Perceived Effectiveness of Human Resource Information System at Kenya Breweries Limited

Abstract

The introduction of technology has been seen to increase organizational efficiency and effectiveness resulting in better organizational performance. Due to the fact that proper management of human resources has a positive impact on an organization’s bottom line it is important that steps are taken to make the HR function more effective. One way of doing this is through the introduction of a human resource information system. It is also important for organizations to assess the effectiveness of these systems to justify the cost and time involved in their introduction. Kenya Breweries Ltd (KBL) introduced a new human resource information system in their operations however its effectiveness has not yet been assessed. The use of HRIS is becoming popular among organizations however limited studies have been conducted to assess their effectiveness. Further studies need to be conducted in this field. The study was aimed at assessing the perceived effectiveness of HRIS at Kenya Breweries Ltd. It has been conducted in response to the lack of research on HRIS effectiveness in Africa. The study focuses on two theories the Technology Acceptance Theory and the Delone & McLean IS Model. Based on the two theories the study will cover information quality, service quality, ease of use and usefulness. The researcher adopted a descriptive research design with the population consisting of the KBL employees based at the Ruaraka office in Nairobi. Stratified random sampling was used and primary data was collected using questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and was displayed using tables, charts and graphs. The study found out that according to the respondents the HRIS generated quality information. On the other hand the service quality required improvement especially regarding employee training. The study also found out that although the system displayed useful messages it was not perceived as easy to use. In addition it found out that the HRIS allowed employees to effectively update personal information and time- off. The study recommends HRIS training for both new and existing employees, improving HRIS support and liaising with the vendor for overall HRIS improvement. The researcher recommends that similar studies be conducted in other organizations especially those based in Africa operating in the manufacturing industry. Studies should also be conducted on the factors to consider when selecting a HRIS vendor.