Download - LIR828: HRIS
LIR828: HRIS
• Brian Pentland– email: [email protected]– H: 347-7753
• Office Hours: TBA, but please email 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