2. 2
Mission
Provide valued HR services that enable RIT to attract,
support, retain and develop the diverse talent needed to
achieve and sustain the university.
Values
Student Centeredness, Professional Development and Scholarship,
Integrity and Ethics, Respect, Diversity and Pluralism, Innovation and
Flexibility, Teamwork and Collaboration.
Vision
The Human Resources Department will be recognized as a
trusted resource, partner, leader and innovator in support of
RIT’s mission, vision, and employees.
3. Abstract
This Human Resource Department Observation was conducted to observe the department
culture in an academic location. This is an academic cultural location that focuses on the
data processing of information provided by from employees who work in the Rochester
Institute of Technology
The assessment was conducted based on gathered data from the interviews and
observations. The employees gave me permission to observe. The interviewees know the
importance of their roles and the policies and procedures to be followed to ensure the
employee, faculty, and staff receives the accurate Human Resource forms for
employment, benefits, and wellness.
Introduction
I decided to analyze the Human Resource Department in the location of Rochester
Institute of Technology. The reason I chose this department because of Human Resource
employee’s roles, policy, and procedures follows that help other employees, faculty, and
staffs. Human Resource Department is responsible to follow their policy and procedures
under the values of processing important information into the databases on a regular
basis. I personally wanted to understand how Human Resource Assistants and Staff
Assistant work together under the academic culture in the department of Rochester
Institute of Technology.
Discussion
My observations while in the Department of Human Resources’ culture were fascinating
during the course of my research. During the discussions with three individual
employees, I learned a lot and sought other questions about their department and what
they did in every day tasks. This outlook gave me a better idea for the future of my
career. I looked up additional information online through Rochester Institute of
Technology website and found several things that they offer online such as the different
kinds of forms, policies, procedures, and other additional information.
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4. Information about the Current Interviewees’ Background
Human Resource
Employees
Current Title
# of Years
Current Position
in the Department
of Human
Resource of
Rochester
Institute of
Technology
# of Years and
Former Positions
Employee 1:
Georgeanne
HR Assistant 5 Years
5 Years – Vice
President of Human
Resource
HR Assistant
Employee 2: Stacy HR Assistant 2 ½ Years
6 Months – Senior
Staff Assistant at
Center of Integrated
Manufacturing
Study
Employ 3: Trisha
Staff
Assistant/Receptionist
6 Months
2 Years – Staff
Assistant in
Administration
Observation I
I conducted an observation of the Department of Human Resources on March 15th
, 2012.
I decided to observe the Human Resource Department because it matches my field of
study in college. I was very interested in learning more about Human Resources to gain
knowledge in what they do in the department.
Rochester Institute of Technology’s Department of Human Resources in located in
Eastman Hall on the 5th
floor. The functional areas of the department are Benefits and
Wellness, Compensation, Employment, Staff Recruitment, and Information Systems.
During my observation, I observed two Human Resource Assistants in the department
between the hour of 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Human Resource Assistants are
Georganne Hogan and Stacy Stewart.
As I walked into the Department of Human Resources, Trisha who is a staff assistant who
was friendly and I asked her to find a Human Resource Assistant to ask that I could speak
to with. She was smiling and offered me coffee and tea while as I was waiting. When
Georgeanne came to see me, she was happy to have me observe the Human Resource
Department. The following day was my observation. I had met up with Georgeanne and
Stacy Stewart in the department. Georgeanne and Stacy took me to a room to learn about
the basic about what Human Resource Assistant do in the department. They also
explained the components of Human Resource employees are responsible for.
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5. Georgeanne and Stacy’s facial expression showed their friendliness. They were very
knowledgeable giving me information about what they do in the Department of Human
Resource.
Next, Georgeanne and Stacy showed me that they do as part of their job. They explained
to me that they focus on the Employment Forms in Department of Human Resources.
They identified and updated a variety of information based on Employment Action Forms
in the Oracle Application Database. Such forms included: new hire, leave start, leave
return, promotion, salary redistribution, termination, summary salary, transfer checklist,
special assignment pay action, and overload pay action for all faculty members.
During my observation in the department, the environment was very inviting because it
was appealing to me. I felt very comfortable in the Human Resource Department because
I enjoy the office environment. The employees in the department had professional body
language and were very friendly to other employees, faculty and staff. All employees,
including Georgeanne and Stacy are dressed professional because they represent RIT. In
addition, Georgeanne and Stacy were willing to welcome me to the department and to
their cubicle to observe and learn what they do as part of they job. Everyone in the
department has their own cubicle and file holder on the side of the cubicle wall.
Georgeanne showed me her boss’s cubical and showed me her and other’s addition work
and projects. The projects are listed on the white board on the boss’s cubical. She also
explains to me the boss is here only on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. I felt it
was kind of odd that the boss is not here on everyday work days. Georgeanne also
explained to me about each of the functional areas of work and how the employees enter
the paperwork in different sections of the Human Resource database, and then file them
into the file cabinets. Each person has duties in each section and handles the different
paperwork. Each functional area of Human Resources handles the different components
such as: Benefits Forms, Employment Forms, Job Evaluation and Position Control
Forms, and Employment Action Forms/ Every employee member has to dress in business
attire to represent RIT. RIT does not have a dress code that employees represent RIT in a
professional way.
While watching Georgeanne and Stacy, their behavior was calm while filing paperwork
into the database. They showed no negative behavior while doing their work. It seems to
me that Human Resource Assistants do not show stressed out behavior by doing their
tasks and processing data information. I personally had asked Georgeanne and Stacy how
they feel or their impression about working in the academic section of Human Resource
Department. They both replied that they really like it and feel satisfaction form helping
students and other employees.
In my observation experience, I felt the Human Resource Department’s environment is
very friendly. I felt that was a good fit for my office personality because it can be a
comfortable for me to work. The department has a nice welcoming environment place
that made me feel like I want to come back. After this experience, I realize this is my
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6. future goal is to have the same welcoming environment with employees in Human
Resource Department.
In Conclusion, Georgeanne and Stacy are Human Resource Assistants in the Human
Resource Department at Rochester Institute of Technology. They focus on the
employment field of Human Resources. The Human Resource Department has its own
office environment that is very welcoming to all faculty, employees, and students. My
observation gave me an idea of what kind of job I want in a Human Resource
Department. I would like to pursue a career in after completing my degree in Human
Resource Development.
Observation II
During my second observation, I observed Trisha Walker’s occupation. Trisha is a staff
assistant to the Human Resource Department. She welcomes customers, staff or faculty
who walk in the floor of Human Resources Department. She handles their needs to
contact the Human Resources employees. Trisha showed her friendliness to all
employees and customers. She makes sure the employees and customers are taken care
of. It is part of her duty to the job. During my observation, I had noticed that she
responded to her e – mails and answering phone calls. She also handled the Hire Forms
through the database to make sure it is filled out accurately with the information needed.
In addition, her cubical is in a room where people can walk in for appointments with
other Human Resources employees. Her cubical is outside of the floor of Human
Resources Department. Trisha’s job is to take care of any business related to assisting
employees and customers.
The environment of her workplace is welcoming. However, the noise issues were terrible
because it is next to the bathroom. The noise is loud from the hand dryer and it is hard to
be able to hear any phone calls or communication. So, I think they need paper towels
instead of the dryer to decrease the noise for all employees and customers or arrange her
cubicle inside of the Human Resource Department floor.
In conclusion, Trisha is a staff assistant to the Human Resources Department. She
showed her friendliness behavior to all employees and customers and helps them with
their needs while completing her work on the computer and answering phone calls and
responding to her e – mails. In addition, the environment of Human Resource Department
is nice but the bathroom noise was a huge negative experience for me.
Conclusion
An analysis of the department revealed areas on common roles and procedures across the
different Human Resource Units. Each unit carries the same values in that they are there
to ensure that the customer of faculty of even staff to receives their information. The
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7. employees are recognizing the importance of their positions and have a positive attitude
to follow the department policy.
Human Resource Department influenced me to want a positive work environment with
positive attitude to help employees in an academic location. The department supports the
RIT’s values for all employees, faculty, and staff. I am pleased to report this as part of
gaining my knowledge about the concept of Human Resource employees. They gave a
positive perspective of my future and goals that may allow having success in working for
Human Resources Department.
Interview Data
1. How long have you been working for Rochester Institute of Technology?
a. Georgeanne has been working for RIT for ten years.
b. Stacy has been working for RIT for three years.
c. Trisha has been working for RIT for six months.
2. What is your current position title?
a. Georgeanne and Stacy have the same current position title as HR
Assistant.
b. Trisha’s position title is Staff Assistant.
3. What are your primary roles in your current position?
a. Georgeanne’s primary roles in her current position are processing data
information and customer service.
b. Stacy’s primary roles in her current position are processing data
information, answer phone calls and training RIT employees about filling
out the various forms process.
c. Trisha’s primary roles in her current position are to assist customers,
answer phone calls, and responds to e – mails. She also looks over hire
forms in the data process from Stacy and Georgeanne.
4. Do you have an additional position title in Rochester Institute of Technology?
a. Georgeanne used to have a previous position as Assistant to the Senior
Vice President in Human Resource.
b. Stacy used to work as a Senior Staff Assistant at Center for Integrated
Manufacturing Study in RIT.
c. Trisha was working as a Staff Assistant in Administration at RIT.
5. Can you describe a typical day?
a. Georgeanne’s typical day is doing projects, processing data information
into the database, answering phone calls and responding to e – mails, and
taking care of customer service.
b. Stacy’s typical day is responding to e – mails, answering phone calls,
assessing data processing. She never knows what will happen each day
and it feels different with the work process each day of work.
c. Trisha’s typical day is opening the HR Office, answering to phone calls
and responding to e – mails. She also welcomes people to the office and
look at hire forms on the database.
6. What are your priorities in Human Resources?
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8. a. Georgeanne stated her priorities as accuracy, customer service, response
time, and confidentiality.
b. Stacy stated her priorities as customer service, making sure to responds to
employees, and provides accurate data information into the database.
c. Tracy stated her priorities as assisting customers, maintaining
confidentiality, and being precise in details to employees and Human
Resource.
7. Have you noticed any common leadership values throughout your work
experience? What values motivate you or de-motivate you?
a. Georgeanne stated the values that motivated were honesty, fairness, and
confidentiality.
b. Stacy stated the views in values that motivated her are the motivation,
communication skills, and honesty.
c. Trisha stated the values that motivated in the workplace are stepping up to
lead employees’ questions by finding information and feeling connected to
the Human Resources Department
8. What are your values in Human Resources?
a. Georgeanne’s values are providing service to customers, faculty or staff,
and providing accuracy and confidentiality with information.
b. Stacy’s values are providing customer services to customers, faculty and
staff who are the employees of RIT.
c. Trisha’s values are assisting customer’s needs and providing the correct
information.
9. What characteristics and strengths do you feel you bring to the Department of
Human Resources?
a. The Employees had identified their characteristics and strengths that can
bring to the Human Resource Department.
b. Georgeanne believes that her characteristics and strengths are working
hard on processing information into the database, answering any questions
about the process to make sure the information is accurate and good
improvement.
c. Stacy’s characteristics and strengths are doing her best work by working
hard every day by doing something better. She wants to make sure that all
employees are satisfied with the results as well as being down any
complaints.
d. Trisha’s characteristics and strengths are providing details to all
employees and customers. She is always calm and being polite to
customers as they walk into the HR Floor. Trisha provides her good
communication skills to all employees and customers.
10. Do you feel that the Human Resource Department has a culture of appreciation?
Can you give me an example?
a. The question about the Human Resource Department’s culture
appreciation had given the employees thoughts by stated their opinions.
b. Georgeanne said yes, in developing culture in appreciation, VP says thank
you for being a hard worker to employees.
c. Stacy said yes, it is developing the culture in appreciation.
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9. d. Trisha said yes, programs and benefits provided performance appraisals.
11. Do you enjoy your job? Tell me your favorite aspects about your job.
a. The interviews had explained her favorite aspects about their jobs by
enjoying working for the Department.
b. Georgeanne sated that yes, she enjoys her job because she solves problems
for people’s needs
c. Stacy stated that yes, working and likes talking with people about
problems to the HR Department.
d. Trisha also said that yes, being able to meet a variety of new people each
day.
12. What is the time orientation in your projects or paperwork in the department?
a. Georgeanne spends her time orientation by Payroll Driven by quick
turnaround on paperwork and doing the paperwork on Wednesdays to
Fridays week flow first before doing other projects aside.
b. Stacy spends her time processing data information first in the morning and
then projects in the afternoon by Payroll Driven.
c. Trisha spends her time in her projects and check employment work from
HR Assistants in the database system by time balance to juggle all tasks
throughout the week.
13. Do employees get rewarded or promoted in the Department of Human Resources?
a. The Department of Human Resources does the rewards and promotion
differently for each employee. The employees have different thoughts
about the department giving rewards and promotion in the workplace.
b. Georgeanne stated that promotion doesn’t happen too often for but they
were rewarded are more privately and individual to be hard workers.
c. Stacy also stated that each year it increase salary by 3% if the performance
has good reviews.
d. Trisha said that employees get promotion and reward for requisition
performance by doing it together.
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10. Employees’ Same Responses
Individual’s Focus Of Control External Directed
The Nature of Individual’s
Values
Intrinsic of being human – satisfied to the
job
The Nature of Department
Culture
Intelligent
The essence of Diversity Differences in thinking
The Natural Environment Positive Location
The Department’s Central
Paradigm
Principle-Centered in Word and Spirit
The Nature of Department
Values
A True Commitment
Public Image Authentic
The Nature of Department The insert of human nature
Core Purpose Responsible provision of employee’s values
Workforce-Department
Relationship
Students/Faculty/ Staff and Human
Resources/Tools
Department of HR Attuned - Connect
Bad News/Whistle-Blowing A Learning Opportunity
Decision-Making Moral – Positive Ethical
Communication Open Communication
How Best Results Achieved Altruism or Self-Interest and Group-Interest
Speed of Response to
Employees’ Demand
Moderate Speed and High Speed
The Service Provider Front-Line Workers and Staff/Faculty
Emotional Expression To be encouraged and managed
Speed of Response to
Staff/Facility’s Demand
Moderate
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