E/B/109. Investigation into the Future Role of Information Systems that support Human Resource Management

Information systems and IT technologies advances have transformed the business world in the last two decades. Today, there are fewer and fewer organisations that do not posses or have adopted an automated system Regardless of their size, scope or motive of operation, companies around the world have found, sometimes in a very hard way, that the necessity of an intranet system, automated operational software or and web page are crucial for their success or even survival. However, even though the importance of IS have been certainly realised, organisation still have to face with management rejection and uncertainty on whether to buy them or customise them. In addition to this, the role that Human Capital Resources play on the adoption of this kind of technology is still not widely accepted and HR specialists have seen themselves in the middles of organisations value chain trying to change their old stereotype image to a more technological, active and contributing one. This report analyses the internal and external environment of Ryanair Airways, and Irish based company, in order to reach a feasible proposal to adjust the company HR management approach by adopting an Information System software or package that will give the company a new business direction. The report goes through the analysis by using some strategy tool such as Michael porter’s five forces analysis and the Marchand and Davenport matrix for creating value within companies. As a result of the company analysis, this assignment has found that an internal structure change is need in order to finally adopt a IS that will envoy an acceptable HRM approach. In this report, organisation culture inside the airline has been identified as one of the most restrictive forces towards a change and it is recommended a culture change in order to proceed to further steps. The report suggests that once the management is committed towards a culture change, an open source software would be the most feasible option for the company. Ryanair sense of cost control and reduction has made the proposal to consider a low budget solution. Therefore, the reason for adopting of an open source makes perfectly sense and goes along the cost approach of the company.