an organization's success.

For example, HR Department could have Employee Turnover as one of its KPIs. The goal for setting this KPI would be to reduce employee turnover. It could be defined numerically for better definition such as to reduce employee turnover by 5% every year. This KPI could be defined as the total of the number of employees separated from the organization for reasons of resignation or termination divided by the number of employees at the beginning of the year. It could be measured on a fixed time schedule like every month or every quarter. For HR Department other KPIs can be following: Recruitment KPI, Training KPI, Health and Safety KPI, Performance KPI, HR Efficiency KPI, Working Time KPI, Compensation KPI, Labor Relation KPI, Employee Satisfaction KPI, Employee Loyalty KPI, HR Budget and Accounting KPI etc.

Sample Explanation:

Frequently used HR KPIs include:

FTE = Full Time Employees

Revenue per Employee (FTE) 

Assets per FTE 

Training Hours per FTE 

Training Costs per FTE 

HR Department Cost per FTE 

FTEs per HR Department FTE

Acceptance Rate 

Average Cost per Hire 

Absence Rate

Turnover Rate

Resignation Rate 

Human Investment Ratio 

Compensation & Benefits/Revenue 

Average Remuneration

Time taken per recruitment

Cost per recruitment

The choice of HR KPI will vary from year to year, subject to organization’s strategic planning, corporate strategies and objectives which in turn affect HR’s strategic planning, HRM strategies and objectives. Bellow, I am providing only one KPI’s in details here. If anyone needs the details of other metrics, please do email me.

Training KPIs include key performance indicators as follows:

1. Training courses

• Number of courses offered

• Number of courses implemented.

2. Training costing

• Organization training expenditure (% of salaries and wages)

3. Training certificates

• Number of employees completing sponsored education programs

4. Training hours

• Average number of training hours per employee

5. Training budget

• % of HR budget spent on training

• Average training costs per employee

6. Training satisfaction

• Employee satisfaction with training.

7. Training results

• % of employees gone through training

• Average time to competence. That is average time it takes until expected competence level is reached.

• % & employee reach competence after training.

8. Training penetration rate

It measures the percentage of employees completing a course compared to total number of employees employed.

9. E-learning training

• e-learning courses utilized

• % of e-learning pass rate

And indeed e-HRM is the key tool to measure all the metrics successfully with 0% error.

© Shaki, Ahmed R (2012), Candidate of PhD in HRM, UUM