Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Sample Answers to Discussion Questions
Chapter 5: System Design and Acquisition
1. What is the difference between the data view of a system and the process view of a
system? Why is this distinction important when designing a new system?
The data perspective focuses on an analysis of what data the organization
captures and uses, the definitions and relationships of the data, while ignoring
how or where the data are used by the organization. This perspective would
2. Discuss four reasons why a DFD is a stronger tool than a written narrative of the
business processes.
Kendall and Kendall (2008) argue that DFDs have four distinct advantages over
narrative (e.g., written) descriptions:
Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
3. How do companies use an RFP when sourcing software? What are the key items that
should be included in the RFP?
The RFP provides an opportunity for the HR department to systematically
record what they will need the system to do. As part of this process, any
4. If you were advising a firm on developing an RFP, what would be some key
suggestions you would make to them for improving the effectiveness of the RFP?
When developing the RFP, organizations should keep several things in mind.
The first recommendation is to focus on the business requirements. Associated
5. When evaluating vendor offerings, what are the key factors that will help your firm
Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
determine the best software product to acquire?
After receiving the vendor responses, there is an opportunity to evaluate the
Functionality
• How fully does the functionality of the HRIS meet the HR needs?
IT Architecture and IT Integration
• Is the HRIS a stand-alone system or a networked system or a Web-based
one and so on?
Price
• Price should be secondary to the goal of finding a system that meets your
Vendor Longevity and Viability
vendor itself.
6. Even if a system pays for itself financially, an organization must conduct a thorough
feasibility study. What types of feasibility should be assessed, and what information
does each type of feasibility provide the organization?
Even if a system pays for itself financially (i.e., economic feasibility), technical,
operational, human factors, legal, and political should be assessed. Technical
Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018