WO2001003034A1 - Network based human resources information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

A multipurpose human resources service portal apparatus (5) includes a first computer having a processor, main memory, storage subsystem, high-speed connection to the internet, and a contractor computer program (10) means for communicating with contractor organizations. The contractor component stores, maintains, and retrieves information concerning the contractor organizations. A supplier component computer program (10) communicates with supplier organizations and stores, maintains, and retrieves information concerning the supplier organizations. A recruitment component computer program (20) communicates with recruitment organizations, and stores, maintains, and retrieves information concerning recruitment organizations. A jobs component computer program (20) means communicates with job candidates, and stores, maintains, and retrieves information concerning the job candidates.

Description

Network Based Human Resources Information Management System

Cross-Reference to Related Application

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application

Serial No. 60/142,205, filed July 2, 1999.

Field of Invention

This invention relates to automated human resources systems, and more

particularly to World Wide Web-based human resources systems.

Background of the Invention

The term "extranet", as used herein, refers to a network which serves a business,

government or other organization or entity, and which exists as an identifiable, navigable

subnetwork within the Internet or other larger network, sharing some levels and types of

Internet resources with other Internet users.

The term "intranet", as used herein, refers to a network which serves a business,

government or other organization or entity, and which exists as an identifiable, navigable

subnetwork possibly connected to the Internet or other larger network, but not sharing

Internet resources with other Internet users.

The term "sub-tier vendor", as used herein, refers to a supplier of services to other

vendors who, in turn, directly serve a company or other organization.

The term "succession planning", as used herein, refers to the process of insuring

smooth transitions in a business across changes in management staff and direction.

Proprietary and commercial application-specific computer systems supporting

human resource management have been in widespread use. The advent of the World Wide Web, coupled with advances in secure communications, intranets, extranets, and

standard methods and interfaces, has facilitated the development of Web-based

networks and applications. Certain of these networks and applications are capable of

supporting enterprise- wide human resource information sharing, with strong

connections to service suppliers outside the companies they serve. Such service

suppliers are in need of systems and components which facilitate their extension of

human-resource services to an expanding range of companies.

The state of this art is embryonic. Proposals and ideas for fully-interconnected

systems of human resource applications exist, but the actual design and development

of workable, comprehensive products is scare. The field, as reflected in the existing

art, comprises applications encompassing only limited segments of the enterprise-

wide range of possibilities.

The following patents address the problem of fitting human resources, or

people, to the work to be done (i.e., task assignment): U.S. Patent No. 6,070,143

(Barney et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,049,776 (Donnelly et al.); U.S. Patent No.

6,023,702 (Leisten et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,765,140 (Knudson et al.); U.S. Patent

No. 5,416,694 (Parrish et al.). None of these patents addresses recruitment or job

application management, nor do they address contract time and cost.

The following patents address the problem of matching job applications to

staffing vacancies: U.S. Patent No. 5,978,768 (McGovern et al.); U.S. Patent No.

5,884,270 (Walker et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,832,497 (Taylor). None of these patents

addresses task assignment, project management, or contract time and cost. The following patents address the problem of project management: U.S.

Patent No. 6,076,105 (Wolff et al); U.S. Patent No. 6,023,702 (Leisten et al.); U.S.

Patent No. 5,826,252 (Wolters, Jr. et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,765,140 (Knudson et al.);

U.S. Patent No. 5,557,515 (Abbruzzese et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,548,506

(Srinivasan). None of these patents addresses task assignment, recruitment or job

application management, contract time and cost, or payroll.

The following patent addresses the problem of personal calendar coordination

and sharing: U.S. Patent No. 5,867,822 (Sankar). It does not address any other

applications.

The following patent addresses the problem of payroll information and

employee code information storage and management: U.S. Patent No. 5,600,554

(Williams). It does not address any other applications.

The following patent addresses the problem of workforce planning and

occupational readjustment: U.S. Patent No. 5,416,694 (Parrish et al.). Apart from

task assignment, it does not address any other applications.

The above survey of the prior art shows that the integration of a

comprehensive set of human resource applications, such as, for example, applications

addressing each of hiring, contract time and cost, project management, recruitment —

has not been accomplished. Furthermore, none of the listed patents appear to exploit

the advantages of the World Wide Web, such as, for example, the availability of a

standardized range of interfaces, global access to individuals and systems, the

capacity to rapidly create, integrate, and maintain a highly-varied range of applications in an efficient manner, and ease of use unparalleled in all but the most

carefully-constructed and proprietary systems.

These advantages of the World Wide Web open the door to the integration of

all of the human resources applications listed above, the list not intended to be

exhaustive or limiting. Such integration would provide significant advantages to the

employers and employees availing themselves of the Web's rich and well-connected

information environment. Furthermore, the opportunities are growing for service

organizations which are capable of providing major segments of the full range of

human resources applications to companies trying to reduce their in-house costs of

such applications. A demonstrable need exists for robust, adaptable, efficient systems

which transfer the upkeep, administration and ongoing development of human

resource applications to a range of competitive external organizations. An additional

need exists for systems strongly interconnected across the World Wide Web to

maximize the productive interactions among company organizations and those outside

the company.

Therefore, what is needed in the art is an apparatus and/or process that

interconnects and integrates a comprehensive set of human resource applications, such

as, for example, applications addressing each of hiring, contract time and cost, project

management, and recruitment.

Furthermore, what is needed in the art is an apparatus and/or process which

transfers, in a robust, adaptable, and efficient manner, the upkeep, administration and

development of human resource applications to a competitive external organizations. Moreover, what is needed in the art is an apparatus and/or process for the

management of human resources and human resource systems which is interconnected

across the World Wide Web to maximize the productive interactions among company

organizations and those outside the company.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a multipurpose human resources service portal

apparatus.

The present invention comprises, in one form thereof, a first computer having a

processor, main memory, storage subsystem, high-speed connection to the Internet, and

a contractor component computer program means for communicating with contractor

organizations. The contractor component stores, maintains, and retrieves information

concerning the contractor organizations. A supplier component computer program

communicates with supplier organizations, and stores, maintains, and retrieves

information concerning the supplier organizations. A recruitment component computer

program communicates with recruitment organizations, and stores, maintains, and

retrieves information concerning the recruitment organizations. A jobs component

computer program means communicates with job candidates, and stores, maintains, and

retrieves information concerning the job candidates.

An advantage of the present invention is that it enables, with the use of the World

Wide Web, the integration of, for example, the functions of staffing, employment

contract management, project management, and recruitment into a coherent set of

information-sharing and process-sharing applications that operate using competitive

outsourced service provision. A further advantage of the present invention is the reduction of costs incurred in

providing these services.

A still further advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates duplication

of data, obviates error reconciliations, eliminates information-passing delays, avoids

obstructive and obscure interfaces, provides common access using well-known Web

standards, simplifies user interactions, and brings human resources information

management into a single, shared, well-managed environment.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides an information

access and management point for one or more external organizations.

Brief Description of Drawings

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and

the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by

reference to the following description of one embodiment of the invention in

conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows the general environment of the invention as it is connected to its

using organizations;

Figure 1 A shows an overview of the message flow between the invention and its

using organizations;

Figure 2 shows the message flow between the invention and a customer company,

a public access point, and a supplier or recruiter, during the search for a job candidate;

Figure 3 shows the message flow between the invention and a customer company,

a job boards on the Internet, and a supplier or recruiter; Figure 4 shows the message flow between the invention and a customer company,

a public access point, and a supplier or recruiter, during the application process;

Figure 5 shows the message flow between the invention and a customer company,

a public access point, a supplier, and a recruiter, emphasizing the exchange between the

invention's extranet component and its Internet component;

Figure 6 shows the message flow between the invention's extranet components,

a contractor employee, and a customer company for payroll functions;

Figure 7 shows the overall activity flow during the hiring process;

Figure 8 shows the issuance of job details during the hiring process;

Figure 9 shows the receipt of applications during the hiring process;

Figure 10 shows applicant screening during the hiring process; and

Figure 11 shows applicant selection and notification during the hiring process.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the

several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment

of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting

the scope of the invention in any manner.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Refer to Figures 1 and 1A. Figure 1 shows the invention's general

overview, and Figure 1A shows a first-level breakdown of the invention's components

and messaging. Multipurpose portal 5 includes two interworking components to serve

all client organizations and individuals. Labor activity management system 10 serves

protected extranet clients, and recruitment, job application and resume management

system 20 serves clients having public access via the Internet. Labor activity management system 10 includes two major components, contractor

component 12 and supplier component 14 (Fig. 1 A). Contractor component 12 manages

and records transactions among customer companies 30, contractor employees 40, and

payroll service providers 50. Supplier component 14 manages and records transactions

among customer companies 30, external suppliers 62, external recruiters 64. external sub-

tier vendors 66, and external professional service providers 90. Supplier component 14

also manages and records intrasystem transactions 15 between customer companies 30

and the recruitment, job application and resume management system 20 for external

public clients 100 having access via the Internet.

Recruitment and jobs component 20 manages and records transactions among

external suppliers 62, external recruiters 64, external sub-tier vendors 66, other job boards

110 on the Web, other Web-based professional outsource service providers 120 and

candidates and general public clients 100 having Internet access.

Figure 2 shows the invention's process of locating candidates for a customer

company 30. First, hiring manager 32 sends a job order 31 to the contractor component

12, which distributes the job order via the supplier component 14 to the recruitment

component 22 and the jobs component 24. Each in turn then send out an order for

candidates. Supplier component 14 sends an extranet order 37B for candidates to the

customer company's set of suppliers, recruiters and subtier vendors 60. Alternatively or

in concert with supplier component 14, jobs component 24 sends an Internet order 37A

for candidates to a comprehensive set of suppliers, recruiters and subtier vendors 60.

Alternatively or in concert with supplier component 14 and jobs component 24,

recruitment component 22 sends an Internet order for candidates 33 out to the candidates and the general public 100. Replies to the orders for candidates are returned along the

same respective paths to supplier component 14. Supplier component 14 then returns a

list of candidates 39A to customer company 30.

Figure 3 shows the invention's connections with other job boards (job and resume

posting bulletin boards) 110 on the World Wide Web, such as, for example,

Monster.com, Nettemps, and CE Weekly. A customer company 30 sends an order for

candidates 31 A to the contractor component 12. Via the recruitment component 22 and

the jobs component 24, orders for candidates 35 are then sent to the other job boards 1 10

on the Web. Other job boards 110 respond with candidate lists 39B to the recruitment

and jobs components 22, 24. The contractor component 12 returns candidate lists 39A

to customer company 30.

Customer company 30 may use the services of one or more suppliers, recruiters

and sub-tier vendors 60. Still referring to Figure 3, job suppliers 60 send orders for

candidates 37A to supplier component 14. Recruitment component 22 sends orders 35

to other job boards 110, which respond with lists of candidates 39B. Candidate lists 39B

are then sent via supplier component 14 as candidate lists 39C to the originating

suppliers, recruiters and sub-tier vendors 60.

General public access to a customer company 30 and its job suppliers 60 via the

invention is shown in Figure 4. A customer company 30 or a supplier, recruiter or sub-

tier vendor 60 issues an order for a candidate 3 IB or 37A, respectively. The invention

routes the order out directly as job order 31C to the general public 100 in the form of

electronic mail. A responding candidate 100 returns an application package comprising

job order 31C, resume 101 and application 103. The invention sends the returned application package to the requesting customer company 30 or the supplier 60 as a

candidate response 39E or 39F respectively.

It should be noted that in the exchanges of messages shown in these processes,

the boundaries among commercial entities are as fluid as can be achieved through the use

of the World Wide Web. Where existing applications limit themselves to dialogues

between pairs of entities — employers and employees, employers and contract

organizations, recruiters and applicants — the invention mediates among combinations

of commercial entities to achieve an integrated result: the productive connection of a

capable candidate with a job requirement, regardless of the specific business

arrangements among candidate, contractor, recruiter, supplier, company, or website.

This point is further made clear in the process shown in Figure 5 , which illustrates

the paths of orders for candidates among recruiters, candidates and the public, sub-tier

vendors, and customer companies, with the invention at the hub of this traffic. As can

be seen from this figure, the paths by which a candidate may be connected with a job are

restricted only by the number of distinct providers who may be competing to make that

connection. Regardless of which provider or providers are involved, the invention

mediates the entire process.

As a further illustration of the invention's processes, Figure 6 shows an extranet

payroll connection among the invention's supplier 14 and contractor 12 components, a

customer company 30 and a contract employee 40. Contract employee 40 submits

timesheets and expense reports 41 to contractor component 12, and payroll details and

other communications 45 are returned. Approvals 43 for all contractor time and expense are submitted to contractor component 12 from customer company 30. Contractor

component 12 keeps records of all transactions.

A narrative of the invention's operation in the recruitment process is shown in

Figures 7 through 11. Figure 7 shows the overview of this process, in four stages. Note

the invention's Web connections among company ERP systems, other Web-based service

providers for ERP, payroll, and other outsourced services, and a customer company's

human resources IS applications. As mentioned earlier, the boundaries between a

company, its service providers, its recruiters and its workers are highly fluid.

To summarize, the invention comprises the following service processes:

Job ordering: The invention provides for creation of new job requisitions via an

on-line form and processing which it makes available to authorized users. The invention

provides on-line forms and processing for immediate on-line access to newly-created job

orders. The invention further provides on-line forms and processing to suppliers, for

review of job requisitions and for submission of candidates for specific positions directly

to a customer representative.

Candidate submittal and review: The invention provides data archiving and

detailed tracking options, together with on-line forms, so that customer human resources

and hiring managers can review, screen, and update the status of candidates proposed for

assignment.

Associate supplier integration: Because all posted job orders are immediately

available for all suppliers to access, the invention provides all suppliers with the same

level of opportunity to review job requisitions and submit qualified candidates. Electronic mail technologies: Incorporating automated electronic reminders and

feedback messaging, the invention uses Web programming technologies to "push"

requests automatically from suppliers and candidates to requesting managers.

Real-time access to candidates: The invention provides immediate access to

databases identifying newly submitted candidates. Making candidate resumes available

as soon as they are submitted helps reduce both cycle time and administrative cost.

Status availability at all times: The invention updates status information

regarding submitted candidates as soon as a status change is entered. The invention also

provides Web access to customers who wish to check its browser-based system for order

and requisition status information at any time from any location.

Site Segregation: To provide customer human resources and hiring managers

with full control of information, the invention provides customized secure access so that

only authorized personnel may access certain information, such as notes on a candidate

or assignment decision.

Project tracking: The invention records all use of time for contract employees,

taking full advantage of all information provided in the time records to support the

production of project tracking reports for a customer company.

The invention's set of significant messages comprises the transactions shown in

Table 1. To simplify reading the table, it should be noted that all messages flow either

to an invention component or from an invention component. This reveals that the design

supports the invention's management of all transactions among the organizational and

individual entities it serves.

Table 1. Message Set

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope of Invention

From the above descriptions, figures and narratives, the invention's advantages

in integrating recruitment and payroll functions across many participating individuals and

independent organizations should be clear.

While encompassing recruitment and payroll functions in the preferred

embodiment, the invention's features and capabilities clearly can be extended to

workforce forecasting, performance measurement, training management, benefits,

succession planning, and related human resources functions.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present

invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This

application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the

present invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Further, this application

is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the

known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall

within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A multipurpose human resources service portal apparatus, comprising:

a first computer including a processor, a main memory, a storage subsystem, and

a high-speed connection to the Internet;

a contractor component computer program means for communicating with other

organizations, systems and individuals comprising contract workers, customer

companies, payroll service providing companies, and other computer programs, and for

storing, maintaining, and retrieving information concerning said organizations and

individuals;

a supplier component computer program means for communicating with other

organizations, systems and individuals comprising customer company hiring managers,

customer company information systems, staff suppliers, recruiters, sub-tier vendors, other

Web-based professional service providers, and other computer programs, and for storing,

maintaining, and retrieving information concerning said organizations and individuals;

a recruitment component computer program means for communicating with other

organizations, systems and individuals comprising staff suppliers, recruiters, sub-tier

vendors, other Web-based professional service providers, and other computer programs,

and for storing, maintaining, and retrieving information concerning said organizations

and individuals; and a jobs component computer program means for communicating with other

organizations, systems and individuals comprising job candidates, the general public,

other job and resume bulletin boards on the World Wide Web, and other computer programs, and for storing, maintaining, and retrieving information concerning said

organizations and individuals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise payroll service providers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise relocation service providers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise project management service providers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise performance measurement service providers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise workforce forecasting service providers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise succession planning service providers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise compensation management service providers.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said web-based professional service providers

comprise training management service providers.

10. A multipurpose human resources service portal apparatus comprising:

a first computer including a processor, a main memory, a storage subsystem, and

a high-speed connection to the Internet;

one or more computer program means for communicating with other

organizations, systems and individuals and other computer programs, and for storing,

maintaining, and retrieving information concerning said organizations and individuals;

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise contract workers, customer companies, payroll service providing companies.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise at least one of customer company hiring managers, customer company

information systems, staff suppliers, recruiters, sub-tier vendors, and other Web-based

professional service providers.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise at least one of staff suppliers, recruiters, sub-tier vendors, and other Web-based

professional service providers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise at least one of job candidates, the general public, other job and resume bulletin

boards on the World Wide Web.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise payroll service providers.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise relocation service providers.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise project management service providers.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise performance measurement service providers.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise workforce forecasting service providers.

20. The The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and

individuals comprise succession planning service providers.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise compensation management service providers.

22. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said organizations, systems and individuals

comprise training management service providers.

23. A multipurpose human resources service management method, comprising:

connecting a first computer to one or more customer companies;

connecting said first computer to the Internet;

connecting said first computer to one or more contractor employees via an

extranet;

connecting said first computer to one or more staff suppliers;

connecting said first computer to one or more recruiters;

connecting said first computer to one or more sub-tier vendors;

connecting said first computer to one or more job candidates;

connecting said first computer to one or more job and resume bulletin boards on

the World Wide Web;

connecting said first computer to one or more Web-based professional service

providers;

connecting said first computer to one or more staff suppliers;

providing mutual access among all individuals, organizations and systems to

which said first computer is connected; providing means for each of said individuals, organizations and systems to

evaluate and select from alternatives for buying and selling services from each of said

individuals, organizations and systems; and

maintaining records of transactions among said individuals, organizations and

systems to which said first computer is connected.

24. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide payroll management services.

25. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide relocation services.

26. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide project management services.

27. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide performance measurement services.

28. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide workforce forecasting services.

29. The method of Claim 23 wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide succession planning services.

30. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide compensation management services.

31. The method of Claim 23, wherein said Web-based professional service providers

provide training management services.