ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the big design decisions human resource (HR) staffs have to confront. Most companies will be introducing shared services in an existing organization; they will not have the benefit of a Greenfield site. In some organizations the shared services model has developed quite independent and separate functional provision. Each support function, HR, IT, finance, legal and so on has its own form of delivery. Where, as is commonest, particular parts of HR service are outsourced the following are most frequently reported elements: payroll management, employee records management, training administration and/or delivery, pension's administration, and benefits and salary administration. Application service providers are agents that assemble functionality required by organizations. This might be software applications, data storage or reporting tools. These are packaged with other services, including outsourced services. Employee self-service or broader concept of e-HR refers to the electronic means by which staff can gain information, add data to systems, carry out transactions or, even, do modelling.
