LIR828: HRIS

• Brian Pentland– email: pentlan2@msu.edu– 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