Workshop on Computer Science and Information Technologies CSIT’99, Moscow, Russia, 1999 209 Integrated Human Resources Information Systems: Involving Extra Data Sources Centered around Groupware Sergey Zykov IT Department, ITERA International Energy Corporation Moscow, Russian Federation szykov@itera.ru Abstract Human resources management systems are having a wide audience at present. However, no truly integrate solution has been proposed yet to improve the systems concerned. Exist- ing approaches classification attempt is made in this paper. Possible approaches to extra data collection for decision- making are considered including psychological testing and fixed assets information as well as product sales data. Con- cept (or object) modeling is taken as a theoretical back- ground for the systems in question. Current technologies in state-of-the-art HR management software are discussed. De- sign and implementation aspects for a Web-enabled truly integrate enterprise system with high security and scalability are described. Testing results for an improved enterprise- level HR system are given. Perspectives of the field in ques- tion are discussed. 1. Introduction Human resources information and management systems (HRIMS) involve a collection of technologies that allow us to represent complex processes that center around personnel activities. An advanced HRIMS is based on the following technologies: multimedia data management, workflow con- trol including approval facilities, e-mail, scheduling, conferencing. As one can conclude, a really versatile HRIMS cannot be separated from World-Wide Web and should include major groupware technologies [9].From an enterprise point of view, human resources management includes the following activities: recruiting, planning (benefits plans, contribution employee stock options plans, etc.), line management, em- ployees training, employees testing, payrolls, compensations, benefits administration. HRIMS help to remove layers of bureaucracy by optimizing HR forms storage, retrieval and exchange. With HRIMS, top security of transactions is an important issue since personal data and corporation structure changes should usually be fortified with high security level. With World Wide Web advent, both recruiting agencies and individuals have become able to publish resumes on the Web. Companies, in their turn, are capable of publishing vacancies on their home pages. This means that new genera- tion HRIMS should feature Web browsing and publishing. 2. Existing Approaches Current approaches to HRIMS are based on hardware accents and software technologies dominating at present. HRIMS software can be roughly divided into three major categories: a) transaction-based approach (conservative systems based on mainframe architecture); b) database server-centered approach (distributed enterprise HR data systems based on a solid foundation of a secure and a scalable database server); c) groupware approach (recruiters, employees and appli- cants serf through WWW, schedule interviews, assess personnel performance breaking inter-department and inter-organization barriers). Let us briefly describe each of the approaches named. 2.1 Conservative Transaction-Based Approach This approach originated from mainframe architecture, which is transferable to present-day LANs. Some of the systems built under this approach include such advanced features as payroll data entry, storage and report- ing, multimedia personal data handling (including employee photos, etc.), ordinary and sick leave data entry, storage and reporting, flexible form and report generation. ____________________________________ Permission to copy without fee all or part of this material is granted pro- vided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the CSIT copyright notice and the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of the Institute for Contemporary Education JMSUICE. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires a fee and/or special permission from the JMSUICE. Proceedings of the Workshop on Computer Science and Information Technologies CSIT’99 Moscow, Russia, 1999