LIR828: HRIS Brian Pentland – –H: Office Hours: TBA, but please or call if you have problems. “We can’t make you into a nerd in one semester…...but we can sure try.”

What makes this class hard? Lots of software to learn –MS Access (relational database) –HR/Vantage (HRIS system) –Visual Page (HTML editor) –Visio (drawing & flowcharting tool) –Misc others (FTP, etc.etc.) Learning software can be painful

Getting stuck feels awful “I don’t know how to get started…” “I don’t know what to do next…” Useful responses: –Read the manual –Ask for help –Try another route

Error messages are a pain

Dealing with error messages Everyone hates error messages They imply that you did something wrong, they get in the way, they cause trouble Nonetheless, READ THEM CAREFULLY –If necessary, consult the on-line “HELP” –They happen for a reason -- you cannot wish them away

Debugging is frustrating “I made one tiny change and now it’s broken…” “These error messages won’t go away and I don’t know how to fix it…” Useful responses: –Take a deep breath, or a short break –Read error messages carefully –Read the manual, ask for help, –Last resort: go back to the last version that worked

Dealing with computers People at all levels of expertise and training hit “brick walls” –Upgrades and new technology make skills obsolete –Problems can be extremely complex Feelings of helplessness and anxiety are common

Learning to deal with helplessness Most important skill in the IS world is learning –Overcoming fear and anxiety –Reading manuals, doing tutorials, experimenting with new features –Asking for help and listening to suggestions Need to identify and confront our current state of mind (emotional and cognitive)

Group or individual work? Groups can shelter individuals from learning to deal with anxiety Individuals working alone can be overwhelmed Solution in LIR828: –Each individual must do the core skills assignments –But please work together and help each other.

Self-assessment Two parts –Basic Win95 –“Geek secrets” -- advanced topics Answer questions quickly; we will discuss and grade answers in class I will assign you to groups based on skill levels

Core skills assignments Resume database: create a database in MS Access HR/Vantage tutorial: Learn the query and reporting features of a full HRIS system Web site: Build and publish your own site These assignments are pass/fail, and you can “redo” them until you get them right

Group Projects “Best of Breed” software comparison project –Choose a product category –Get information from vendors –Review and compare products HRIS prototype project –Identify & map a work process –Create requirements and build a prototype