Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Case Notes
Chapter 6: Change Management and Implementation
The Grant Corporation
Case Summary
This case introduced Julie Woodland, the new HR director at Grant Corporation, who is
Case Analysis
This case showcases the need for strong communication and change management when
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. Overall, what did Julia Woodland do right? What could she have done differently?
Julia Woodland was right in seeing that the solution to the immediate and long-term
2. Were the correct people involved in the process? Who would you have included, and
why?
It does not seem that anyone other than Julia Woodland and the HRIS provider was
3. What errors did Woodland make with her own staff? What impact might these errors
have had on the success of the implementation? What should have been done?
In addition to not involving her own staff in the process, Woodland conducted the
Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
4. Discuss the cultural issues involved in this case. Are there things Julia Woodland
should have taken into consideration prior to starting the implementation? Why are they
important?
It seems that the Grant Corporation was a culture of working together and not as
5. If you were in Julia Woodland’s position, what would you include in your
communication plan for the implementation?
The communication plan for the implementation should have included a vision for the
6. How can training be used in this case to make the implementation more successful?
In this case, training could be used to make the implementation more successful by doing
the following:
● Showing a complete assessment of the current skills and future requirements for all who
will be affected by the change
Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
7. How can the Grant Corporation increase user acceptance of the system?
The Grant Corporation could increase user acceptance of the systems through
8. Discuss the potential benefits of process reengineering in this implementation. What
impact might it have had?
Reengineering might have streamlined the processing in the HR department, as well as
9. After the implementation, what steps should the HR department take to ensure proper
maintenance and support of the system?
After implementation the HR department needs to take the following steps to ensure
proper maintenance and support of the system:
● Determine who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the HRIS system, and
have this function report to the HR department.
10. What can Julia Woodland do now to “get everyone on board” and increase the likelihood that
this implementation will be successful?
Julia needs to rethink how she has attempted to implement change at the Grant Corporation. She
had relied on external vendors and has excluded her subordinates, as well as peers in other
Instructor Resource
Kavanagh and Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems: Basics, Applications, and Future Directions, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018