Xerox PeopleNet - Creating IT/HR Synergies

The Benefits Contd...

Xerox PeopleNet cost Xerox around $2 million. However, its benefits far outweighed the investment. The solution helped Xerox accomplish its objectives of empowering its people, increasing satisfaction and boosting productivity. In addition, online publication of the human resources manual and other publications saved approximately $1.5 million annually in printing costs.

Online transaction processing and electronic signature approval capabilities added later saved another $1.1 million annually by eliminating manual forms and paper-based processing.

On the hiring front, managers could open the Xerox PeopleNet application on the desktop, create a posting on an online form and post it immediately on a central electronic bulletin board.

Any interested Xerox employee could then print an application form and submit it to the hiring manager in paper form. The paper element was to be completely eliminated over a period of time and internal job applications were to be processed entirely online.

The system included a feedback feature that let employees suggest new ideas and improvements. As a result, employees were able to monitor their profit sharing and retirement plans and change their contributions from their desktops itself.

Interestingly, Xerox PeopleNet seemed to have had certain undesirable results as well. Commenting on the massive layoffs by Xerox during the 1990s, analysts said that so long as software such as Xerox PeopleNet continued to render personnel redundant, the trend of manpower trimming was likely to continue.

However, Mihara seemed to be rather pleased with Xerox PeopleNet, "We now have a vehicle for accomplishing our objective of empowering managers and employees."

Case Details

Case Code : ITSY004
Themes: Internet companies
Case Length : 07 Pages
Period : 1990-2000
Organization : Xerox
Pub Date : 2001
Teaching Note : Available
Countries : Japan
Industry : Computers and Information Technology

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