Human Resources Information Systems: A Guide for Public Administrators

This volume provides an introduction to Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) for those in the public administration field. At the intersection between human resource management and information technology, HRIS is often the key to having and maintaining the personnel data that is essential for hiring and recruitment, strategic planning and analysis, and legal requirements in most public organizations. Revised and updated for the second edition, this book describes what an HRIS system is, what the functionality of such a system should be, and outlines the practical aspects of an HRIS. It also compares the different aspects of human resources in public organizations, non-profit organizations, and private corporations, and how differences across organizations may influence the functionality requirements of the HRIS. Finally, the volume contains both an organizational theory component, which frames how an HRIS interacts with an organization both from a functional standpoint and a reporting standpoint. The book includes a practical component, which includes real-world case studies that illustrate the advantages and pitfalls to implementing an HRIS enterprise system. Providing a thorough introduction to HRIS for both academics and practitioners, this volume is appropriate for researchers, graduate students, and practitioners in the fields of public administration, higher education administration, information systems, computer science, and human resources.

Nicolas A. Valcik currently works as the Director of Effectiveness Analytics at Collin College. Previously Nicolas was the Managing Director for Institutional Research for Texas Tech University, Director for Institutional Research and Business Intelligence at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness at Central Washington University, Director for Institutional Research for West Virginia University and as Associate Director of Strategic Planning and Analysis for the University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to 1997, Nicolas worked for a number of municipalities, across different of departments, as well as for Nortel. Nicolas received a doctorate degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2005, a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1996, a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1994, and an associate’s degree in political science from Collin County Community College in 1994. 

 Meghna Sabharwal is a professor in the public and nonprofit management program at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research is focused on public human resources management, specifically workforce diversity, equity and inclusion, comparative HR, and high skilled immigration. She has published three books and 60 peer reviewed journal articles and is the winner of four best paper awards. She has presented in over 200 national/international conferences and invited talks. She is the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Public HR scholar award by The Section on Personnel Administration and Labor Relations (SPALR), American Society of Public Administration. She is the recipient of two National Science Foundation grants to study reverse brain drain among Asian Indian STEM immigrants in academia and the industry. She is the Associate Editor for the Review of Public Personnel Administration and Public Integrity and serves as an editorial board member on several leading public administration journals, including Public Administration Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, and Public Personnel Management.

 Teodoro (Ted) J. Benavides currently serves as a faculty member, Associate Professor of

Practice, for the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences’ Public and Nonprofit Management Program. Teodoro J. Benavides has co-authored a textbook on human resources titled, Practical Human Resources for Public Managers, with Dr. Nick Valcik, has co-authored a textbook on nonprofits titled, Non-Profit Organizations: Real Issues for Public Administrators, with Dr. Nick Valcik and Dr. Kimberly Scruton and has co-authored a textbook on urban planning titled, City Planning for the Public Manager, with Dr. Nick Valcik, Dr. Todd Jordan, and Andrea Stigdon and a book on Human Resource Information Systems with Dr. Nick Valcik and Dr. Meghna Sabharwal. Teodoro J. Benavides served from 1998 to 2004 as city of manager of Dallas, Texas. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Benavides was city manager of the City of Denton, Texas.