Human Resources: HRMStrategies 2009 Conference and Technology Exposition

Two hot topics reverberated the International Association for Human Resource Information Management’s HRMStrategies 2009 Conference and Technology Exposition: knowing which HR technology vendors are viable in today’s economy and how to better interpret HR metrics so they may be used in strategic and actionable business decisions.

“More than 550 attendees and nearly 160 exhibitors participated in the conference, which is almost unheard of in this economy,” said Lynne Mealy, IHRIM president and CEO. “The turnout reinforced that networking, professional development and finding ways to increase the return on HR technology investments are more important now than ever. We saw an increase – again this year – in first-time attendees as well. We were pleased to offer exceptional speakers and exhibitors who could help participants realize a competitive advantage.”

Conference highlights included:

HR Metrics Must Drive Business Strategy
In his keynote speech, John Boudreau, Ph.D., professor at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and Center for Effective Organizations, said most companies do not strategically use their HR information systems to evaluate the efficacy of their HR practices. This impedes their ability to solve HR problems strategically and proactively.

During an interview with HR Magazine, Boudreau said neither HR professionals nor business leaders have historically thought about what HR data can really do for them.

“I urge HR to better understand what metrics and analysis can do, and then learn how to help their business partners see how HR data can help them solve the people problems that matter to them,” he said. “Are the HR systems educating company leaders to be better? Are they demonstrating areas of biggest change and revealing those changes that make the most difference?”

His point resonated with conference registrants.

“If your company’s leaders and users are not learning how to be better at their jobs by using HR technology, then you need to change your approach to your technology or improve how you educate them on using it,” said Lois Melbourne, GPHR, CEO and co-founder of Aquire, Inc.

Get the Most Bang for the Buck
Conference-goers visited IHRIM’s Expo Hall to learn how to better leverage their existing technology investments, enhance their existing HR information management systems, and learn more about technological advances on the horizon.

Industry thought leaders commented on the state of HR technology during a media panel discussion as well.

“I expect the economy will drive innovation and we’ll begin to see new solutions,” said Ed Newman, president of The Newman Group, a provider of talent management consulting services. “And, old-niche products are already changing. There are a lot of Software-as-a-Service ‘pretenders’ out there who will soon be found out.”

Newman advised companies considering a technology purchase to do some serious due diligence.

“In addition to assessing company leadership and financial viability, make sure your vendor contracts give you access to your data should the company consolidate or fail,” he said. “Also find out how service-oriented vendors are. They must be your business partner.”

John Greer, IHRIM chairman, agreed.

“For HR practitioners, the service piece is key,” Greer said. “The functionality isn’t as important as the service. We need vendors to talk to each other. Show us how to leverage each bit of data you provide to more effectively enable HR strategy.”

Both men anticipated vendor growth in business intelligence, work force analytics, open source software and work force planning solutions in the coming year.

Learning More Using CORE
Newcomers to IHRIM were thankful to hear about CORE, the association’s new online community that facilitates networking, problem solving and the sharing of best practices among members no matter where they reside. For attendees hailing from as far away as South Africa and Bahrain, this member benefit was particularly promising.

“I would appreciate having the ability to quickly reconnect with people and speakers I met here to receive their insight and learn more about their experiences,” said one Bahrain attendee, who works at the country’s Electricity and Water Authority.

Another HR technology specialist from the Social Security Administration agreed.

“I try and come to the IHRIM conference every year,” she said. “I am reminded of what to do and what not to do from the presenters and others in attendance who speak up and share how they solved the very problems I am experiencing. CORE provides a way to continue that discussion year-round.”

Seeking Certification
IHRIM held its first practice exam of the new Certified Human Resources Information Management Professional (PHRI) certification at the conference. Offered to HR information management professionals with at least five years of experience, the certification will begin formally in September. Others wishing to participate in online practice exams may start testing in various U.S. regions this summer.

“IHRIM members have been inquiring about a certification program for years, and our board believed that an HRIM certification program would benefit our membership and the profession,” said Lynne Mealy, IHRIM president and CEO. “We had 19 people take the practice exam at the conference. They believed the certification would demonstrate a higher level of competence on this body of knowledge they were being tested against.”

IHRIM will conduct an exam preparation course July 15 prior to its Global Forum in Chicago. Registrants attending the workshop and the course can save $100 off registration.

Driving Innovation and Professional Development
Industry leaders, IHRIM board members, HR technology vendors and other conference VIPs mingled at a fundraising dinner benefiting the Human Resource Information Management Foundation. Monies raised will be used for scholarships, research and education.

“It was wonderful to see so many people supporting their own profession, especially in these trying times,” Mealy said.

Ordering Conference Recordings
Those who missed the IHRIM 2009 conference or would like to listen to specific sessions they attended can order audio presentations and copies of the PowerPoint presentations.

IHRIM 2009 Global Forum
IHRIM's Global Forum, held July 16 in Chicago, brings together HR practitioners, academics and advisors who will present case studies, theoretical findings and best practices to address the major issues and challenges facing HRIT organizations today.

The Forum provides a distinctive learning and information-sharing environment that allows presenters and participants to share knowledge, discuss ideas, and exchange feedback on real challenges and issues. To learn more and register, click here.

2010 IHRIM Conference
Mark your calendars for IHRIM’s 2010 conference, held May 2 through May 5 at the Rio Las Vegas hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About IHRIM
Since 1980, the International Association for Human Resource Information Management (IHRIM), the world’s leading HRIM clearinghouse, has been uniting a dynamic group of practitioners, vendors, consultants, students and faculty to share best practices and the latest technological trends. Through membership, educational programming, CORE, networking forums and IHRIM’s annual conference, HRIM professionals can receive valuable knowledge that will enhance both their own careers and their companies’ success.