| Human Resource Information Systems | | | | should keep the data secure if any employees |
| The purpose of this paper is to identify other | | | | laptop is stolen or if the drive is removed from the |
| companies who have faced similar human resources | | | | laptop. Other financial advisors are relying on |
| issues in regards to information technology. Through | | | | encryption both in and out of the office. Other |
| benchmarking different companies we can learn how | | | | programs that are being used to protect clients |
| other companies have handled certain human | | | | information are RAID Level 1 system to store data on |
| resources issues related to information technology, | | | | the drives that are encrypted with WinMagics |
| information systems, new technology, and data | | | | SecureDocs software. Encryption ensures that |
| security. An overall analysis has been completed using | | | | anyone who steals the computer will be absolutely |
| research on IBM Europe, Ameriprise Financial, Terasen | | | | unable to read the data, even by connecting it to |
| Pipelines, Shaws Supermarkets, CS Stars LLC, | | | | another computer as a slave drive. This has |
| IBM, WORKSource Inc., and Toshiba America Medical | | | | given many financial advisors the greatest peace of |
| Systems, Inc. This paper also includes eight synopses | | | | mind. |
| of companies facing similar issue to those in the | | | | Terasen Pipelines |
| reading. | | | | The Situation: |
| New Technology | | | | Terasen Pipelines is a subsidiary of Terasen Inc. |
| With the changing world and constant new technology | | | | located in Vancouver, Canada and is located in several |
| that is available, managers need to be aware of the | | | | provinces and U.S. states. In 2001 the company |
| technology that will increase effectiveness in their | | | | changed its headquarters to Calgary to be closer to |
| company. Human resource information systems (HRIS) | | | | the oil. With the big move, the company went through |
| have increasingly transformed since it was first | | | | a growth spurt. With the company in many different |
| introduced at General Electric in the 1950s. HRIS has | | | | locations and the growing numbers of employees, the |
| gone from a basic process to convert manual | | | | HR department saw a need to find a new system to |
| information keeping systems into computerized | | | | keep more accurate records. |
| systems, to the HRIS systems that are used today. | | | | The Response: |
| Human resource professionals began to see the | | | | In the past Terasen had kept records on paper and |
| possibility of new applications for the computer. The | | | | with spreadsheets and with the growth of the |
| idea was to integrate many of the different human | | | | company, this system does not work as well as in the |
| resource functions. The result was the third generation | | | | past. In order to compensate for future growth, |
| of the computerized HRIS, a feature-rich, broad-based, | | | | Terasen began to look into HRIS companies to help |
| self-contained HRIS. The third generation took systems | | | | with the HR operations. After researching different |
| far beyond being mere data repositories and created | | | | companies, Hewitts application service provider |
| tools with which human resource professionals could | | | | model with eCyborg was found to be the right fit. |
| do much more (Byars, 2004). | | | | The Outcome: |
| Many companies have seen a need to transform the | | | | Although there was difficulty adapting to a new way |
| way Human Resource operations are performed in | | | | of recordkeeping, Terasen was able to find a system |
| order to keep up with new technology and increasing | | | | that will help support the current and future growth of |
| numbers of employees. Terasen Pipelines moved its | | | | the company. Fortunately, some of the HR staff had |
| headquarters from Vancouver to Calgary to be closer | | | | experience working with an HRIS and were able to |
| to the oil and realized a major growth in employees. In | | | | help their colleagues imagine new processes, as aided |
| the past recording keeping was done on paper and | | | | by a system. One theme often voiced throughout this |
| with spreadsheets. Mangers at Terasen realized that | | | | process was: "You guys don't know how hard we're |
| there was a need to change to a more computerized | | | | working when we can make it so much easier with a |
| system and looked into different HRIS vendors. By | | | | system that could do a lot of this for us. You don't |
| making the move to a HRIS system, Terasen is able | | | | always have to run to the cabinet for the employee |
| to keep more accurate records as well as better | | | | file just to get basic information. It can all be at your |
| prepare for future growth. Another company that saw | | | | fingertips." (Vu, 2005). In order to help Terasen ease |
| the benefits of keeping up with new technology is | | | | the HR burden of implementing a new HR system, the |
| WORKSource Inc. To meet the challenge of handling | | | | management of Terasen was convinced to look for a |
| 100 new employees, WORKSource Inc. acquired | | | | vendor to help implement and maintain a HRIS system. |
| Web-based technology programs from GHG Corp. like | | | | This system has helped Terasen better prepare for |
| electronic pay stub, electronic timesheet software, | | | | current and future growth. |
| time-off system, and human resource information | | | | Shaws Supermarkets |
| system (Tips, 2006). By adapting these | | | | The Situation: |
| new programs, WORKSource was able to reduce | | | | Shaws Supermarkets is the second largest |
| waste and cost. | | | | supermarket chain in New England. With a workforce |
| The Internet is an increasingly popular way to recruit | | | | of 30,000 located at 180 stores throughout six states, |
| applicants, research technologies and perform other | | | | Shaw's HR staff is responsible for managing |
| essential functions in business. Delivering human | | | | employees' personal data. Their employee mix includes |
| resource services online (eHR) supports more efficient | | | | approximately 70 percent part-time employees, |
| collection, storage, distribution, and exchange of data | | | | consisting of students, senior citizens, second-job |
| (Friesen, 2003). An intranet is a type of network used | | | | part-timers, and career part-timers. One third of the |
| by companies to share information to people within the | | | | workforce is made up of union associates, and |
| organization. An intranet connects people to people | | | | Shaw's staff oversees the company's involvement |
| and people to information and knowledge within the | | | | with three unions and six separate contracts (Koven, |
| organization; it serves as an information | | | | 2002). In order to help manage the workforce, the HR |
| hub for the entire organization. Most | | | | staff became interested in centralizing its HR |
| organizations set up intranets primarily for employees, | | | | operations. |
| but they can extend to business partners and even | | | | The Response: |
| customers with appropriate security clearance (Byars | | | | In order to centralize HR operations Shaws |
| & Rue, 2004). | | | | decided to implement an ESS (employee self-service) |
| Applications of HRIS | | | | solution. The use of self-service applications creates a |
| The efficiency of HRIS, the systems are able to | | | | positive situation for HR. ESS gives HR more time to |
| produce more effective and faster outcomes than | | | | focus on strategic issues, such as workforce |
| can be done on paper. Some of the many applications | | | | management, succession planning, and compensation |
| of HRIS are: Clerical applications, applicant search | | | | management, while at the same time improving service |
| expenditures, risk management, training management, | | | | to employees and managers, and ensuring that their |
| training experiences, financial planning, turnover analysis, | | | | data is accurate. With this solution, employees have |
| succession planning, flexible-benefits administration, | | | | online access to forms, training material, benefits |
| compliance with government regulations, attendance | | | | information and other payroll related information. |
| reporting and analysis, human resource planning, | | | | The Outcome: |
| accident reporting and prevention and strategic | | | | Shaws has had positive feedback since |
| planning. With the many different applications of HRIS, it | | | | implementing the ESS solution. "The reaction from our |
| is difficult to understand how the programs benefit | | | | employees has been extremely positive," Penney, VP |
| companies without looking at companies that have | | | | of Compensation and Benefits, says. "We even had a |
| already benefited from such programs. | | | | significant increase in our medical coverage costs, and |
| One such company is IBM. IBM has a paperless online | | | | it was almost a non-issue because the online |
| enrollment plan for all of its employees. Not only has | | | | enrollment featured the plan choices, the employee |
| the online enrollment saved the company 1.2 million per | | | | cost, and the company subsidy. An employee |
| year on printing and mailing costs, the employees enjoy | | | | self-service application makes it very easy for them to |
| working with the online plan. "Since we began offering | | | | understand their contributions and coverage options. I |
| online enrollment, we've learned that employees want | | | | received several e-mails from employees saying this |
| web access," Donnelly [Senior Communications | | | | was a great change and how easy ESS was, which |
| Specialist] says, so they can log on at home rather | | | | the case is not often when employees are selecting |
| than through the company intranet. So the company | | | | their benefit options." (Koven, 2002). By giving the |
| has been working to put in place a web-based | | | | employees more access to their information they are |
| enrollment system that employees and retirees can | | | | able to see the benefit choices available to them. |
| access from anywhere (Huering, 2003). By utilizing the | | | | Employees are also able to update their information |
| flexible-benefits application HRIS has to offer, IBM was | | | | online, which helps reduce the paperwork of the past. |
| able to cut costs and give employees the freedom to | | | | Shaws has also seen improvement in |
| discover their benefits on their own time and pace. | | | | productivity because employees are updating |
| Another company that has taken advantage of HRIS | | | | information at home, not during work hours. |
| applications is Shaws Supermarkets. In order for | | | | CS Stars, LLC |
| Shaws to better manage its workforce, the | | | | The Situation: |
| company decided it was time to centralize the HR | | | | New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has |
| operations. After looking at different options, | | | | announced that New York State has reached its first |
| Shaws decided to implement an Employee Self | | | | settlement with a company charged with failing to |
| Service (ESS) system. The use of self-service | | | | notify consumers and others that their personal data |
| applications creates a positive situation for HR. ESS | | | | had gone missing. Cuomos office, which |
| gives HR more time to focus on strategic issues, such | | | | enforces the states 2005 Information Security |
| as workforce management, succession planning, and | | | | Breach and Notification Law, charged CS STARS |
| compensation management, while at the same time | | | | LLC, a Chicago-based claims management company, |
| improving service to employees and managers, and | | | | with failing to give notice that it had lost track of a |
| ensuring that their data is accurate. With this solution, | | | | computer containing data on 540,000 New |
| employees have online access to forms, training | | | | Yorkers workers comp claims. |
| material, benefits information and other payroll related | | | | The Response: |
| information (Koven, 2002). By giving employees | | | | The owner of the lost data, which had been in the |
| access to their personal information and the ability to | | | | custody of CS STARS, was the New York Special |
| update or change their information as needed, HR was | | | | Funds Conservation Committee, an organization that |
| given more time to focus on other issues. | | | | assists in providing workers comp benefits |
| Understanding the different applications HRIS has to | | | | under the states workers' comp law. On May 9, |
| offer will give companies the chance to increase | | | | 2006, a CS STARS employee noticed that a |
| employee efficiency and reduce costs. | | | | computer was missing that held personal information, |
| Measuring the Effectiveness of HRIS | | | | including the names, addresses, and Social Security |
| The evaluation should determine whether or not the | | | | numbers of recipients of workers compensation |
| HRIS has performed up to its expectations and if the | | | | benefits. But CS Stars waited until June 29, 2006, to |
| HRIS is being used to its full advantage (Byars & | | | | notify Special Funds and the FBI of the security |
| Rue, 2004). One of the most significant challenges | | | | breach. Because the FBI declared that notice to |
| faced by public personnel executives today is | | | | consumers might impede its investigation, CS STARS |
| measuring the performance of their human resources | | | | waited until July 8, 2006, to send notices to the 540,000 |
| information system (HRIS) In order to justify the | | | | New Yorkers affected by the breach. On July 25, |
| value-added contribution of the HRIS to accomplishing | | | | 2006, the FBI determined an employee, of a cleaning |
| the organization's mission (Hagood & Friedman, | | | | contractor, had stolen the computer, and the missing |
| 2002). Implementing an HRIS program may seem a | | | | computer was located and recovered. In addition, the |
| necessary stem for a company, but unless it will be an | | | | FBI found that the data on the missing computer had |
| effective tool for HR operations, it will not help increase | | | | not been improperly accessed. |
| efficiency and may hinder it instead. | | | | The Outcome: |
| One company that implemented a HRIS system is | | | | New York's Information Security Breach and |
| Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. (TAMS). | | | | Notification Law, effective in December 2005, requires |
| TAMS put all employee benefits information online and | | | | businesses that maintain computerized data which |
| created an open enrollment option when TAMS | | | | includes private information to notify the owner of the |
| changed healthcare providers. Almost immediately | | | | information of any breach of the security of the |
| upon rolling out the UltiPro portal [new HRIS technology] | | | | system immediately following discovery, if the private |
| to employees, TAMS began seeing improvements, | | | | information was, or is reasonably believed to have |
| with an estimated 70% increase in open enrollment | | | | been, acquired by a person without valid authorization. |
| efficiency (Wojcik, 2004). By determining the efficiency | | | | The law affects not only businesses in their dealings |
| of the new program, TAMS was able to realize the | | | | with their customers, but employers in their role as |
| benefits of the new HRIS system. | | | | custodians of employees personal data. |
| Security of HRIS | | | | (Cadrain) |
| The privacy of employee information has become a | | | | Without admitting to any violation of law, CS STARS |
| major issue in recent years. With identity theft | | | | agreed to comply with the law and ensure that proper |
| becoming a common problem, employees are | | | | notifications will be made in the event of any future |
| becoming more sensitive about who sees their | | | | breach. The company also agreed to implement more |
| personal information, and the security it is kept in. By | | | | extensive practices relating to the security of private |
| making sure employee information that is kept in the | | | | information. CS STARS will pay the Attorney |
| HRIS is relevant to the company and making sure | | | | Generals office $60,000 for costs related to this |
| there is limited access (password protection) to such | | | | investigation. (Cadrain) |
| information, companies can make its employees more | | | | IBM |
| secure with the safety of their information. Whether | | | | The Situation: |
| electronic or paper, employee files deserve to be | | | | IBM's paperless online enrollment system, introduced in |
| treated with great care. Establishing security and | | | | 1999, has proved to be a winner for both the |
| end-user privileges calls for a balance of incorporating, | | | | company's 135,000 active U.S. employees and the |
| HR policy, system knowledge and day-to-day | | | | company, according to Cathleen Donnelly, senior |
| operations (OConnell, 1994). | | | | communications specialist at company headquarters in |
| One company that faced a major security issue was | | | | Armonk, N.Y. The company saves $1.2 million per year |
| CS Stars, LLC. CS Stars lost track of one of its | | | | on printing and mailing costs alone, Donnelly says, and |
| computers that contained personal information that | | | | the employees can take advantage of a |
| included names, addresses and social security | | | | variety of technologies to learn about issues, research |
| numbers of workers compensation benefits. The | | | | program information and access decision support tools |
| bigger problem was that CS Stars failed to notify the | | | | from their desktop computers. (Heuring, 2002) |
| affected consumers and employees about the missing | | | | The Response: |
| computer. Though the computer was retrieved and no | | | | One of those tools, a personal medical cost estimator, |
| information seemed to have been harmed, many | | | | enables employees to calculate potential out-of-pocket |
| employees lost their sense of security with the | | | | health care expenses under each of the plan options |
| company. New York's Information Security Breach and | | | | available to them, Donnelly says. Employees log in |
| Notification Law, effective in December 2005, requires | | | | personally and are greeted by name and with |
| businesses that maintain computerized data which | | | | important information regarding their benefits |
| includes private information to notify the owner of the | | | | enrollment, such as the deadlines and when changes |
| information of any breach of the security of the | | | | take effect. They automatically get access to health |
| system immediately following discovery, if the private | | | | plans that are available to them, and the calculator lets |
| information was, or is reasonably believed to have | | | | them compare estimated benefit amounts for each |
| been, acquired by a person without valid authorization | | | | plan. |
| (Cadrain, 2007). | | | | "Employees can select the health care services they |
| Another company that experienced a breach in | | | | expect to use in a particular year, estimate expected |
| security is Ameriprise Financial. In late 2005, a | | | | frequency of use, and calculate potential costs under |
| computer that contained personal information on clients | | | | each plan option," Donnelly says. "The feedback that |
| and employees was stolen. Because many of the | | | | we've received from employees tells us that this tool |
| employees at Ameriprise take their computers | | | | has really helped them to make a comparison |
| between work and home, the company determined | | | | between plans based on how they consume medical |
| there was a need to put more security into those | | | | services." The calculator shows both IBM's costs and |
| computers. Ameriprise made sure all employees had | | | | the employee's. (Heuring, 2002) |
| the new security suite installed on their computers. By | | | | The Outcome: |
| responding quickly to the need for more security, | | | | "Since we began offering online enrollment, we've |
| Ameriprise made sure all information is being kept | | | | learned that employees want web access," Donnelly |
| secure. Making sure employees information is kept as | | | | says, so they can log on at home rather than through |
| secure as possible there will be more trust in the | | | | the company intranet. So the company has been |
| company and the HR employees working with that | | | | working to put in place a web-based enrollment |
| information. | | | | system that employees and retirees can access from |
| Conclusion | | | | anywhere. |
| IBM, Terasen Pipeline, CS Stars LCC, and Toshiba | | | | Employees can get summary information on the plans, |
| America Medical Systems, Inc. are good examples of | | | | drill down into very specific details and follow links to |
| companies facing issues similar to human resources | | | | the health care providers for research. Donnelly says |
| information technology and human resources | | | | the system has received high marks for convenience |
| information systems. All of these companies know the | | | | because employees can "get in and out quickly." |
| importance of new technology, human resources | | | | WORKSource Inc. |
| information systems, and data security. The remainder | | | | The Situation: |
| of this paper provides synopses of more companies | | | | To meet the challenge of handling 100 new employees, |
| facing human resources issues, how the company | | | | WORKSource Inc. acquired Web-based technology |
| responded to the issues, and the outcomes of the | | | | programs from GHG Corp. like electronic paystub, |
| companys responses. | | | | electronic timesheet software, time-off system, and |
| Companies Benchmarked | | | | human resource information system |
| IBM Europe | | | | (Tips, 2006). These tools enabled CEO |
| The Situation: | | | | Judith Hahn to handling payroll procedures efficiently |
| IBM is a global organization offering research, | | | | and effectively. |
| software, hardware, IT consulting, business and | | | | The Response: |
| management consulting, ring and financing. It employs | | | | WORKSource has eight workforce centers, with |
| around 340,000 people, speaking 165 languages across | | | | approximately 108 employees, located throughout a |
| 75 countries, and serving clients in 174 countries. In | | | | six-county region. Previously, payroll, benefits, and |
| January 2007, IBM established a separate new | | | | human resources for those employees were |
| media function within its corporate | | | | processed and managed by a Professional Employer |
| communication department. IBM main goal is to | | | | Organization. The company also has 52 administrative |
| educate, support, and promote programs that utilize | | | | staff in its headquarters office. When the contract with |
| social media. IBM Europe decided to expand internal | | | | the PEO terminated on June 30, 2006, those 108 |
| communication by blogging guidelines. The recognition | | | | employees were immediately moved to the payroll of |
| was that blogging was already happening among | | | | WORKSource, which meant Hahns workload |
| IBMers, just in an unregulated way. In a similar way, | | | | more than doubled effective July 2006 |
| institutionalizing a function to deal specifically with new | | | | (Tips, 2006). |
| media is not a corporate move, or establishing from | | | | Hahn, in an interview with PMR, said she relied on |
| scratch. Its a response to the issues already | | | | LEAN to help get a handle on what needed to change |
| emerging in the company. Now that those technologies | | | | for her to manage the increased workload. Two years |
| are here, people are using them, theyre growing | | | | earlier, Hahns CEO had introduced her to LEAN, |
| and there here to stay-were just going to put | | | | a Japanese management concept of eliminating |
| some structure around them so that we can try to | | | | wasteful steps and motion when completing |
| optimize their use. The users decide what | | | | processes. I began to read as much as possible |
| technologies they want to use and how they want to | | | | about LEAN and joined an HR LEAN focus |
| use them. That main idea is that IBM understands that | | | | group (Tips, 2006). |
| they must remember to respect the fact that social | | | | The Outcome: |
| media are social. IBM had the need to connect its | | | | Mastering the concepts of LEAN led Hahn to develop |
| 340,000 global employees more effectively. | | | | and apply her own acronym of |
| The Response: | | | | REASON to her departments |
| IBMs intent around social media has now been | | | | payroll and HR processes. Review the process: map |
| officially formalized. From January 22 2007, the | | | | payroll tasks from start to finish. Eliminate waste: |
| company established a separate new | | | | determine how to complete a payroll task most |
| media function within its corporate | | | | efficiently without unnecessary steps. Analyze |
| communication department. Its remit: To act as | | | | alternatives: research and evaluate the applicability of |
| expert consultants inside and outside IBM on issues | | | | new technology. Sell innovations to management: |
| relating to blogs, wikis, RSS and other social media | | | | document the return on investment of each innovation. |
| applications. The main idea is to educate, support and | | | | Open the lines of communication: communicate |
| promote programs that utilize these tools. IBM has a | | | | openlyand oftenwith all stakeholders, |
| history of being a t the forefront of technology based | | | | including employees and top management. Never allow |
| corporate communication. From the multimedia | | | | negativity: make change simple and fun. Give |
| brainstorming WorldJam that made news | | | | employees plenty of encouragement and time to learn |
| headlines back in 2001 in which 50,000 employees | | | | (Tips, 2006). Judith Hahn was able to |
| worldwide joined a real time, online idea-sharing session | | | | implement the right human resource functions using |
| about the companys direction. IMB has always | | | | information systems. |
| prepared itself to use breakthrough technologies to | | | | Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. |
| establish a two-way dialogue with its employees. The | | | | The Situation: |
| need for social media was necessary and could no | | | | Lynda Morvik, director of benefits and human |
| longer wait. | | | | resources information systems at Tustin, |
| The Outcome: | | | | California-based Toshiba America Medical Systems |
| In the last few years IBM has been recognized as | | | | Inc. (TAMS), thought it would make sense to add a |
| being the vanguard of social-media use: IBM was on of | | | | benefits communication component to it. By having all |
| the first Fortune 500 companies to get behind | | | | the benefit information online, the TAMS employee |
| collaborative wikis, published internal blogging guidelines | | | | handbook would also be a living document, enabling |
| as far back as 2003, and is now moving fast beyond | | | | Morvik to make changes when necessary. Such was |
| RSS and podcasts into videocasting and virtual | | | | the case halfway through the project, when TAMS |
| world technologies like Second Life. The intranet | | | | changed health care plans from Aetna Inc. to United |
| search facility extends to all areas of the site, including | | | | Health Group Inc (Wojcik, 2004). |
| new media aspects. When an employee logs onto | | | | The Response: |
| their portal an executes a key word search, the results | | | | TAMS, an independent group company of Toshiba |
| they get back not only come from the main intranet | | | | Corporation and a global leading provider of diagnostic |
| pages, but include results from IBM forums, wikis, blogs | | | | medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical |
| and podcast/videocasts tags. IMB has an | | | | solutions, such as CT, X-ray, ultrasound, nuclear |
| understanding that employees are no longer staying in | | | | medicine, MRI, and information systems, had been using |
| a company their entire lives. Its just not like that | | | | a payroll service bureau and an in-house solution for |
| any more. In Belgium for example over 50 percent of | | | | HR that didn't include easy-to-use consolidated |
| 2,300 employees have been there fewer than five | | | | reporting or an employee portal. After evaluating |
| years. The company has come to the conclusion that | | | | UltiPro alongside several enterprise resource vendors, |
| with an increasingly young and mobile workforce, the | | | | TAMS selected Ultimate Software's offering and went |
| likelihood is that an employee population full of a | | | | live in September 2002 after an on-time and on-budget |
| younger generation, for whom these tools are part and | | | | implementation. Almost immediately upon rolling out the |
| parcel of life, is not that far away. In years to come | | | | UltiPro portal to employees, TAMS began seeing |
| IBM will have to deal with employee base for which | | | | improvements, with an estimated 70% increase in |
| blogging is just the natural way to interact over a web | | | | open enrollment efficiency (Wojcik, 2004). |
| platform. IBM has created centralized platforms for | | | | The Outcome: |
| most tools that fall under its remit, which includes wikis. | | | | In an effort to expand the usage of the Web beyond |
| For Philippe Borremans, new media lead Europe for | | | | the benefits enrollment process, TAMS has posted a |
| IBM, has the potential business applications of a wiki | | | | library of documents and forms on its HR portal, |
| cover two broad benefits: Collaborating and | | | | including the benefits handbook, which garnered a |
| knowledge sharing. IBM has scored some notable | | | | 2004 Apex Award for publication excellence. That |
| successes on both fronts in the near 5000 wiki pages | | | | same year, Business Insurance magazine also gave |
| now up and running in the organization. The company | | | | TAMS the Electronic Benefit Communication (EBC) |
| has been a huge pick-up in interest in podcasting over | | | | award for outstanding achievement in communicating |
| the last 18 months writing can seem such a technical | | | | employee benefits programs over the Web. To |
| skill, whereas people feel they can talk more freely | | | | continue elevating its use of Ultimate Software's |
| than they can write. One of the most consistently | | | | HRMS/payroll solution, TAMS modified the UltiPro |
| popular IBM podcasts, with over 20,000 downloads a | | | | portal to meet the imaging company's unique needs |
| week. | | | | (Wojcik, 2004). It was completely integrated with |
| Ameriprise Financial | | | | several proprietary applications created to address |
| The Situation: | | | | compensation and performance management issues |
| The Department of Justice survey estimates that 3.6 | | | | so that TAMS employees have a central location for |
| million U.S. households were victims of identity theft in | | | | comprehensive workforce and payroll information from |
| 2004. Trafficking in personal date goes beyond U.S. | | | | a Web browser that they can access with a single |
| borders: the New York Times reports that stolen | | | | sign-on (Wojcik, 2004). |
| financial information is often distributed among | | | | References |
| participants of online trading boards, and the buyers | | | | Byars, Lloyd L. & Rue, Leslie W. (2004). Human |
| are frequently located in Russia, Ukraine, and the | | | | Resource Management, 7e. The McGraw-Hill |
| Middle East. One reason clients are concerned about | | | | Companies. |
| data security is the widespread publicity generated by | | | | Cadrain, Diane (2007). New York: Company Settles |
| breaches at financial services firm. In late December | | | | Data Breach Charges. Retrieved June 3, 2007 from [ |
| 2205, an Ameriprise Financial employees laptop | | | | Clarifying IBMs Strategic mission for social |
| that contained unencrypted data on approximately | | | | media (2007). Strategic Communication |
| 230,000 customers and advisors was stolen from a | | | | Management. Retrieved June 1, 2007 from |
| car. Other financial services firm, including Citigroup and | | | | Friesen, G. Bruce (2003). Is your client ready for eHR? |
| Bank of America, also acknowledge large-scale | | | | Consulting to Management, 14(3), 27. Retrieved June 3, |
| customer data losses in 2005. President of NCS, Rita | | | | 2007 from ProQuest Database. |
| Dew, a compliance consulting firm in Delray Beach, | | | | Hagood, Wesley O. & Friedman, Lee ( 2002). |
| Florida, says that the Securities and Exchange | | | | Using the balanced scorecard to measure the |
| Commission requires investment advisors to have | | | | performance of your HR information system. Public |
| policies and procedures that address the administrative, | | | | Personnel Management, 31(4), 543-58. Retrieved June |
| technical, and physical safeguards related to client | | | | 3, 2007 from ProQuest Database. |
| records and information. | | | | Heuring, Linda (2003). IBM: Laying Outing Enrollment |
| The Response: | | | | Options. Retrieved June 2, 2007 from [ |
| Ameriprise Financial had to fight back and had to | | | | Koven, Jeff (2002). Streamlining benefit process with |
| implement layers of protection. It is | | | | employee self-service applications: A case study. |
| important for employees who their primary business | | | | Compensation & Benefits Management, 18(3), |
| computer, and employees regularly transport the | | | | 18-23. Retrieved June 2, 2007 from ProQuest |
| computer between home, office, and meeting sites. | | | | Database. |
| The vulnerability of this arrangement and the need for | | | | OConnell, Sandra (1994). Security for HR |
| a safety software program is much needed. | | | | records human resources. HR Magazine. |
| The Outcome: | | | | Retrieved June 3, 2007 from [ 5/is_n9_v39 |
| Employees who are transporting lab tops should install | | | | ai_16309018 |
| the Steganos Security Suite on their computer. This | | | | Protecting Client Data (2006). Financial Planning. |
| software allows employees to create an encrypted | | | | Retrieved June 1, 2007 from |
| virtual drive on the laptop that serves as data storage | | | | &VName=PQD. |
| safe. Employees stores all client related data and tax | | | | Tips on Using Technology to Streamline Payroll |
| preparation software database on the encrypted drive, | | | | Processes and Cut Costs (2006). Payroll |
| which employees has set up with one gigabyte of | | | | Managers Report, 6(10), 1-9. Retrieved June 2, 2007 |
| storage space. The best thing is that when an | | | | from EBSCOhost Database. |
| employee turns off the computer the information is | | | | Vu, Uyen (2005). Contracting out HRIS easy call at |
| stored safe, the software automatically | | | | Terasen Pipelines. Canadian HR Reporter, 18(4), 5-9. |
| encrypts the virtual drives data. The software | | | | Retrieved June 2, 2007 from ProQuest Database. |
| also generates encrypted backup files, which | | | | Wojcik, J. (2004). Toshiba Employee Handbook Goes |
| employees store on CDs in a fireproof safe. This | | | | Online. Business Insurance, 38(49), 18. |