Computer Science and Information Technology in HR Department of an Organization - Research Paper Example

?Computer Science and Information Technology in HR Department of an Organization Aim: To identify the significance of computer science and information technology in the HR department. To study of about the use and development of the Information technology and computer science in the organization. To identify the role and functions of information technology and computer science to solve the problems and improve communication skill in the HR department of an organization. Objectives: How information technology and computer science function in HR department. How information technology and computer science help the easy identification and coordination of data. How it helps to improve the overall problem solving and communication skill of the HR department of an organization. Background: Computer science designates the mathematical, as well as scientific, approach in computing. There has been an increasing acknowledgment that the power of information technology and computing should be, and can be, enlarged beyond its conventional user base, to reach out to citizens, who up till now have not had admittance to such technology. At the present time business world is enduring a vast change. So, the use of Computer science and Information technology in the organizations department helps to solve the problems, as well as to improve the better communication skill of the various departments. Here the research proposal talks about Computer Science and Information Technology in HR department of an organization. Computer science and Information technology are expected to develop the overall performance of HRM by shifting its focus from management or personnel management to strategic HRM. HR information technology is fundamental for organizations to administer their benefits plans and their worker information. It will help to solve the problems and improve communication skill in the particular department. “Computer Science” is the mixture and application of “Applied Mathematics”, “Electrical Engineering”, and “Complexity Theory/Algorithms” to understand and/or model information. In other words, it is the “field of computation” “Information Technology” is the mixture and application of “Programming”, “Hardware Administration”, “Software Administration”, “Networking”, “Network Security” and “Technical Support”. In other words, it is the “management of computers” (Abhishek 2012). Computer science and Information technology in the HR department of the organization must be reasonable, available, and significant. The quick and extensive use of information technology and computers has created a need for extremely trained employees, proficient in different job functions. The most considerable alteration is that the professionals in the HR department at the present focus more on company strategic question from a “human resource” facet through the top level managers of the organizations rather than only dealing with personnel management. So, the use of Computer science and Information technology in HR department of the organization is extremely helpful to solve the various problems, as well as improve the communication in overall departments. Meanwhile, division of the HR jobs, such as routine management and management performance, are decentralized to line managers. In contrast, these days, organizations are thirsty for the Computer sciences and IT to decrease cost, develop service, and accomplish effectiveness. To make known the adding value of Computer sciences and IT application in HR department of the organization, it is essential to elucidate how IT can advocate the various functions of the HR department, for example, communication/problem solving. Critical Review of Relevant Literature/Review of Current Systems: The application of IT and computer science in human resource department has been built up since 1990s, the influence of IT on HRM are lengthening over years (Florkowski, Lujan 2006). Its capability of contributing to the whole performance of company, as well as HRIT, supports the basic transformations regarding the HR function such as problem solving, communication, e-recruitment etc. Hempel (2004) has built up a model of the interactions among the HRM and technology, consisting of the design of the business and work, the HR experts, and workers. According to the model, a new growth of technology can create the alterations in reengineering the business and work design, which modifies the result of HR practices. Timothy F. Bresnahan in his article “Information Technology and Recent Changes in Work organization Increase the Demand for Skilled Labor” says that various successful uses of computers pertain to its comparative benefit in doing jobs easily and in storing a big amount of simple data and recalling it quickly. Many times, these characteristics of computers become successful when they join with human cleverness. The quick, comprehensive memory of computers is frequently a complement for ruling in decision making of humans. (Timothy F 1998). Simon (1973) in his study noted that it is not long after the primary extensive use of computers in company, that the limited resource is not treated as data (information); it is the processing ability to deal with information. Attention is one of the primary bottlenecks in organizational action, and the bottleneck turns out to be narrower and narrower as we go to the tops of companies. Therefore, a general enlargement demands human cognitive abilities; computerization can guide to bypass the managerial bottleneck by means of latest organizational types which favor enlarging the lateral communication and synchronization. (Simon 1973) “The areas of computer science research range from complex theory to hardware design to programming-language design. Some researchers work on multidisciplinary projects, such as developing and advancing uses of virtual reality, extending human-computer interaction, or designing robots” (Computer Science Overview n.d., p. 1). The IT and computer science in the HR department of the organization help decrease the face-to-face interactions in an organization. Every member can be connected by internet services, such as the system of email and telecommuting, so that all the work can be correlated without the constraints of the location (e.g. working at home for international business). From this point, it will help to improve the communication among the various departments, as well as employees of the organizations, it will also facilitate solving the problems as well. (Romero & Lukaszewski 2006). In the current workplace, it is very important that Information Technology (IT) works both successfully and consistently. Information systems and computer science managers play a fundamental role in the execution and management of technology in their organizations. They organize, plan, and direct research on computer related activities of organizations. In consultation with the various other managers, they assist to find out the aims of an organization, and then execute technology to meet aims. They supervise every technical facet of an organization, for example internet operations, software development, and network safety. (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11) “Computer and information systems managers can have additional duties, depending on their role within an organization. Chief technology officers (CTOs), for example, evaluate the newest and most innovative technologies and determine how these can help their organizations. They develop technical standards, deploy technology, and supervise workers who deal with the daily information technology issues of the firm” (Computer and Information Systems Managers 2009). Today, information technology (IT) is commonly considered as a necessary instrument in assessing the competitive position of the financial system of a country. There is perfect agreement on the fact that IT has an important effect on the efficiency of firms. This effect will only be recognized when IT is broadly extended and used. It is necessary to recognize the factors of implementing. In a review of the research combining economics and information system by Bakos and Kemerer (1992), it is stated that there is a relationship between the macroeconomic influence of information technology, and organizational performance, and information technology. Another researcher studies that there is relationship between the productivity of organization and information technology. (Kemerer and Sosa, 1991; Schneider, 1987). Another study by Krueger (1993) shows that the computer using workers have gained higher wages than non-users. This indicates that, by the use of computer and IT, there is an increase in the GDP of the firm. “A survey of IT managers found that the primary reason that firms invest in computers is to improve customer service. Cost reduction, timeliness, quality, and flexibility follow the customer service”. (Brynjolfsson 1994; Brynjolfsson & Yang 1996, p. 15). Research Methods: The choice of suitable method for research is extremely significant, because this can influence the data derived from the gathered data. In general, both quantitative and qualitative methods are the major sources used by researchers for gathering information. This particular research proposal talks about the Computer Science and Information Technology in HR department of an organization. And also the main aim of the study is to identify the role and functions of information technology and computer science to solve the problems and improve communication skill in the HR department of an organization. Quantitative method of research can be elucidated as one of the most significant research methods used to discover the amount of qualification and for examining the data. (Black 1999) But in the case of the method of qualitative data gathering, it gives more significance to the word rather than qualification (Miler 1983) In quantitative research, the examiner is not only an onlooker, but is like the one who has never been involved with the study. But at the same time, by qualitative method of analysis, the investigator also gets involved in the area under discussion, and into the circumstances, and the imminence of the study. Though, in quantitative method, the investigator gets a chance to construct a relation among the variables, it won’t provide an acceptable justification for these relations. At the same time, a qualitative method will facilitate the investigator to elucidate the fundamental aspects for the establishment of those relations (Remenyi 1998). Qualitative method also provides opportunities to the investigator to go deep into the minds of respondents, and is capable to draw a rough image of the respondent’s requirements and desires. This assists the researcher to recognize the respondent’s apprehensions and considerations. The qualitative method of analysis has various roles to play in the collection of adequate date and research; this is one of the most accepted methods used by economic experts for their study. Quantitative method is also used for various kinds of data analysis, where questionnaire and graphs represent the most prominent method used to collect data. “Qualitative research methodologies have become increasingly important modes of inquiry for the social sciences and applied fields, such as education, regional planning, health sciences, social sciences social work, community development, and management” (Marshall & Rossman 2011). Data collection methods used to collect information regarding computer sciences and information technology are Questionnaire method and interview method. Questionnaire Method: The main purpose of this method is to recognize the factors which influence the significance of computer sciences and Information technology in the organization. The structuring of questionnaire is on the basis of score, which facilitates the respondent to select the exact satisfaction level. Majority of the questions in the Questionnaire survey is are based on real life experience of respondents. This supports to respond without any kind of doubt, or extra efforts. The questionnaire is arranged in a simple method which makes the respondent pursue the pattern in an easy mode. Most of the questions are arranged in a simple way. Interview Method: Interview questions also help to obtain the information directly from the target audience. This method is necessary, and it is a useful method in identifying the most precise and essential information from the target respondent. There are primarily two methods of interviews carried out by the researcher. They are the structured interview and the non structured interview. The structured interviews outline the sequence of questions one after the other, and at the same time non structured interviews comprise questions which are not in a sequence, and that any questions like the detailed or the purposeful can be asked at any time. Here, with the intention of completing the research, non structured interview method is used. Research Design: Research design is generally framed to recognize and analyze different ways for conducting the research, and it also involves making decisions connected to the sources from which the information has to be composed. “The way in which researchers develop research designs is fundamentally affected by whether the research question is descriptive or explanatory. It affects what information is collected” (Part 1: What is Research Design? n.d., p. 2). It is an arrangement of circumstances and assessment of all the information in a way that it aims to unite the significance of research intention. Research design may be either qualitative or quantitative.  A research design helps to build the research proposal. In the case of computer science and information technology, research is descriptive in nature. Descriptive research design is mostly used to explain the characteristics of the given individual, circumstances or a group. Research design also includes surveys, information discovery, enquiries etc. Research design offers a clear route to the research. Random sampling method is used to collect the data from respondents. Project Plan: Task Starting Time Finishing Time Selection of topic. 10.04.2012 12.04.2012 Research design: primary research 10.04.2012 9.05.2012 Questionnaire (configuration & allocation) 10.04.2012 20.04.2012 Conduction of survey. 21.04.2012 31.04.2012 Interview. 1.05.2012 7.05. 2012 Telephonic interview method. 8.05.2012 9.05.2012 Secondary method of research: (periodical and article) 10.05.2012 15.05 06.2012 Findings of the study. 16.5.2012 20.05.2012 Reference List Abhishek, 2012. Difference between Computer Science and Information Technology? Techvyom.com. [Online] Available at [Accessed on 28 March 2012] Brynjolfsson, E. & Yang, S., 1996. Information Technology and Productivity: A Review of the Literature. Advances in Computers. Academic Press. Vol. 43. [Online] Available at [Accessed on 28 March 2012] Computer Science Overview, n.d. Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. [Online] Available at [Accessed on 28 March 2012] Computer and Information Systems Managers, 2009. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [Online] Available at [Accessed on 28 March 2012] Marshall, C. & Rossman, G.B., 2011. Designing Qualitative Research. 5th Edn. Sage Publications, Inc. [Online] Available at [Accessed on 28 March 2012] Part 1: What is Research Design?. n.d. [Online] Available at [Accessed on 28 March 2012] Read More