Glossary

Often refers to the analysis undertaken by management of the cost and contribution made by employees involved at each stage in the process of producing a product or providing a service.

Internal organizational functions usually focusing on administrative tasks that normally do not interact with outside entities. Some back office function include personnel administration, payroll, benefits management, data management, reporting, etc...

Method for measuring whether the activities of a company are meeting its objectives in terms of vision and strategy. Balanced scorcard includes both quantitative (i.e. financials) and qualitative outcomes (i.e.human issues) which helps to provide a more comprehensive view of a business and where to act in order to improve it.

measures standards of performance against others who are doing similar work

The transmission of internal business processes along with the associated operational activities and responsibilities to a third party with at least a guaranteed equal service level. See also Business Process Outsourcing.

Business Process Re-engineering refers to the methods by which a company or service undertakes a thorough review of all its operations

These are activities designed to produce a specific output for an internal/external customer or a particular group or organisation. These activities may or may not involve HR/IT/IS systems.

Here you investigate and document/map/model how a company conducts it's business.

Here you investigate and document/map/model how a company conducts it's business.

The transmission of internal business processes along with the associated operational activities and responsibilities to a third party with at least a guaranteed equal service level

refers to the methods by which a company or service undertakes a thorough review of all its operations

is a centralised office used for the purpose of receiving and transmitting a large volume of requests by telephone

As in Change Management, is defined as a systematic approach in order to deal with individual, team and organizational changes or the leadership and direction of the process of organizational transformation especially with regard to human aspects and overcoming resistance to change.

The leadership and direction of the process of organisational transformation especially with regard to human aspects and overcoming resistance to change. Defined as a systematic approach in order to deal with individual, team and organisational changes

Cloud computing is a paradigm of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet (Wikipedia).
It is a radical alternative to traditional IT provision in that services are delivered not through an architecture hosted and managed by the user-organization, but via the internet - the “cloud”, apparently so named because of the use of a cloud-shape to represent the internet on PowerPoint presentations - and through software and to a certain extent hardware provided by an external party (SSON).
It “allows people to share resources to solve new problems,” says IBM’s Jamshid Vayghan. Software as a service (SaaS) is an example of cloud computing.

In general, compliance means conforming to a specification, standard or law that has been clearly defined. A famous regulation today in the US is the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in response to Enron and WorldCom scandal

requires employees to constantly seek ways of improving the quality of the product or service

A core competency is "an area of specialized expertise" where a company focus on in order to generate revenue. Outsourcing mainly refers to activities that are not part of the core competencies and so not impacting the business priorities

where a Balanced Scorecard is inherently tied to the organization’s critical strategic needs, Dashboards visual indicators (graphs, charts, etc…) that a user has chosen to monitor, some of which may be strategically important, but others of which may not

Data privacy is the relationship between collection and dissemination of data, technology, the public expectation of privacy, and the legal issues surrounding them. Privacy concerns exist wherever personally identifiable information is collected and stored - in digital form or otherwise. Improper or non-existent disclosure control can be the root cause for privacy issues.

DiscussHR is a free, independent, HR community where you can:
- Join other Human Resources Practitioners who are focused on Transformation of People & HR Processes...
- Share Issues, Trends and Knowledge of HR Outsourcing, Shared Services, Technology, Change and Project Management...
- Learn from other HR Professionals, Service Providers, Scholars, Advisors...

is a free, independent, HR community where you can:
- Join other Human Resources Practitioners who are focused on Transformation of People & HR Processes...
- Share Issues, Trends and Knowledge of HR Outsourcing, Shared Services, Technology, Change and Project Management...
- Learn from other HR Professionals, Service Providers, Scholars, Advisors...

is a free, independent, HR community where you can:
- Join other Human Resources Practitioners who are focused on Transformation of People & HR Processes...
- Share Issues, Trends and Knowledge of HR Outsourcing, Shared Services, Technology, Change and Project Management...
- Learn from other HR Professionals, Service Providers, Scholars, Advisors...

An employee kiosk is a physical location of a computer terminal that gives employees access to their company’s computer network (intranet) for the purpose of gaining information, using the network, or accessing data. Employee kiosks tend to be located in frequently-trafficked areas such as employee cafeterias, hallways, or lobbies. Kiosk software and kiosk manufacturers exist and they provide access to these services and to ESS and links to ERPs

Is an increasingly prevalent trend in human resources management that allows an employee to handle many job-related tasks (such as updates to personal information, and access to company information) that otherwise would have fallen to management or administrative staff. An ESS application may be made available over the company's intranet or portal, or through specialized kiosks, and may be confined to a company's private network or may be part of a Web self-service solution for customers, employees and managers. ESS software is available as a stand-alone product or as a component of some larger application, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) product.

Enterprise social software (also known as or regarded as a major component of Enterprise 2.0), comprises social software as used in "enterprise" (business/commercial) contexts. It includes social and networked modifications to corporate intranets and other classic software platforms used by large companies to organize their communication. In contrast to traditional enterprise software, which imposes structure prior to use, enterprise social software tends to encourage use prior to providing structure.

These are large, company-wide systems that organisations utilise to integrate information across various functions, such as human resources, manufacturing, procurement, distribution, sales and accounting. ERP is a precise approach to running a business at peak efficiency so that there is minimal overlap between functions, while also strengthening the ability of the organization to forecast future performance. Enterprise resource planning systems gives management the tools to make effective decisions impacting everything from the supply chain to customer relationship management.

Enterprise Resource Planning systems are large, company-wide systems that organisations utilise to integrate information across various functions, such as human resources, manufacturing, procurement, distribution, sales and accounting. ERP is a precise approach to running a business at peak efficiency so that there is minimal overlap between functions, while also strengthening the ability of the organization to forecast future performance. Enterprise resource planning systems gives management the tools to make effective decisions impacting everything from the supply chain to customer relationship management.

Enterprise Resource Planning/Management is the integration of Enterprise Resource Management, Supply Chain Management and Customer Relationship Management.

Employee Self Service is an increasingly prevalent trend in human resources management that allows an employee to handle many job-related tasks (such as updates to personal information, and access to company information) that otherwise would have fallen to management or administrative staff. An ESS application may be made available over the company's intranet or portal, or through specialized kiosks, and may be confined to a company's private network or may be part of a Web self-service solution for customers, employees and managers. ESS software is available as a stand-alone product or as a component of some larger application, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) product.

Analysis is an important component in the Project life cycle. A study is undertaken to identify whether a system fits with business requirements. The analysis compares business processes against system functionality, and if any gaps are identified, they are recorded in a prescribed format. This information is then used to see where either processes or software needs to change (i.e. be customised)

is an important component in the Project life cycle. A study is undertaken to identify whether a system fits with business requirements. The analysis compares business processes against system functionality, and if any gaps are identified, they are recorded in a prescribed format. This information is then used to see where either processes or software needs to change (i.e. be customised)

Fit/Gap Analysis is an important component in the Project life cycle. A study is undertaken to identify whether a system fits with business requirements. The analysis compares business processes against system functionality, and if any gaps are identified, they are recorded in a prescribed format. This information is then used to see where either processes or software needs to change (i.e. be customised)

Generation X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is a term used to refer to the generation born after the baby boom ended, extending from the early-to-mid 1960s to late 1970s. The term Generation X has been used in demography, the social sciences, and marketing, though it is most often used in popular culture.

The Millennial Generation, also known as Generation Y or as Generation Next, is a term used to describe the demographic cohort following Generation X. Its members are often referred to as "Millennials" or "Echo Boomers". As there are no precise dates for when it starts and ends, most commentators use birth dates ranging somewhere from the mid 1970s to early 1980s Members of Generation Y are primarily the offspring of the Baby Boomers. This generation generally represents an increase in births from the 1960s and 70s, not because of a significant increase in birthrates, but because the large cohort of baby boomers began to have children. Characteristics of the generation vary by region, depending on social and economic conditions. However, it is generally marked by an increased use and familiarity with communications, media, and digital technologies. In most parts of the world its upbringing was marked by an increasingly neo-liberal or market oriented approach to the politics and economics. The effects of this environment are disputed. (definition from wikipedia)

includes the relationships among stakeholders, the systems and the processes ensuring the overall direction, effectiveness, supervision and accountability of an organisation

Human Resources

Is the convergence and streamlining of an organisation’s HR functions to ensure that it delivers the services required of them as effectively and efficiently as possible. This often involves the centralising of HR's back office. A key advantage of this is that it enables the appreciation of economies of scale within HR and can enable multi-function working (e.g. linking HR & Finance together), where there is the potential to create synergies.

Relates to any technical, computer, or information/data software that is used to track a company’s human resources. HR management tools address the key areas of managing a workforce in a manner that streamlines the process of collecting information, making decisions, evaluating the organization, with the use of technology, speeding up tasks and enabling the enterprise to discover new efficiencies. Also known as ERP or HRIS

Involves the use of specific HR Systems or large, company-wide systems such as ERPs (that organisations use to integrate information across various functions) to give employees the ability to manage their own data and give managers the management the tools to make effective HR related decisions

Is the process by which organisations examine the HR strategy and how HR supports the business strategy, and then changes the HR operating model to achieve optimum delivery of cost-heavy administration, this could include the introduction of Shared Services or Outsourcing.

A Human Resource Information System is any technical, computer, or information/data software that is used to track a company’s human resources. HR management tools address the key areas of managing a workforce in a manner that streamlines the process of collecting information, making decisions, evaluating the organization, with the use of technology, speeding up tasks and enabling the enterprise to discover new efficiencies. Also known as ERP

Human Resource Outsourcing - the practice of having HR services provided by a person or persons outside the business or organisation.

HR Outsourcing Association

Relates to any technical, computer, or information/data software that is used to track a company’s human resources. HR management tools address the key areas of managing a workforce in a manner that streamlines the process of collecting information, making decisions, evaluating the organization, with the use of technology, speeding up tasks and enabling the enterprise to discover new efficiencies. Also known as ERP

Human Resources is a term with which many organizations describe the combination of traditionally administrative personnel functions with performance, Employee Relations and resource planning. The field draws upon concepts developed in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Instructor Led Training

Insourcing is the opposite of outsourcing; that is insourcing (or contracting in) is often defined as the delegation of operations or jobs from production within a business to an internal (but 'stand-alone') entity that specializes in that operation. Insourcing is a business decision that is often made to maintain control of critical production or competencies

or Process Improvement;is where action is taken to identify, analyse and improve existing processes within an organisation or business unit in order to meet changing goals or objectives. These actions often use a specific methodology or strategy to deliver results.

A short list of metrics that a company's managers have identified as the most important variables reflecting mission success or organizational performance.

A short list of metrics that a company's managers have identified as the most important variables reflecting mission success or organizational performance.

Learning Content Management System

Focuses on eliminating non-value added steps and activities in a process. It is a way of identifying ‘waste’ from the customer perspective and then determining how to eliminate it the ‘right’ way. Lean and ">Six Sigma are complementary in nature and, if performed properly, represent a long-term business initiative.

Learning Management System

Allows a Manager to perform budget, staffing and other job-related management tasks quickly and efficiently, it can also provide managers with information and applications they need to support decisions that align with business goals. As with ESS, MSS software is available as a stand-alone product or as a component of some larger application, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) product.

Manager Self-Service - Allows a Manager to perform budget, staffing and other job-related management tasks quickly and efficiently, it can also provide managers with information and applications they need to support decisions that align with business goals. As with ESS, MSS software is available as a stand-alone product or as a component of some larger application, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) product.

describes the relocation of business processes from one country to another

describes the relocation of business processes from one country to another

describes the relocation of business processes from one country to another

we refer to ">onshore outsourcing when seeking for services outside a company but within the same country. It is also known as "Domestic Outsourcing"

The practice of having goods or services provided by a person or persons outside the business or organisation.

is where action is taken to identify, analyse and improve existing processes within an organisation or business unit in order to meet changing goals or objectives. These actions often use a specific methodology or strategy to deliver results.

Management of Projects is about planning, organising and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of project milestones and objectives

is about planning, organising and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of project milestones and objectives

is an abbreviation for ReTweet, which is like Repeat. It’s like forwarding, but for Twitters instead of emails. If you see something really cool from one of the people you follow, you may want to ReTweet it so that the people following YOU (and not the original person) can see it

is a model of software deployment whereby a provider licenses an application to customers for use as a service on demand. SaaS software vendors may host the application on their own web servers or download the application to the consumer device, disabling it after use or after the on-demand contract expires. The on-demand function may be handled internally to share licenses within a firm or by a third-party application service provider (ASP) sharing licenses between firms. (definition from wikipedia)

see ESS, Employee Self-Service or MSS, Managers Self-Service

is an overview, a snapshot of how a business deliver its services. It refers to the actual services delivered, roles & responsibilities, geographical operations (Global vs Regional vs Local), etc…

see SLA

Is the convergence and streamlining of an organisation’s functions to ensure that the function concerned delivers the services required of them as effectively and efficiently as possible. This often involves the centralising of back office functions. A key advantage of this is that it enables the appreciation of economies of scale within the function and can enable multi-function working (e.g. linking HR & Finance together), where there is the potential to create synergies.

Is the convergence and streamlining of an organisation’s functions to ensure that the function concerned delivers the services required of them as effectively and efficiently as possible. This often involves the centralising of back office functions.

A quality management and process improvement methodology.  This term is generally used to indicate that a process is well controlled, i.e. plus or minus 6 sigma points from the midpoint in a control chart. The methodology is particularly well suited to process intensive industries like manufacturing and term is usually associated with Motorola, which named a major quality initiative "Six-Sigma Quality".

Service Level Agreement is that part of a service contract where the level of service is formally defined. It records the common understanding about services, priorities, responsibilities and level of service between the client and the third party. It is then used as a reference when a disagreement occur on the quality of a service that has been delivered

shared services centre

The identified long-term goals of a business and the intended methods of fulfilling them.

A Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a person who is an expert in a particular area. SMEs are often asked to review, improve and approve work, to guide others, and to teach. According to ">Six Sigma, a Subject Matter Expert shows the highest level of expertise in performing a specialist task or skill.

the recruitment, selection, identification, retention, management, and development of employees considered to have the potential for high performance. It focuses on the skills and abilities of the individual and on his or her potential for promotion to senior technical or leadership roles. It also assesses how much of a contribution the individual can make to the success of the organisation. Often known as 'Organisational Capability'.

In the context of HR, Technology can be anything from HR Systems or large, company-wide systems such as ERPs (that give employees the ability to manage their own data (ESS) and give managers the management the tools to make effective HR related decisions) to Social Media, Web 2.0. etc.

Involves the use of specific HR Systems or large, company-wide systems such as ERPs (that organisations use to integrate information across various functions) to give employees the ability to manage their own data and give managers the management the tools to make effective HR related decisions

The process by which organisations examine their services (i.e. HR, IT..) and how they support the business strategy, and look to change their operating model to achieve optimum delivery of costly administration, this could include the introduction of Shared Services or Outsourcing.

process by which organisations examine their service organisations (i.e. HR, IT..) and how they support the business strategy, and look to change their operating model to achieve optimum delivery of costly administration, this could include the introduction of Shared Services or Outsourcing. The new operating model may bring about the need for increased competency and management of change.

The process by which organisations examine their services (i.e. HR, IT..) and how they support the business strategy, and look to change their operating model to achieve optimum delivery of costly administration, this could include the introduction of Shared Services or Outsourcing.

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According to 'www.Twitter.com', Twitter it's 'a real-time short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices'. It can be used to quickly let people know what you are doing or what's happening and with a 140 character limit, it forces people to keep it short and sweet!

Refers to what's out there on Twitter... 'Twitter' it's 'a real-time short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices' ..according to www.Twitter.com. It can be used to quickly let people know what you are doing or what's happening and with a 140 character limit, it forces people to keep it short and sweet!

“Web 2.0” refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services (such as social-networking sites, wikis, folksonomies, weblogs / blogs, social bookmarking, podcasts, RSS feeds, social software, web application programming interfaces / APIs, and online web services), which aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration and sharing between users. Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use the web. Source: Wikipedia.

A free encyclopedia with millions of articles contributed collaboratively using Wiki software, in dozens of languages. www.wikipedia.org