Shining the Volunteer Spotlight on Dr. Lynn Turner, HRIP, Professor Emeritus in Management and Human Resources at Cal Poly Pomona

IHRIM shines the Volunteer Spotlight on Dr. Lynn Turner, HRIP, Professor Emeritus in Management and Human Resources at Cal Poly Pomona and a new member of the IHRIM Education Committee.

Please tell us a little about your professional life.
Currently, I am a Professor Emeritus in Management and Human Resources at Cal Poly Pomona. I teach Human Resource Information Management several times a year. I continue to be on a task force that is integrating enterprise systems into the curriculum. I also continue to do research on the use of HR metrics and analytics by line managers.

Early on, as a training and development professional, I saw the growing importance of learning (training) management systems. This interest grew into a broader interest in HR Information Systems. I started educating myself in the field and developed a course in Human Resource Information Management. Along the way, I consulted with Vincent Ceriello on several large HRIS requirements definition projects. In the Nineties, I moved from teaching into administration, serving as Associate Dean and, later, Interim Dean. My interest in enterprise systems and HR information systems persisted with the adoption of PeopleSoft by the College for teaching purposes. I was also on the campus steering committee for the implementation of PeopleSoft for the University’s business operations. After serving as Interim Dean and Interim Vice President, I returned to teaching the course HR Information Management and have integrated SAP’s Human Capital Management into the curriculum as well as several analytics tools. I reactivated my membership in IHRIM and was certified as a Human Resource Information Professional.

When did you join IHRIM and why?
I first joined IHRIM in 1987. I was expanding my HR focus from training and development to HR information management and IHRIM seemed like a valuable resource for learning and for networking. Because of my interest and the apparent gap in our curriculum, I started a course at Cal Poly Pomona in Human Resource Information Management. IHRIM was an invaluable resource for the course. When I returned to teaching from administration, I reactivated my membership in IHRIM largely for the professional development opportunities it offers.

What is the greatest value you get from your membership?
Unquestionably, the greatest value is the educational opportunity it provides through its webinars, courses, and conferences. I thing the HRIP certification is an excellent program and I look forward to continuing my education for recertification. Is there any advice you would give other members? Stay engaged. Take advantage of as many educational programs as possible and make an effort to meet the members. They are a great group.

What was the primary reason you became an IHRIM volunteer?
As an educator I have had a strong interest in enabling HR professionals and future professionals to optimize their use of information technology. I also believe that a key to HR professionals’ respect across all divisions of their organizations is their effective use of HR data. Over the years, I have been very impressed with IHRIM’s efforts in the education and professionalization of its membership. I’ve also been impressed with the responsiveness of IHRIM to its membership. In short, it’s a great organization to be a part of and I want to contribute my service to it.

As a new member of the Education Committee, what do you hope to bring to the volunteer committee and IHRIM?
I want offer my years of experience in HR education to help develop and offer the very best educational opportunities for IHRIM members. More specifically, I believe I can add value in the areas of using enterprise systems and big data to manage human capital. I can also provide insights on helping HR professionals work with line managers to improve productivity. Finally, my earlier education and experience in the areas of training and development and instructional design may be of value in improving the delivery of IHRIM’s educational content.

If you could have dinner with one person – living or dead - who would it be and why?
I’d like to have dinner with C.S. Lewis. His writings have had a real impact on my life. I would like to know what inspired him to write in such a diverse range of genres and what inspired him to make philosophy and faith so fun and interesting. Also, I’d like to ask him what his conversations were like with J. R. R. Tolkien in an Oxford pub.

For more information on IHRIM’s Volunteer Program and how you can get involved, go to http://bit.ly/IHRIM_Volunteer_Program.  

Kicking the Tires at HR Technology: what’s trending today in HR technology and what’s in store for 2015

Three IHRIM members were challenged to “kick the tires” at the  2014 HR Technology® Conference and Exposition and here are the results!  

By Lynne E. Mealy, HRIP

IHRIM has long believed that the expo hall at the IHRIM annual conference is a natural extension of the education program. Through the demos and conversations with the various system and service providers, conference attendees are provided with a better understanding of the solutions available now and in the future to help them manage HR information. A constant reminder to attendee goers is - even if you are not looking to buy today, you never know what may happen in the next 3, 6 or 12 months. So you need to walk the trade show floor to see what is offered.

As I was working with the IHRIM Education Committee in planning our October 29, 2014 webinar, I thought what better place to continue the systems and solutions learning begun at the IHRIM Conference than at the 2014 HR Technology® Conference and Exposition. While I did not personally attend HR Technology this year, my three panelists did and were given the directive to “kick the tires” in the expo hall in preparation for today’s webinar.  Joining me on the webinar and providing me the information for this posting were Jeremy Ames, President, Hive Tech HR; Nov Omana, HRIP, CEO/Founder, Collective HR Solutions; and Steve Secora, HRIP, Sr. HRIS Manager, International Game Technology. The focus of the questions posed to the panelists was on the trends they saw or heard about – the buzz coming from both the attendees and the exhibitors.

What are the top technology trends based on audience buzz?

• Talent acquisition remains strong, perhaps indicative of the improving economy as hiring continues to be a large part of HR, especially social recruiting.
• Performance management showed a greater presence on the trade show, including social performance management (SPM).
• The number of learning applications highlight the importance of corporate learning and employee development. 
• Move toward integrated systems – prompting buyers to ask “how much do you have – how many modules are available in your application?” 
• The softer side of HR – applications supporting employee recognition and rewards and employee engagement.

Looking at the distribution of exhibitors by category – as interpreted by Steve – the top applications were Recruiting, Talent Solutions, and HRIS/Talent Suites. Of note was the rise in Surveys/Engagement solutions and the continuing presence of Benefits & Wellness (a hot trend coming into 2014).

 

 

 

What are people looking to buy over the next 18 months?

• For those with a core HRMS: many not necessarily looking for a new total solution but rather applications that can be integrated into an existing core HRMS; others with a core HRMS are looking to replace an antiquated product.
• For those without an HRMS – especially smaller organizations - they are looking for a new system or automating manual processes via point solutions.

What are the top technology trends based on the buzz from the vendors?

• HR analytics and metrics as part of a dashboard are becoming commonplace.
• Onboarding is trending now and the ability to engage employees once they accept an offer. Onboarding encompasses cultural and job orientation and is being done sooner than before, thus ensuring a fully engaged employee on start day. 
• The integration of survey and engagement applications into the various core applications. 
• Mobile and applications that run on multi-devices are now the norm. 
• Wellness, lots of offerings around wearables and socialization in a portal.

If you could compile your HR technology wish list for 2015, what would be on it?

• An integrated system that does not sacrifice the performance of the modules – everything is done well.
• Workforce analytics that come with a person (as the missing ingredient to success seems to be lack of skilled staff members). 
• Learning applications on a mobile platform. 
• A more intuitive, frequent, career/self-improvement directed performance management system. 
• True technology to manage the contingent workforce. 
• Socialization of talent management – applications that leverage employees’ LinkedIn profiles for recognition, performance, or succession planning.

If you missed the live broadcast, you may listen to the full recording (complimentary to all) by registering at http://bit.ly/IHRIMWebinarRecording_KickingTiresHRTech.

Lynne Mealy, HRIP has over 30 years experience in HR and HRMS, including technology strategy, product selection and implementation. A published author and presenter on HR technology issues, Lynne serves on the IHRIM Education Committee and is the CFO of the HRIM Foundation.

Advising Others to Volunteer: IHRIM Spotlights Tim Stewart, HRIP, HRMS Director, XO Communications

IHRIM is pleased to feature Tim Stewart in our current Volunteer Spotlight.  Tim, HRMS Director, XO Communications, LLC., has been an IHRIM member since 2011.   

Please tell us a little about your professional life such as what your job entails; how you got involved with HR technology; major accomplishments; current projects or challenges.

I’ve been working in the field of HR Technology & Systems for over 10 years, and I’m currently the HRMS Director for XO Communications, LLC.  I’ve always had a thirst for technology and my work on many technology-based projects along with my interest in managing people landed me a leadership role for our HRIS department.  I’ve had the opportunity, over these 10 years, to manage many HR Systems and implementations including:  Core HR, Payroll, Benefits, LMS, Self-Service, and Talent Management.  One of my major accomplishments includes the design and implementation of an in-house built self-service environment that resulted in the streamlining of employee change processes & workflows.

When did you join IHRIM and why?  What is the greatest value you get from your membership?   Is there any advice you would give other members?

I joined IHRIM in 2011 as I was seeking a professional certification in HR.  The greatest value I receive in having an IHRIM membership is the opportunity to learn and connect with others who have similar interests and passions for IT and Human Capital.  My advice to other members?  Volunteer!  With the variety of perspectives offered and shared by other IHRIM members, you can be assured you’ll learn something new!

What was the primary reason you became an IHRIM volunteer? Please describe your most recent IHRIM volunteer with the Human Resource Information Professional (HRIP) Certification Refresh Project.

I volunteered to help with the HRIP Certification Refresh Project for one simple reason:  I believe in the value of the HRIP professional certification.   When I studied for the HRIP exam in 2011, I found that the knowledge domains within the HRIP coursework were a close blueprint for HRIS professionals.  This blueprint provided me a great opportunity to assess my own knowledge in HRIS, and it strengthened the framework in how I see my role as an HRIS Professional.

What have you enjoyed most about this volunteer experience?

I enjoyed helping ‘refresh’ the HRIP exam by writing a number of new questions for the exam and  then participating in the technical review by actually taking the test and helping evaluate all the new questions.

I wanted to find a way to give back and this was a great opportunity for me to help make a difference with a program that I believe in.

How do you see being a volunteer benefiting your career?  

Supporting a professional organization not only provides greater opportunities to network, but it also reflects your commitment to your profession and your personal growth.

And one fun question...If you had an opportunity to time travel when and where would you go?

I have a passion for geoscience ( B.S. Degree is in Geology), and given this… I would travel back to the early 1900’s and share with Alfred Wegner that in the somewhat distant future his theory of continental drift would be found as ‘theoretically’ correct.  He was faced with a lot of criticism when he announced this theory of ‘moving continents’ to the world; unfortunately he didn’t have the means to prove it in his lifetime.

#HRISchat May 20: Deciding on the Right HR Technology Path

#HRISchat Session 21
Deciding on the Right HR Technology Path
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
12PM EDT/ 9AM PDT

In case you missed it, findings from the CedarCrestone 2013–2014 HR Systems Survey noted a big shift was underway: more organizations are replacing their core HR technology products instead of upgrading their existing systems. SHL’s 2013 Global Assessment Trends report noted that fewer than 1 in 5 HR professionals are satisfied with their information systems’ ability to manage talent data; and research from McKinsey & Company cited that the average technology investment delivers less than half of its anticipated value. With all that, it is easy to see why the development of a smart HR Technology plan is vital to the growth of an organization.

But you have to take stock before you make any big decisions. What are some key things you need to keep in mind as you create this technology roadmap? What kind of legacy applications would you have to deal with? How much will any upgrades cost the organization? What about all this buzz around cloud and SaaS?

To help address these questions, we are excited to be joined by industry thought leaders, Paul Rasieleski, Corporate HRIS Manager, FM Global and Wes Wu, Managing Consultant, Knowledge Infusion/Appirio and author of the systematicHR.com blog. In addition to guest moderating this session of #HRISchat, Paul and Wes will be presenting ‘Deciding on the Right HR Technology Path’ at the 2014 IHRIM Conference.

This session of #HRISchat and the conference presentation will benefit anyone who is considering or attempting to define an HR technology path and isn’t sure how to go about it.

Here are the questions:         

 Q1: What are some key things you need to keep in mind as you decide on the right HR technology path?

 Q2: What are the biggest barriers to the development of a smart HR Technology plan?

 Q3: When does it make sense to get new HR Technology vs. upgrading your existing systems?

 Q4: What are the benefits of developing an HR Technology plan for your organization?

 Q5: How will technology shape HR Technology plans over the next 12 months? 2 years?

New to #HRISchat? Don't worry, it's easy! Go to www.tchat.io, enter HRISchat next to the # symbol and click "go." It will likely prompt you to login to Twitter. Then just watch for the questions and provide your answers.

We look forward to your participation Tuesday May 20, 2014 at 12PM EDT/9AM PDT.

May 6 #HRISchat with Karen Beaman: Driving Globally Strategic Payroll

#HRISchat Session 20

Driving Globally Strategic Payroll

Tuesday, May 6, 2014
12PM EDT/ 9AM PDT

U.S. government statistics cite that a majority (approximately 75%) of the world’s purchasing power is situated outside of our nation. One survey from NFIB found that nearly three-fourths of small business owners would like to expand their workforce worldwide. While global expansion offers the promise of increased business, it also presents a number of payroll challenges. One key to keeping your company on course when implementing a global business strategy is to maintain a globally strategic payroll program.

The phrase “globally strategic payroll” is open to misinterpretation and has sparked many animated discussions. There are some who assert that, by its nature, payroll is not a strategic function of the business, while others point out that the complexity of country-level regulations and the immaturity of global payroll technologies prevent the function from ever being truly “global.”

With this global strategic payroll paradox in mind, we are excited to be joined by industry luminary, Karen V. Beaman, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jeitosa Group International.  In addition to guest moderating this session of #HRISchat, Karen will be presenting ‘Driving Globally Strategic Payroll: The Paradoxical Journey to Efficiency and Innovation’ at the 2014 IHRIM Conference to be held June 1-4 at the Anaheim Marriott.

“As more organizations look outside their home borders for new growth opportunities, understanding the leading practices for managing a global payroll program is essential for success,” says Karen. “I look forward to presenting at #IHRIM2014 to, among other things, provide an objective analysis of the global payroll landscape and describe the specific strategies employed by top-performing organizations that help them reconcile the conflicting forces in the global payroll environment”

The #HRISchat questions: 
         

 Q1: With globalization continuing to accelerate, what are some key things to consider when developing a strategic payroll program?

 Q2: What does it mean to have payroll become a strategic function within your organization?

 Q3: What are some of the best ways to make global payroll a reality?

 Q4: What are the benefits of having smart global payroll strategies employed by your organization?

 Q5: How will technology shape the global payroll strategies over the next 12 months? 2 years?

New to #HRISchat? Don't worry, it's easy! Go to www.tchat.io, enter HRISchat next to the # symbol and click "go." It will likely prompt you to login to Twitter. Then just watch for the questions and provide your answers.

We look forward to your participation Tuesday May 6, 2014 at 12PM EST/9AM PST.

 

For more information on the IHRIM 2014 Conference & Technology Expo, June 1-4, Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, CA, go to http://bit.ly/IHRIM2014.

Live Long, and Prosper: Spotlight on IHRIM Volunteer, Cindy Imber, HRIP, SPHR, Sr. Manager of Global HR Applications, Columbia Sportswear

This month’s Volunteer Spotlight shines on Cindy Imber, HRIP, SPHR, who is currently the Sr. Manager of Global HR Applications for Columbia Sportswear.  Cindy has worked with HR systems for over 15 years and implemented or upgraded over 10 HR systems including HRIS, Payroll, Performance, Compensation, and Recognition.   Cindy will be presenting the session -  Creating a Powerful Culture for Recognition & Rewards at Columbia Sportswear - at the IHRIM 2014 Conference, June 1-4, in Anaheim, CA.

Please tell us a little about your professional life such as what your job entails; how you got involved with HR technology; major accomplishments; current projects or challenges, etc.

I quickly got involved in HRIS because of my major in Management Information Systems. It seemed like a perfect fit and not many people in HR at the time knew what a relational database was.  Over the years I moved from being more technical focused to business analyst work to now managing HRIS and Payroll. Recently in my role as the Sr. Manager over HRIS and Payroll I have created a plan for the next three years of global HRIS/Payroll system upgrades and implementations; great for job security too. Many ideas on this plan have been helped by attending the IHRIM conference and learning about new trends. We want to keep up with best practices and ways to best support our employees but we need to plan for resources. One new system we implemented last year is a global recognition program which I will be speaking about at IHRIM in June 2014. This year is a full plate of electronic filing, new time and attendance and selecting a new payroll system and an applicant tracking system for China. 

When did you join IHRIM and why? 

I first joined IHRIM in 1997. I started a new job and my manager was a member and took me to my first IHRIM Annual Conference my second week on the job because someone else was too busy with a project. 

What is the greatest value you get from your membership?  

I would say both the connections I have made and the learning sessions at the annual conference. 

Is there any advice you would give other members?

Take advantage at the conference to connect with others and link with them because there will be a time when you or they can benefit from connecting again. 

What was the primary reason(s) you became an IHRIM volunteer and joined the Volunteer Connections Group?  

IHRIM over the years has always provided me with many opportunities for learning both about technology but also how to grow in the world of HRIS. I wanted to be able to share my knowledge and help enhance that opportunity for newer members.  

Please describe your IHRIM volunteer experience as a session coordinator for the conference.

I have presented three times at IHRIM in the past and really appreciated the session coordinator’s help during those times. I thought it would be great to be able to help someone else presenting for the first time knowing what it was like to be in that position. Being a session coordinator gave me the opportunity to see sessions I normally would have not have selected; so I learned about some new areas. Then I was still able to have the conference CD so I wouldn’t miss out on the sessions I normally would have attended. 

What have you enjoyed most about your volunteer experience(s)?

The people! It really is amazing how smooth everything runs with mostly just volunteers. Everyone is working hard to make it a great experience for the attendees. 

How do you see being a volunteer benefiting your career?

Keeping connected with IHRIM keeps me up to date on the latest ideas and trends. This way I can be the first to bring them back to my company or at least I am knowledgeable when my VP brings them up in a meeting. “Have you heard about xxx?” Volunteering and expanding my network gives me more ability to reach out to others when I run into tough spots and need advice from others in HRIS.

Any other perspective you want to share with the IHRIM audience?

Even if you don’t volunteer I encourage IHRIM members to be involved. This might be asking questions in sessions at the annual conference, participating in webinars, or posting/commenting on questions in CORE. 

One final question - if you could meet one person in your lifetime who would it be and why?

Well it would be hard because he has already passed on but it would be Gene Roddenberry. He was such a visionary of what the future could be like. Almost all of the technology on Star Trek, outside of the super-fast space travel, has come to life. Here are just a few items communicators, disks for computers, computers that talk to you and take commands from you, computers that hold all the history and information of the past not to mention all the medical equipment. It’s amazing the speed of technology advancement over the last 20 years, let alone since Star Trek was first aired in the 60’s. I just hope the actual space travel part will come true and maybe I will get to experience it in my lifetime.
 
For more information on IHRIM’s Volunteer Program and how you can get involved, go to http://bit.ly/IHRIM_Volunteer_Program.

On the Air with Lynne Mealy, IHRIM President/CEO

On March 18, I was the guest on the DriveThruHR Radio.   For those unfamiliar with DriveThruHR, it is a lunchtime chat about topics relevant to HR professionals. Each 30-minute episode features a guest speaker who shares her or his knowledge and experience in human resources. The show runs daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 pm Central Time.  The host on my show was Bryan Wempen, @bryanwempen, who shares hosting duties with William Tincup, @williamtincup, and Nisha Raghavan, @thehrbuddy.

This was not my first appearance, and I have always enjoyed the questions posed to me and the ability to talk about IHRIM, the annual conference and the industry in general.  The March 18 show was no different as Bryan and I discussed what keeps HR awake at night as well as the trends in HR technology, both current and in the future.  And, once again I was able to share with listeners information about the upcoming IHRIM 2014 Conference & Technology Expo to be held June 1-4 in Anaheim, CA.

If you missed the show, you can take a listen to the recording at:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/drivethruhr/2014/03/18/lynne-mealy-at-lunch-with-drivethruhr.

Bryan asked some really great questions with the first being: 
What keeps you – as an HR or HR system – professional awake at night?
Let me know your answer to this question by posting your comments here.

Catch you on the flip side!

Lynne E. Mealy, HRIP
President/CEO, IHRIM