Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Case Notes
Chapter 5: Change Management and System Implementation
The Grant Corporation
Case Summary
This case introduced Julia Woodland, the new HR director at Grant Corporation, who is
responsible for developing a more strategic HR function. As she begins in the role and
starts to implement changes, she is facing many challenges and much resistance.
Case Analysis
This case showcases the need for strong communication and change management when
introducing both small and large changes within an organization. It deepens the understanding of
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
involved. While these are two correct people to involve in the process, they are not the
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
meetings behind closed doors and therefore set up an environment where her staff began
Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
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
technologically savvy as Julia had assumed. Julia Woodland should have thought about
the departments she would need involved and how she would create a sense of urgency
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
● Taking away concern for how the system will work by having some training early in the
process, with full training just before the system will be used
Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
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 and reduced
errors in processing and processing time lines. If it had been implemented with the proper
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.
● Make sure a help desk is established to assist end users with system questions, problems,
and report-writing issues.
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
departments (i.e., finance and IT). At this point, it would be wise for Julia to admit to her
subordinates and peers that in her eagerness to provide a useful integrated payroll/HRIS, she
Johnson, Human Resource Information Systems, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021