Abstract
Several policymakers, service providers as well as funders usually strive to enhance human service programs. That is why software use has been on the rise in the recent past. A number of organizations have recognized the benefits of program evaluations.
What the programs can achieve, their costs, as well as their operations are always assessed before any program is accepted. This paper tries to point out some basic principles that can be applied to evaluate human service programs.
The following are some of the factors that should be taken into consideration by companies or organizations before using human resource software.
First, cost evaluations should be taken into consideration. The amount of money that a company is willing to part with should be taken into consideration before the hunt for human resource software packages begins. The amount of money that the company can comfortably allocate for the purchase of the program should be looked at. If it is beyond the reach of the company or business, they should not go for it.
Small businesses installing the software on single computers should use freeware programs. It should be noted that these free software packages usually perform similar functions like the larger systems (Pearson, n.d.).
The needs and requirements of a company should be taken into consideration before the purchase of the software. The companies or businesses should highlight the functions to be performed by the software as well as the records to be managed by the software. The software should only be bought after ensuring that it can perform all the required functions.
The ease of use of the software should also be taken into consideration. It is very hard to use some software. The skills of the workers who will be operating the software should be assessed. A system which can fit the proficiency of the workers should be taken into consideration (Simmons, n.d.).
The need for training programs should also be taken into consideration. When the software is being purchased for very large organizations, a number of employees will be needed to operate the software. The company should work together with the company providing the software to train the employees who will be operating it.
It should be noted that the software industry rapidly changes. They are subject to become obsolete. This should also be taken into consideration. Companies should research when the programs were first introduced.
Before a company buys any human service software, they should consult the businesses which have tried the software. They should also enquire the type of software that the businesses are using. Only then will they get to know the benefits as well as the drawbacks of the software.
The software companies can also be contacted and also spoken to concerning their products. Companies and organizations can also find out whether there is trial software available. If available, they can test whether it fits the needs of the business. When it performs all of them, the businesses can then purchase the software.
Process evaluations should also be conducted. This is to answer questions concerning the operations of the programs and also for the documentation of the procedures. When such evaluations are conducted, problems that may be experienced in service delivery will be identified. After their identification, strategies will be developed to overcome the problems.
References
Pearson, V. (n.d.) How to choose Human Resource Software. Web.
Simmons, A. (n.d.). How to Choose Business Software. Web.