More Evidence of the High Rate of Change In Cloud Computing
Out with the old and in with the new is challenging the concept of the database as well
Cloud technology is experiencing a wide range of directional shifts, but perhaps the most pressing shift in the cloud has to do with database technology and management.
This is largely due to the fact that the modern database is becoming increasingly complex with the rise of big data.
Cloud database offerings – now being labeled under Database as a Service (DBaaS) cloud-computing model – are offering new ways for IT pros to manage databases in the cloud.
Historically, database management was a job reserved for the Database Administrator (DBA), but now there is some question as to how DBaaS providers will change the nature of DBA’s.
img credit : www.littlelostmanuals.com
How DBaaS is changing IT
With any direct or indirect move to a cloud service provider within an IT environment, there is a lot of concern about how cloud technology will shift IT roles.
The concern is that tasks will become so automated in the cloud that certain IT positions will be phased out.
While there is some truth to this in regards to older IT jobs that are no longer relevant, databases aren’t going anywhere.
If anything, the cloud will make the job of the database administrator all the more easier by streamlining complex tasks, making them easier to carry out in batches.
The New Role of DBA’s
There is good news for database administrators; their jobs are relatively secure in this new DBaaS economy.
The trick is to understand how the new role of the DBA will shift.
Most importantly, the new role of the DBA will move from a very practical database management one to a cloud DBaaS stategy role.
In other words, tomorrow’s DBAs must be well-versed in DBaaS technology – enough to offer insight to the enterprise on what solutions to use and what solutions to leave behind.
For all intents and purposes, tomorrow’s DBAs will serve as in-house cloud database management consultants.
What to Look for In a Quality DBA
First and foremost, you need a DBA who is well versed in past, present and the likely future database technologies that are emerging just around the corner.
This means they are actively researching new technologies and the best way they can be implemented in data management initiatives.
This knowledge must be easily applicable to the current state of DBaaS technology.
That is, they must be able to look at multiple DBaaS solutions and tell what solutions work best for your organization.
Additionally, they must know their way around the analytics and reporting tools as you implement complex DBaaS solutions into your data management strategy.
Why Database Professionals Are Still Valued
Database experts are valuable because data is valuable.
Essentially, data is at the core of your business, and a database pro is essentially in charge of your organization’s lifeblood.
At the end of the day, database configuration will require the expertise of a DBA to ensure it matches the goals and needs of your organization.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
5 Things to Do to Keep — or Lose — Your Team
The economy is heating up and your competitors are hiring, so your IT staff may not feel as stuck as they did a few years ago when the job market was tight.
Employees cite unhappiness with management as the number one reason they leave their jobs.
With this in mind, unless you want your IT team to take their valuable skills and irreplaceable knowledge with them when they head to greener pastures, it’s time for managers to take a long hard look at their behavior and its effect on employee satisfaction.
Don’t be insincere
Don’t treat your employees as if they are stupid or don’t have the social skills to tell when you don’t care about them.
They can tell when you’re phony or insincere, and they would rather you keep it all business if you don’t really care.
Skip asking, “How was your weekend?” if you aren’t going to listen to the answer, and just get down to business.
You’re not building the relationship by pretending, in fact, you’re damaging it.
Being friends doesn’t make you a good manager; getting results does.
That takes mutual respect and hard work. Being friends is optional, but being real is not.
Don’t lie or fudge the truth
It’s not always easy to be a manager, but that’s why your pay is more than those who report to you.
Don’t waffle, and don’t avoid the hard conversations.
Tell the employee what’s really going on, whether it’s a performance issue or bad financial results.
Nobody can improve their performance if they don’t know
there’s a problem, so be open when an employee disappoints you.
You don’t have to be harsh, just open and candid.
If you provide feedback at frequent points during the year, the employee is less likely to be shocked and defensive at review time.
Even better, by knowing in advance, it’s possible that they can take steps to improve their performance before it adversely affects their review.
Avoid inconsistency
Nothing makes people crazier than not knowing what’s going to happen next.
If you play favorites or cut corners, it confuses employees.
If your mood swings are out of control and apparent to everyone, employees will avoid telling you anything for fear of setting you off.
Praising an employee for something one day and then scolding him or her the next for the same thing leaves everyone frustrated and walking on glass.
When you’re at work, try for a calm, polite and pleasant demeanor that rarely varies.
Speak in audible tones but don’t raise your voice.
Lay out the policies, procedures and expectations for your team and then stick to them.
Your team will spend more time working and less time tiptoeing around you for fear of your reaction.
Strong leaders “model the way” as defined in The Leadership Challenge by Kouses and Posner.
Consistency is the foundation of good leadership.…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World
Hard drives may not have disappeared overnight, but they’re falling out of favor fast, and many tech experts envision a day — perhaps one in the near future — when the hard drive itself has been relegated to the annals of history.
Virtually everyone who has ever owned a computer is familiar with the traditional hard drive — perhaps not its design and functionality, but certainly its trademark whir, its spinning disk and the cooling fans used to keep the device from overheating.
Hard drives aren’t extinct yet, but they may be headed in that direction.
There’s plenty of incentive for the industry and its consumers to make that conversion to alternative storage forms like solid-state drives.
Here’s a quick rundown of how newer forms of physical storage can turn dreams into reality…
Avoiding Local Storage Bottlenecks
Computers and their manufacturers have always been grappling with various bottlenecks that prevent other components of the computing process from displaying their true speed.
As of late, the most common such bottleneck has been local storage.
Slow data recall speeds from local storage devices limit the speed at which a computer can operate — all other processes have to be put on hold while the hard drive’s spinning disk starts moving and gets up to speed. With solid-state drives, such bottlenecks don’t exist — data can be recalled as fast as an electric impulse can travel, essentially eliminating this bottleneck risk.
Lowering costs
There was a time when solid-state drives were new and fancy and, naturally, extremely expensive.
That’s not the case anymore.
Many low-end netbooks and stripped down laptops come equipped with solid-state drives while maintaining some of the lowest prices on the computing market.
The same is true for solid-state external storage devices…
While they’re still more expensive than hard drives, the difference is far less than it was years ago.
Getting rid of storage maintenance
Sure, maybe it’s still out there on the horizon.
But the prospect of eliminating storage maintenance needs has evolved from being science fiction to being highly plausible.
Solid-state storage is bound to require less maintenance for a variety of reasons, including because there are no moving parts and no high amounts of heat being expended.
That significantly decreases the risk of a storage failure and, consequently, the maintenance designed to prevent such problems.
Solid-stage local storage can also be paired with centralized storage to develop an information network teeming with possibilities.
Think greater flexibility and much broader options for the technologies you choose to implement.
Conclusion
It’s not life on Mars or traveling through time, but the ability to upgrade physical storage is significant in an increasingly digital world.
Businesses and individuals alike should familiarize themselves with the offerings of new storage platforms — including cloud-based storage — and find out how these new products and services can improve the quality of their own computing.
It’s still a bit of an investment over traditional hard drives, but with that investment comes speed and security.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
Is IT Really Easy Now?
There’s an interesting sentiment or idea that is going around that somehow IT is magically easier now.
This is largely fueled by the advent and rise of cloud computing and virtualization.
Sure, issues can be isolated and automated faster than ever before, but let’s not forget the age we live in.
Data is bigger than it ever was, and with the constant stream of data needed to stay competitive in today’s information market, IT processes are now more complex than they ever were.
Again, these complex IT processes are streamlined and require less legwork, but IT is by no means easy.
The cloud isn’t magic and virtualization isn’t a miracle.
The legwork involved with managing data on the IT level hasn’t become easier; it’s just changed drastically.
Technology that Fuels the “IT is easy” Sentiment
Virtualization
The “easy” revolution is almost primarily driven by the fact that nearly anything in the IT or data management process can be virtualized.
This includes everything from server virtualization to network virtualization to application virtualization.
Sure, it’s incredibly easy to manage these components every day.
In fact, through companies like Scale Computing, these infrastructural resources are easier to scale than at any time in the history of server level computing.
But when it comes to actually building, testing and deploying virtualized components, that is an entirely different story altogether.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing tells a similar story.
Since much of the cloud is powered by virtualization, there’s often talk that all an IT department needs is a sophisticated web portal to manage and deploy data throughout a company’s infrastructure.
The problem is that sometimes the computing resources aren’t there to power the cloud-based systems that boast making IT processes easier than ever.
A Cloud Portal Isn’t the Answer
So what happens when a cloud or other virtualized server goes down?
Who handles the problems, or rebuilds the virtualized environment when something really goes wrong?
This takes an IT ninja to step in and take over the reins of the server.
By no means is this an easy process.
It takes some real talent to be able to turn things around quickly and efficiently to ensure that the system is both highly functional and high performing.
But some of today’s IT professionals have gotten cocky with their overconfidence in these new tools that have “transformed” the way we handle IT disasters.
Others, of course, have gotten frustrated as their managers claim that their jobs are way easier than they actually are.
Conclusion
To be clear, we’re not decrying the technology that has made life easier.
The cloud has made it so IT professionals can manage data from virtually anywhere in the world.
And virtualization is now more powerful than ever in the way it helps server administrators handle problems and increase computing power across the entire datacenter.
The point is that managing IT resources hasn’t really gotten any easier.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
Recent years of tech development have led to rapid changes.
And one of the biggest tech trends points to the IT world being pointed in one direction: software….
It’s Becoming A Software World
Software, more than hardware, is beginning to define our everyday functions.
From Software as a Service (SaaS) options for business to must-have apps on our mobile devices, we’re running our lives on software, paying little attention to the hardware running it.
And companies are taking note…
- HP announced potential plans to pursue software developments that could replace their focus on PCs
- Google continues to dominate the Silicon Valley tech landscape with stunning software developments and surprising investments in companies like Motorola Mobile
Social Media
Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare have become power players on the tech scene.
Many companies we interact with on a daily basis are essentially just software companies…
- Amazon, which transformed books as know them into software with the rise of the Kindle
- Pixar, which kept Disney modern and relevant with incredible animation advances, and
- Netflix, which changed our home entertainment experience with the click of a button
While some might worry about the potential for another dot-com bubble, the fact is that this rise of new technology will continue to shift how we operate.
Shifting Where Responsibilities Lay
Our increasing reliance on software for communications, business functions, entertainment and even transportation means that the standard IT divisions of the day must shift.
Humans will be responsible for trillions of information transactions that all benefit from flexible and scalable cloud-based server options and IT databases that are heavily supported by software.
Data Centers Are Weighing the Way
While our tech-driven lives have changed, data centers have changed little in the past 10 to 15 years.
Computers and equipment have usually been updated — mostly out of necessity — but the way things are done has hardly changed.
Routers and switches still transport data in the same fashion, which is opening the door for the rise of SDNs, or software-defined networking.
It’s much faster than it used to be, but it all relies on having the right hardware.
Only now are we truly stretching the capabilities of software.
What Can Software Do for Data Centers?
It can make setting up networks easier, cutting down on cost and increasing efficiency.
Businesses and organizations can place information behind secure firewalls without adding new hardware, making it easier to keep transactions safe and provide trustworthy storage opportunities for sensitive data.
In addition, software provides increased flexibility to shift and change as needed, addressing new problems and new needs with updates and not costly hardware replacements.
Innovation and Data Centers
Large companies and ambitious startups alike are taking notice of the data center opportunities.
Google, of course, is looking to jump on this bandwagon, while startups are beginning to pop-up with clever solutions, like producing hardware and software that can produce a ready-made virtual server infrastructure.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor.
Experts expect cloud computing to have exponential growth in the near future, and it’s not just corporations that will have a hand in it.
Small and medium-sized businesses will also move to cloud services, which means that the underlying infrastructure and hardware will move away from
servers to virtualization, the foundation of cloud computing.
Plenty of good things that will come from the change, including decreased need for physical maintenance and an increase in jobs, but virtualization is not without its challenges.
These difficulties have prevented large data centers and small businesses alike from making an ultimately beneficial move.
Consider the following challenges that are among the most cited by opponents…
Application Awareness
Application awareness is a big deal, and might be something you’ve already struggled with.
Virtualization only works when apps not only work but take advantage of the new structure.
However, virtualization includes the ability to run VM instances from other computers or devices, which can sometimes result in limited app availability.
However, not all is lost…
Advanced IP and session management tools can perform health checks and monitor virtual machines to ensure that apps are available when they should be, and that connections to other images are still able to launch an app from the correct location.
Security Conflicts
You’re convinced that virtualization is the way to go, but you’re not the one with the power to make it happen.
What do you do when your boss asks about security?
As it stands, virtualization does pose some security challenges.
There’s both the issue of maintaining a secure platform and for VM-specific security.
Some people have found themselves
Fortunately, virtualization developers have begun to pair up with security companies, which means new solutions to existing problems — security and viruses — that don’t cause new ones.
Software that doesn’t require installation on every image is one example of a more effective way to handle security.
Storage Challenges
Storage challenges may lie at the heart of your doubt about whether virtualization will work for your company because you’re not sure if your physical hardware is going to get the job done right.
You might quickly run out of resources, which is something that becomes a problem with serial virtualization.
When you make numerous server images, ghosts of those images are also created.
If you create unnecessary images,
they’re still a drain on your resources, including space.
The solution to your storage woes requires you to plan ahead.
Today’s equipment should be scalable, even if you don’t need more storage at this very moment.
Moving to equipment that can be expanded when you have a need will save you a lot of frustration in the future.…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
The growth of the IT sector has always seamlessly aligned with the growth of computing in the business sector.
As companies worked toward integrating technology in the most effective ways to streamline their processes, IT professionals were essential components of successful implementation.
The streamlining of computer processes marches ever forward, though, and the new technology of a few years ago has become practically obsolete today.
The replacement of servers and complicated cabling systems with out-of-box technology solutions is a boon to business owners, and, though it may seem a disadvantage to IT professionals, it may actually be beneficial to tech gurus as well.
Tech Making IT Easier
Most business owners can handle an electrical plug and one or two cables, and the ability to plug those components is all that it takes to make much of today’s computer hardware fully operational.
No longer do companies need hard drive upgrades to store more information.
All they need are external hard drives or the Internet to access a host of cloud storage options.
Solid-state storage arrays are even bringing storage and server capabilities closer together and down to a consumer-friendly level.
Jobs on the Decline
The simpler computer hardware becomes, the less businesses need hardware-specific IT help.
Setting up a computer, backing up to servers and increasing storage capabilities don’t require loads of technical knowledge.
Most anyone who can read a manual can handle these basic tasks.
This makes some IT jobs unnecessary, and InfoWorld points out several IT roles that will fall by the wayside, including specialists in particular hardware or coding languages, hardware repair specialists and web designers.
Weathering the Changes
The decline of certain IT positions doesn’t mean that IT jobs are becoming obsolete.
It simply means that information technology jobs are evolving.
Instead of having expertise in one particular area, IT professionals who survive this evolution will have a wide range of skills and a general understanding of the entire scope of the field.
Where IT professionals were once mainly a labor force, connecting hardware and handling manual processes, they have become more of a thinking force.
When technical problems come up, IT professionals are the problem solvers businesses need to handle them.
The Tides that Rise
Out-of-box solutions have taken much of the hardware out of the hands of IT professionals, but that doesn’t mean it has eliminated the work in the field.
This simplification of hardware processes has simply taken the repetitive set-up work out of the equation.
IT pros who once spent days backing up data can now work on building better data systems to provide exactly what their companies need in the most efficient manner.
By keeping abreast of the latest technological advances, IT professionals have the opportunity to become innovators at their jobs, helping their companies come up with solutions to save time and money.
Summary
Though certain types of IT jobs are on the decline to the point that they will likely become obsolete in the next few years, the IT field is expanding for forward-thinkers.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor.
Finding the right talent to staff an IT department is never an easy task.
Technology itself is constantly evolving, so the focus needs to be on hiring both talented and forward thinking individuals who will allow a company to innovate and thrive.
The alternative risks getting left in the dust as similar companies speed by on the road to success.
Potential IT candidates need to be up to date on the latest in technological advances to put themselves in a better position to help usher your company into the future.
Skills
One of the many talents that IT recruits need to possess is the ability to work within a cloud-based structure.
More and more companies are jumping into the cloud head first due to its obvious benefits.
Cloud-based systems make it easier to allocate resources across separate departments within a business.
The cloud makes it easier to store large amounts of information and can also make that information available to all employees immediately.
Cloud-based systems emphasize two things: the availability and the reliability of a particular service.
Any IT candidate who is interviewed needs to be able to focus on those two areas for the best possible results.
Because cloud-based systems place an emphasis on the Web, potential candidates need to be able to focus on areas like networking and DNS.
Additionally, potential candidates should be well versed in various programming languages like Ruby, C++ and Java.
Fields of Study
Just because many businesses are focusing on the cloud doesn’t mean that a particular recruit needs to have exclusive experience in that particular field.
Engineers who specialize in software development, and especially those who have studied in both infrastructure services and networking, will make valuable additions to any IT department.
Potential recruits should also have an
experience with a wide variety of different operating systems and programming languages.
Remaining on the cutting edge means being open to new challenges, especially in a cloud-based system.
A focus on only one programming language could potentially leave a recruit, as well as a business, vulnerable in other areas.
Weeding Out Bad Candidates
Just because someone is interviewing for a position doesn’t necessarily mean that individual knows what they’re talking about.
However, you can’t rely on the same old tactics to weed out candidates who don’t necessarily fit the qualifications of a particular position.
For example, many executives agree that security credentials are no longer as important in a cloud-based world as they once were.
Instead, focus on a wide variety of different interview questions ranging across
a number of different topics.
Working within the cloud requires versatility. A potential recruit who can’t live up to that requirement will quickly become apparent.
More than that, potential recruits need to be both talented and highly motivated.
The lack of even one of these qualities could spell disaster for an IT department, which in turn could eventually harm the growth of a business in a number of different ways.…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
Technology investments are necessary for any business wanting to keep up with today’s mobile world.
However, in a struggling economy, few businesses are able to provide their employees with the latest technology.
This problem has become even more prevalent in recent years, as the speed of innovation has forced companies to replace hardware at a staggering rate.
Thus, business leaders must make an unfortunate choice between spending limited funding on new technology or running the risk of becoming obsolete.
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
The good news is there’s a middle ground solution making waves: bring your own device, or BYOD as it is more commonly known.
With BYOD, employees are allowed to work with their own devices, including laptops, tablets, as well as smartphones.
This system is ideal for companies seeking to establish a hybrid workplace that promotes a continuous flow of ideas.
What Are the Advantages of BYOD?
The main advantage of BYOD is its financial implications.
If employees are allowed to use their own devices in the workplace, the technology budget can quickly be slashed.
An oft-overlooked benefit of BYOD is the creativity and productivity that can flow from having a variety of devices in one room.
Many employees prefer working on their own devices instead of being forced to adapt to systems with which they are unfamiliar.
This increased level of technological comfort could translate to better productivity on the part of your employees.
Are There Concerns for BYODs?
BYOD definitely presents some excellent benefits, but there are a few downsides as well.
Compatibility could be an issue for any company wishing to have all its employees integrated into the same system.
Security is another major concern — if employees are allowed to bring their work devices home with them, there’s more potential for a security breach.
Issues like security and compatibility must be addressed before any business decides to go the BYOD route.
But, if a clear device policy is established then the problems associated with BYOD can be kept to a minimum.
What is the Best Way to Implement BYOD?
As mentioned above, implementing BYOD will require the development of a thorough technology policy.
Employees need to know which kinds of devices they can bring to work, how much information can be taken home with them and whether they are allowed to access work documents from remote locations.
Security will need to be beefed up as well; with BYOD, the potential for security breaches can rise significantly.
Finally, employees may need some guidance as to how they can use such diverse devices cooperatively in the same environment.
This topic can be addressed at an in-service, during which you can examine rules and regulations for BYOD.
No Better Time Than Now
With many companies exploring the possibilities of the cloud, there’s never been a better time for BYOD.
Whether you have an in-house hybrid solution or host everything in an off-site cloud center, it’s a fairly simple task to allow myriad devices access to your information.…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
For years, the IT landscape has thrived on specialized information technology professionals.
But as technology and needs have rapidly shifted in recent years, so have IT needs.
Specialized IT positions are shifting right along with the technology.
Understanding how this affects your IT department means having a solid grasp on the types of positions affected.
More importantly, you’ll need to understand some new technology and how to navigate to ensure you’re getting the most out of IT resources.
This involves a significant shift in how you think about positions in your IT department.
Endangered IT Species
Out-of-date Server Administrators
Server administrators used to wear their specialized server and code expertise like a badge of honor.
Interestingly enough, the IT landscape has shifted in such a way that there’s more of a need for generalists, or jack-of-all-trades server administrators.
The future of server administrator positions solely depends on their ability to broaden their expertise into new hardware and programming languages.
This means understanding how to use and implement virtualization and cloud-based server technology.
Hardware Repair Technicians
Historically, repair technicians have been positioned as modern-day superheroes –
sweeping through IT offices fixing hardware, swapping out bad drives and repairing bad devices.However, in recent years, the cost of hardware has dramatically decreased.
For instance, new start-ups are developing affordable flash arrays to dramatically increase data management speed and efficiency.
With the cost of hard disks as low as it is, and with the implementation of BYOD programs, repair technician jobs are no longer in rich supply.
This doesn’t mean they’ll go entirely extinct.
Rather, they’ll need to put much of their focus on server maintenance.
Fortunately, this wouldn’t be much of a stretch for any experienced hardware repair technician.
System Administrators
The cloud has hit system administrator jobs hard.
Most processes that relied heavily on system administrators are now being sourced to powerful cloud-computing applications.
System administrator positions will likely experience a major shift.
In the future, sys admins will need to become data security experts in order to stay relevant.
It’s important to consider that while sys admin positions wont disappear entirely –
at least not for a while – the majority of these IT processes will be cloud based.
General Web Designers
In the past, all a web designer needed to do was know how string along some HTML, and produce some readable copy.
But with automated design processes and sophisticated site creation tools, web designers are forced out of positions in favor of designers who are up with the times.
The new generation of web designers must be able to build sites that are dynamic with content that is up to current SEO standards.
Looking Forward
The reality is that IT departments need to be ready to embrace new technology as it comes or be left behind.
With new cloud-based technology, it may tempting to believe that robust IT departments are no longer necessary.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
The human resources department is a busy and productive place in almost all offices.
While, to outsiders, it often feels like the only thing that human resources does is hire new employees, the department actually handles many important tasks that improve things for the office as a whole.
Because of this, HR managers are always looking for new ways to improve the flow of information in and out of the department.
Find out how managers are using the concept of “big data” to learn more about the employees who work for them and streamline the entire human resources process…
Recruiting
When your company starts looking for new employees, the human resources department goes into overdrive.
Whether the recruiting process involves visiting career fairs, accepting open applications or actively headhunting, there are many tasks on which the HR staff is constantly working.
However, by utilizing “big data,” the recruiting process is often simplified.
The main way big data is used in recruiting is using the concept of predictive analysis.
Essentially, in recent years, HR managers have collected information about all their employees, which is now a data miner’s dream.
Analyzing the data on the best employees allows those working in HR to determine what type of person would make the best candidate for any open positions in the company.
That makes recruiting a breeze. Quite often companies already have this information available, it’s just a matter of locating, combining, and analyzing it.
Retention
Just as important, if not more so, is the idea of retaining employees who are already with the company and doing a good job.
Big data also makes a big difference with this task. When big data is used in this way, there’s often the misconception that the company is spying on their employees.
However, this is often far from the truth. The HR departments simply collect basic
information about the employees, their satisfaction levels, training information and other details.
This information can be used to help determine ways to improve and retain the staff already in place for corporations of all sizes. Lowes, ARAMARK, UPS, and other large corporations are already using this data to improve the staff in place as well as in the hiring process.
Best Practices
Big data does not create itself, nor can companies properly utilize it without following a few basic best practices.
These include:
- Aligning data with specific goals – This means that HR execs need to remember that it’s not just about collecting as much data as possible, but instead, collecting the right data
- Optimize data sharing – Often, the information is already in place in many big companies—the human resources staff just needs to learn the easiest way to find and utilize it
- Plan ahead – The HR staff needs to work with management to determine the needs into the future, not just for today; these long-term plans are where big data shines
- Protect data – Backing up data regularly is important so it doesn’t become lost in the shuffle.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
The term “human resources” can mean very different things depending on its context.
At large, multi-national corporations, dozens of individuals might work in HR to keep the corporate machine moving.
For small and midsized companies, however, HR probably means one or two very talented, very hardworking people doing their best to help keep employees happy and safe.
Working as HR for a smaller business means you’ll also likely run into many challenges and have to find creative and innovative solutions.
Often these solutions—things like social performance management software end up encompassing technology, which means you will have to work closely with your company’s IT department.
This presents its own set of challenges. Your needs will be at odds with the highly specialized work that IT professionals do, and it will be on you to do everything you can to make sure the relationship between HR and IT is solid.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start working more closely with IT…
Communication
The key factor in any successful relationship is communication.
Often in the business world, one department will become upset about something and a prejudice towards another department will build.
As HR, you probably deal with this all the time.
You know it can happen, so do what you can from the start to prevent any bitterness between departments.
Encourage team members from both departments to form functioning work relationships through good communication.
Be clear from the start about your own level of knowledge in the IT field, and set the tone by clearly stating your desire to learn.
The mystery that separates those inside a specialized field and outside it can be a difficult hurdle to climb, but if you defer to the IT department’s expertise, you’ll find that they’re typically easy to work with.
HR and IT Coming Together
As the HR department for a small business, part of your job may be managing workers and making sure they’re staying focused and getting work done.
One of the biggest hiccups any company can face is losing data to hacking, file corruption or other computer disasters.
Work simply can’t get done when technology doesn’t work.
You not only need to be encouraging and making employees back up files, you need to utilize computer backup software that will work effectively and help you retrieve any lost files and keep files protected.
If your IT department isn’t already using some sort of backup solution, you might consider it part of your HR duties to identify the need for a solid backup to protect the employees’ hard work.
Implementation
One of the biggest problems HR departments and IT departments face is getting other employees to implement new policies.
When working together, these two important departments can help each other out and focus on implementation.
If HR chooses to use an outside payroll company, then IT can walk employees through the process of setting up an account and checking payroll records.…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
Mobile workforces have become increasingly common in the last few years, with a Cisco study reporting that 38% of workers feel more productive at home than they do in the office.
And with mobile devices making it simple for employees to access their work email and projects from almost anywhere, it makes sense that employees are transitioning to working away from the office much of the time.
This transition to mobility has presented some challenges, though, as IT departments struggle to keep up with increasing demands to access company information from outside of the building.
Tapping Into Corporate Resources
The first major transition for a mobile workforce is the ability to tap into the corporate resources from anywhere.
Rather than relying on a network and on-site servers, workers are increasingly demanding a way to get into files and programs from any connection.
One of the ways that IT departments can respond is by utilizing a system in a box that manages all of the servers, storage, and virtualization together.
This type of system makes it easy for the IT department to set up and keep track of data, while also making it widely available to employees on mobile devices.
Plus, members of the IT department can also use their mobile devices to manage the system from anywhere.
Security for Mobile Workers
Another concern for IT departments at companies with mobile workers is ensuring that company data stays secure.
When people are accessing files from other locations, it’s difficult to know that it’s the employees accessing files, not competitors or hackers.
IT departments are starting to rely on two-factor authentication to ensure that devices connecting to company servers are authorized.
Another issue is whether employees are downloading viruses or malware that can put the company data at risk.
And lastly, encryption is key when employees are accessing work information through open wi-fi networks where malicious attacks would be much easier to generate.
Mobile Workforce IT Support
Lastly, the IT department must be ready to provide technical support for a mobile workforce on a wide range of devices and from a wide range of locations.
Employees may call in with issues syncing their devices with the company systems or difficulty figuring out how to complete work-related tasks on their mobile devices.
If the employer has systems in place for employees to punch timecards online, they also may call into the IT department with issues clocking their time from home.
Therefore, the department needs to be ready to remotely handle these problems, which can be much more difficult than troubleshooting a computer right there in the office.
Conclusion
Making the transition to a more mobile workforce isn’t something to jump into without the proper infrastructure in the IT department.
Employers must set up web-based systems that make it possible for employees to work from their own devices while maintaining the security of the company’s information and work.
With the right technology, though, an IT department can deploy systems that make it easy for employees to be connected during non-business hours and from remote locations, increasing the productivity of the company as a whole.
…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
In just about every company, there’s an ongoing IT conversation about whether to adopt a cloud-based or dedicated server environment.
This a hotly debated issue in the IT community with convincing arguments on either side.
On one hand, dedicated servers allow you and your team to have a high level of control over every aspect of data management.
On the other hand, cloud-based servers are much more flexible and less expensive.
The argument really comes down to a discussion about cost vs. computing power.
With various blurry lines on either side of the argument – dedicated server technology is becoming less expensive and cloud server platforms are coming with higher levels of computing power – it can be hard to come to a decision.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of each server environment, and then you can decide where you land on the dedicated vs. cloud server issue.
Dedicated Server Benefits
Reliability/Response Times
One of the main arguments for dedicated server platforms is that they are simply faster and more reliable.
While the response time differences between the two server environments can literally be broken down to milliseconds in time differences, the performance of a dedicated server has proven to be significantly fast.
Fully Customizable Configurations
For enterprise-class companies, customizing the infrastructural computing environment may prove to be a top reason for using a dedicated server.
You can purchase a one-box solution and set up a scalable server in less time than it would take to put together a physical machine, further reducing the benefits offered by the cloud.
This is one particular weakness with cloud or shared hosting services.
In many cases, you must submit a formal support request every time you want to make major changes to the server configuration.
More Control Over Apps
Again, apps used in an enterprise environment require a high level of customization.
In most shared server environments, what you’re essentially getting are apps in a can that already have preset parameters.
With a dedicated server, you can fully customize business-essential solutions like e-mail and/or server management applications.
Cloud Server Benefits
High Level Scalability
Second to simply being cheaper than dedicated servers, this is probably the most compelling argument for adopting a cloud server environment.
Cloud servers are highly flexible and scalable, and many hosted servers allow you to scale up, down and out on the fly.
This is especially helpful for small businesses and startup who don’t need dedicated super servers right out of the gate.
Easy to Use
Most small businesses and startups are not in the position to hire expensive consultants and server architecture specialists to get things up and running.
Cloud-based servers require minimal training and can be up and running in a matter of a few hours.
Cost Effective
Cloud servers are usually offered as a subscription service.
This means you don’t have to purchase massive amounts of servers, or rack space in an expensive data center.…
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.
When tending to your company’s critical data, knowing the difference between data backup and disaster recovery is vital.
It is, of course, important that you always have quick and easy access to that data, no matter what the circumstance.
In an instant, something can happen to data in your system that may compromise its simple availability to you and your staff so it is important to make sure that your company’s data is secure through data back up and disaster recovery.
Definition: Data Backup
Data backup is, most simply put, when you ensure that your work has been saved in a safe location.
Copying your files and data to a disk, flash drive, external hard drive or a cloud server network are a few ways that you can back up your company’s important daily data.
Data backup is especially important in your company’s human resources — or HR — department where you and your HR staff maintain important company documents such as resumes and applications.
Such documents need to be backed up so that you can easily access them at any time.
Definition: Disaster Recovery
Disaster recovery goes hand in hand with data backup, and is similar to it, only on a larger scale, since it’s a way to mine your system to find data that has become lost in the fray of a natural disaster, a large human error or an infiltration by an unwelcome third party.
Disaster recovery will give you the ability to plumb the depths of your company’s computer system.
This type of plan will be most helpful when you do all that you can in the preventative stages by backing up and protecting your data adequately and effectively.
It will be far simpler for your internal information technology — or IT — department or your off-site cloud computing service provider to locate your company’s most important data if you have a data backup plan firmly set in place.
Plan of Action for a Disaster
Data, or disaster recovery, processes are based on making mirror images of your company’s data such as résumés, personnel records and payroll data to ensure that there is a constant tracking of your business’s most vital records; some of which are those of your company’s staff.
Most often, in the event of a data-compromising event such as a company-wide hard disk failure or some type of natural disaster, your IT department will be charged with accessing the replication of your company’s data through the disaster recovery plan that has been previously set in place.
Your IT department can move the files from the damaged section or partition over to another healthy disk where it will once again be available to you and your staff’s needs.
Build and Enforce Awareness
Making sure that you and your IT staff are aware of possible system compromises and how they make affect your company’s operations are important facets.
These are your attendants of your crucial and confidential information such as that of your staff’s social security numbers, birth dates, and more.
…
Abi writes for a number of businesses including DLPROG, a Leadership Development Program based in Australia.
Click Here to learn more about their Human Agency work.
You can reach Abi via email, social media or by leaving a comment below...
Ademola Abimbola founded and is the CEO of Mauco, a Nigerian business specializing in building customized Internet Business Solutions.
Ademola helps businesses generate more revenue and increase their online profitability by using the blog of Mauco to keep his clients and customers updated and educated..
You can reach Ademola via email, the social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Alexandra Johnson previously worked as a legal secretary and now works as a HR Manager.
She also contributes to Law on The Web, a legal advice sitein the U.K.
You can always reach Alexandra via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Alfred Smith has made notable contributions through the various articles written on different subjects related to latest gadgets, and Internet marketing.
He is a content writer and is associated with various
technology, education, finance related sites and forums.
You can reach Alfred via email...
Amy is an enthusiast of the newest devices released by the biggest companies today - she is constantly looking into the newest phone releases of Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft.
Her skills include website developer and designer and she loves to share her expertise with tips and tricks on how to create a good and lucrative website with her readers.
In her spare time, she helps in the administration works and blogging activities a company offering deck roof and metal roof materials and installation ( samedaysteeldeck [dot] com [/] bdeck ).
You can always reach Amy via email or by leaving a comment below...
Angela Prickette is a recent college graduate, freelance writer, and photographer.
Her hobbies include skiing, rock climbing, and hiking.
You can reach Angela via, email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Though she specializes in online education, she can provide content on any topic with substance and precision.
You can contact Angelita by leaving a comment below or reaching out to her via email...
Annabelle Smyth is a loving and caring mother of 2 children who lives near Milwaukee, WI USA
She loves writing, is a blog enthusiast, and you will always find her cheering for the Badgers and Packers.
Anabelle currently writes for O.C Tanner, who develops employee recognition and rewards programs that help companies appreciate people who do great work.
You can always contact Annabelle via email or by leaving a comment below...
Annette Hazard is a freelance writer who chooses to focus on business related issues.
In her free time, you will find her training for marathons.
You can always reach Annette via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Ben Jones is a tech writer, particularly interested in how technology can help businesses large and small.
He has been assisting businesses in setting up cloud based IT services to a number of businesses around the south of England.
You can always reach Ben via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Bob Pritchard likes freelance writing, focusing on technology topics.
You can always reach Bob via email or by leaving a comment below...
Cara Aley is a freelance writer who writes typically on matters of entrepreneurship and on the subject of online reputation management for
Reputation.com.
She is the former President and COO of an apparel manufacturing company, and is currently VP of Operations for
Two Degrees, a one-for-one food bar company.
Cara also spent the better part of a decade in digital project management on both the agency side and on the client side.
You can reach Cara via email, through the social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Chris was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower who can be reached by email by clicking here.
Chris Martin is a freelance writer about topics ranging from information technology to consumer finance to home improvement.
You can always reach Chris by leaving a comment below or via email...
Carolyn Sokol is the founder of
www.PEOcompare.com, which helps match small businesses with the right PEO company for their unique business needs.
Her background is in
HR Outsourcing, marketing and communications, employee education and training, development of policies and procedures, and the ongoing delivery of outstanding customer service.
She is also the Business Development Manager for
CompareHRIS.com -- both sites offer free, unbiased comparison tools and ranking capability to determine which PEO company or HRIS system matches your business's own specific requirements.
Married, Carolyn has 3 children and enjoys reading in her spare time.
You can contact Carolyn by leaving a comment in her article, via eMail, or use the Social Media...
Damian Wolf is part time blogger since 2009.
He mostly writes for technology and life blogs as well as contributes to a mining job agency website, one of the best Australian online destinations for job seekers.
When he is not in blogosphere, SEO is his passion.
You can always reach Damian by leaving a comment beliow, via e-mail or through the social media...
Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World, be sure to see her other articles listed just below.
Dawn lives & works in the midwest and loves following the business tech world.
After furthering her education, she now spends her time researching her interests and blogging her discoveries quite often.
You can reach Dawn via email, social media or by leaving a comment below...
Debbie Allen was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower, who can be reached via email by clicking here.
Debbie Allen is an online marketer, professional writer, and is the founder of
TheThingsWomenWant.com an online magazine that covers topics that women care about, both personally and professionally.
Debbie’s background as an Organizational Development Practitioner provided her with opportunities to learn about Six Sigma and other strategies and tools for process improvements. Having extensive experience in several aspects of operating and owning a business, she remains faithful to her belief that all departments of an organization have to function together in a seamless fashion, including a
security system. She refers to this as a holistic approach to business management.
As a small business owner and independent contractor, she maintains a focus on making customers/clients happy.
Debbie can be reached via email, through the social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Diksha Singh is a Social Media Specialist and part time blogger.
She loves to researching and write on higher education in India and abroad, high paying jobs, and careers in different fields.
Currently she is working with StudyNation - a leading educational portal for helping the students.
You can always reach Diksha via the social media, email, or by leaving a comment below...
Biljana Dimovska is a tech writer, researching and publishing useful info about the usage of virtual machine and cloud hosting solutions for your business.
You can always reach Biljana by leaving a comment below, via email or through the social media...
Eliza Morgan is a full time freelance writer and blogger.
For the entrepreneur, those getting started, or planning to get started, Eliza
maintains a blog specifically focused on managing financial needs.
You can reach Eliza by leaving a comment below or via email...
Erin was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower, who you can reach via email.
Erin Steiner is a full time-freelance writer for six years now and has applied her own experiences as well as copious amounts of research to her extensive portfolio of articles about small business, personal finance,
online reputation management strategies, and internet related topics.
After going to school for Theater and English, Erin spent time working in retail and communications before making the leap to freelance writing.
You can reach Erin through her personal blog, vlog, social media, (twitter is where she is the most prolific), or by leaving a comment below...
With 20+ years in roles as a client executive sponsor, project management, as well as functional / technical lead, Garrett is sought for his expertise in the USA, Europe, and Brazil.
He has an extensive background in implementing multi-product, multi-line HRIS environments that provides a smoother transition from legacy to new systems.
Garrett's previous clients include ADP, Case New Holland, Cushman & Wakefield, Honeywell International, Lubrizol, MAHLE, Sodexho USA, and many others ranging from SMB's to the Fortune 50.
Currently, Garrett works from his home office near São Paulo, Brazil as the publisher and editor for The HRIS World publications. Also, he contributes articles for their various blogs as well as provides guest posts to several IT, Cloud, and HRIS blogs.
Garrett’s current roles involve…
• Publisher, writer, and owner of 4 leading HRIS system and career blogs which are read in 50+ countries
• HR.com Advisory Board for the ERP/HRIS Community
• CEO for CGServices USA -- focusing on multi-provider, multi-line system for HRIS systems
• Registered partner with Microsoft, providing the latest developments on the newest technologies from Microsoft
• Council and Education Member of Gerson Lehrman Group Council, which helps institutions of the world leaders meet, engage and manage experts across a wide range of sectors and disciplines.
In the news...
HR and the Cloud
Isabella Chan of HR Matters talks to Garrett O’Brien about the growth of cloud computing and building a technology strategy around HR.
Your Invite to Guest Post
If you'd like to guest post for The HRIS World, you can use
our contact page or reach us through our social media for details...
Greg Moran is the CEO of Chequed, a company that specializes in a Predictive Talent Selection platform.
You can always reach Greg via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Gerri Elder is a web content producer, syndication consultant, editor... and most importantly, a mom.
You can contact Gerri by leaving a comment below, via email, or through the social media...
Grace Becket is an expert associated with i3Group, a leading payroll service provider.
i3Group's customized corporate payroll solutions have helped many blue-chip brands across various fields manage payroll obligations efficiently.
You can reach Grace via email or by leaving a comment below...
Lee Grant is the Vice President, International for Raet and Youforce and is responsible for the entry of Youforce in International markets.
Lee studied Accounting and Finance at University South West, before going on to undertake accountancy qualifications.
Having worked at Dell from 1994 to 2001 he continued his experience helping build IT companies all over the world, working with all types of companies from Blue Chips to start-ups.
Lee brings a keen understanding of client needs and how to apply technology solutions to enable them to reach their objectives.
Formerly a director at Alexander Mann Solutions, specializing in Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Lee has previously held senior management positions at Symantec, MessageLabs and C&W.
You can always reach Lee by leaving a comment below...
Contributors from Our Audience are professionals in the area of expertise.
The author's post(s) are entirely his or her own and may not always reflect the views of The HRIS World publications.
You can always reach any of our authors by leaving a comment or using anyone one of the social links provided in their bio - feel free to contact them, they love the feedback and recognition!
If you'd like to contribute an article for The HRIS World, contact us through our social media or
our contact page for details about how you can share your tips with our audience...
The knowledge hub for HR practitioners
James is a UK blogger writing on behalf of Project Minder, a major producer of project management software.
He has more than 6 years’ experience in creating content for the web and specialises in business and technology topics.
You can reach James via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
James Scholten is a student pursuing a post graduate course in human resource management in the UK and likes to keep himself updated with everything related to human resources.
In his spare time, you will either find him reading or writing articles about various aspects of HR that inspire him.
You can reach James via email or by leaving a comment below...
Jane is a freelance writer and blogger.
You can reach Jane by leaving a comment below or via email...
Jason Roiz is a web editor cum developer for a leading web development company and provides concrete information about all open source CMS's.
Joomla developers are available from Ossmedia for advanced Joomla development
You can reach Jason via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Jennifer Lewis writes for Scholarships for Women, a site that helps female students find information on education grants for females, including grants for women in graduate school.
She believes it is particularly important for college students and the younger generation to develop their interpersonal communication skills and less reliant on Facebook for interacting with others.
You can always reach via email or by leaving a comment below...
Jennifer was brought to our attention by Beth Corneglio of Rackspace Hosting and by clicking here you can reach Beth by email.
Jennifer Marsh is a software developer, programmer, technology writer, and blogger.
You can reach Jennifer by contacting Beth via email or by leaving a comment below...
Jon is an EMEA e-Marketing Specialist for Insight UK (the provider of smartCLOUD), a Global provider of information technology (IT) hardware, software. and service solutions for the business and public sector organizations.
You can always reach Jon by leaving a comment here or on the following Social Media channels...
Joy Maiywa is a professional freelance writer and blogger.
You can reach her by leaving a comment below or via email...
Katheryn Rivas is a freelance writer and resident blogger at
Online Universities, a site dedicated to distance higher education.
You can always contact Katheryn by leaving a comment below or via email...
Katrina is a provider of regular contributors to The HRIS World.
Katrina loves assisting others in getting their writings published through her work as a Freelance Writer and Editor for Media Shower
You can always reach Katrina via e-mail or by leaving a comment below...
Kyle Lagunas is a HR Analyst at Software Advice, an online resource for softare selection.
Kyle blogs about trends and best practices in humna resources technology, and drives conversations around important topics in talent management and recruiting.
He’s an avid tech enthusiast and GenY advocate and his work has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, Information Weekly, The Huffington Post, and many other sources.
You can reach Kyle via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Kim was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower and by clicking here you can reach Katrina by email.
Kim Wade is a freelance writer with a MFA in Writing from Savannah College of Art and Design.
Her background includes public relations and writing for social media and new media.
You can reach Kim by leaving a comment below, via email or through the social media...
Laura was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower. You can reach Katrina via email by clicking here as well...
Laura Burkey is a freelance writer with nearly 10 years of journalistic experience, writing on various topics to include online identity, entrepreneurship and vehicle analysis.
You can always reach Laura by leaving a comment below, via email or through the social media...
Lauren Bailey is a freelance blogger who loves writing about education, new technology, lifestyle and health.
As an education writer, she works to research and provide sound online education advice (see bestcollegesonline [dot] com).
You can reach Lauren by leaving a comment below or via email...
Lewis Humphries is a writer, researcher, and business consultant based in the UK.
He currently works on behalf of Chillisauce, which remains one of the UK’s most innovative team building and event planning companies.
You can always reach Lewis via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Liam Tarry is a writer for Future and provides this interview to focus on the benefits of 360 degree feedback and employee surveys.
You can reach Liam by leaving a comment below, via email, or through the social media...
Marcela De Vivo is a search marketing consultant from Los Angeles, contributes articles about technology and social media, and works with process sensors.
You can reach Marcela by leaving a comment here, via email or through the social media...
Mary was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower who can be reached by email by clicking here.
Mary Ylisela is an entrepreneur and small-business coach who writes about all things business, including business management and the work environment.
You can always reach Mary via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Melissa Beal was brought to our attention by Jennifer Fang, who can be reached via email.
Melissa Beal enjoys educating readers about online information resources such as Usenet. Learn more about the service Melissa recommends on facebook.
You can reach Melissa via email or by leaving a comment below...
Michael Deaven is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging who currently works for a restaurant online ordering service.
When he is not working, he enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and blogging on everything from technology, to business, to marketing, and beyond.
You can always reach Michael by leaving a comment below, via email, or through the social media...
Michael Palmer is a freelance writer from the United Kingdom.
You can contact him via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Mimi's level of engagement in emerging online business ecosystems leaves her intimately familiar with the trends and issues facing today'
![]()
s C-level executives.
She is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences and is an author on topics such as the design and implementation of enterprise portals, creating an effective e-business model, and the importance of usability in interface design.
You can always reach Mimi by leaving a comment below, via email, or throgh the social media...
Muhammad is an avid blogger with experience in recruitment as well as being a writer for articles in PR media, HR, and reviews on recruitment software for
RecruitID.
Feel free to reach Muhammad by leaving a comment below, via email, or social media...
Nadia blogs at
Online College about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics
You can reach Nadia by leaving a comment below or via email...
Press Releases are broadcasted by The HRIS World from various resources as well as individual requests.
We will feature press releases that have a high relevancy and importance to our audience.
Our audience are professionals in Cloud, ERP, HRIS, HR Tech, Project Management, Recruiting, HR, and C-level Executives who live and work in 75+ countries.
We can provide your press release to our focused audience of 10,000+ for a flat fee of $45.
As we are not a primary Press Release agency, we can afford to offer this low price to bring your press release to a focused group.
For further information, contact us at by social media or via email.
Beth is a content curator at Rackspace. She works to spread news and educate about cloud computing around the internet. She enjoys movies, good food and reading.
Rashed has an MSc in Software Engineering and has enjoys guest posting.
He is currently guest posting on behalf of Epicor who, amongst other things, offer an SaaS based ERP solution.
You can always reach Rashed via social media, email, or by leaving a comment below...
Sarah is a highly regarded contributor to the blogging community.
You can reach Sarah via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Sarah was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower who can be reached by email by clicking here.
Sarah Brooks is a freelance writing covering a wide variety of topics from careers and personal finance to food and nutrition.
You can always reach Sarah by leaving a comment below, via email or through the social media...
Simon Phillips owns Touch Logic, a company that creates mobile ready website designs and helps business owners to convert their existing website to one that’s accessible from mobile devices.
You can reach Simon via email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Stephen was brought to our attention by Katrina Robinson of Media Shower and by clicking here you can reach her by email.
Stephen Jeske is an avid outdoor enthusiast with a passion for coffee.
A former partner in a 49-year-old family business, he learned about payroll at a very early age, collecting time cards in the back of his father's factory.
You will now find Stephen frequently writing about personal branding and small business for websites such as
Reputation.com.
You can contact Stephen by leaving a comment below, sending him an email, or reaching out to him on social media...
Steward Copper operates a software development project management company.
As a project coordinator and BA, Stewart has worked with many PM tools, BA instruments, and collaboration programs -- including tracker and task management software solutions.
You can reach Steward by email, social media, or by leaving a comment below...
Teri Lindeberg, President & CEO, Staffwell Russia, founded Staffwell in 2000.
Today, as company President & CEO she manages a staff of 60, drawing on her previous 15 years of experience as an international executive to run one of Russia’s most successful recruitment companies.
Recently Teri published her first book, Making Perfect, a guide to what employees want from their employers.
You can reach Teri by leaving a comment below, via email, or through the social media...
Thomas Jones is a business consultant that has a particular interest in specialised corporate business practices and how you work and develop over time.
He also write business guides and article at BestPracticeHub.com
You can reach Thomas via email, through the social meida, or by leaving a comment below...
Thomas "TJ" Jones is a writer and digital marketer who aims to operate his own business.
You can reach TJ via email, social media, or by leaving a comment here...
Our webmaster handles all new postings from the general public. as well as builds and maintains the technical aspects of this blog.
Without his efforts, none of us would be here! :-)
If you'd like to guest post for The HRIS World,
contact us for details about how you can share your tips with our audience.
Shi Chen is currently a graduate student at the Singapore Human Resource Institute.
He hopes to widen his HR horizons through meaningful engagements with seasoned practitioners and thought leaders.
Do feel free to drop him a note as well as add him on LinkedIn -- stay in touch!
You can reach Shi by leaving a comment here or through the social media...
Yasir Iqbal is an HR enthusiast and likes helping start-ups find the right HR related technology for talent and performance management with workforcegrowth.com.
You can reach him by leaving a comment below, via email or through the social media...
Send to Kindle
