Computers in Personnel 2000, Barbican Centre, London, 28-29 June 2000

Citation

(2001), "Computers in Personnel 2000, Barbican Centre, London, 28-29 June 2000", Kybernetes, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2001.06730aab.004

Computers in Personnel 2000, Barbican Centre, London, 28-29 June 2000

Computers in Personnel 2000, Barbican Centre, London, 28-29 June 2000

Keywords: Conferences, Cybernetics, Computers, Personnel

This year's "Computers in personnel" conference showed personnel and development practitioners how to adapt to the growing impact of technology advances. Organised by the Institute of Personnel and Development (IPD) and the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), the conference featured both strategic and practical seminars on all aspects of computerised personnel information systems. Seminars addressed key topics such as the legal implications of holding employee data on computer systems, IT and recruitment and choosing and using information systems.

The findings of the IPD/IES annual "Computers in personnel" survey were revealed at the conference. These highlighted year-on-year developments in the use of IT in people management and enable delegates to forecast future trends.

In one of the more topical sessions, Olga Aikin, Senior Partner, Aikin Driver Partnership, looked at the legal aspects of IT systems. In particular, she addressed some of the problems associated with the access that employees have to private internal company data, the Internet and e-mail. For example, some companies are using software to detect offensive e-mail messages to protect them from legal action, whereas others fear the privacy rights of individuals under the European Human Rights Directive. The session helped companies draw up policies to take account of these conflicting concerns. Topical questions may be submitted to the speaker in advance.

A seminar on HR automation showed how it can improve an organisation's effectiveness, enhance employee satisfaction and offer huge savings in administrative costs. The growing phenomenon of HR call centres were discussed to assess the perceived advantages of greater efficiency and savings against the risk that the people dimension will be forgotten. A case study was also presented.

Over 60 leading suppliers of IT products and services took part in the CiP Exhibition held alongside the conference. Visitors were. able to view demonstrations of the latest HR systems and packages and find out about new developments in areas such as payroll, corporate intranets and data analysis. The exhibition provided practical advice and information for people management practitioners with IT responsibilities, whether they are experienced in the field or with little previous knowledge.

Information about the Institute:

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  The Institute of Personnel and Development has over 100,000 members and is the leading professional body for those involved in the management and development of people.

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  The Institute for Employment Studies is an independent, international centre of research and consultancy in human resource issues and is recognised as a leader in the field of helping organisations introduce IT into their personnel functions.

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  HR systems users are invited to take part in the "Computers in personnel survey" online at: www.employment-studies.co.uk/cip

For further information, contact: IPD House, Camp Road, London SW19 4UX, UK.