Video Teleconferencing in Human Resources

1
Video Teleconferencing in Human Resources

• Johnny Muhuntharaj
• Nick Bruzzone
• Mike Fry

2
HR Connects People

• Talented people come from all corners of the
  globe
• The best should be sought after by 240co, no
  matter where they are located
• New communication technologies have the potential
  to breakdown geographical barriers

3
Old Idea

• Conference calling has existed for a long time
• Many parties are able to communicate from any
  telephone in the world on one call session (long
  distance charges)
• Only voice could be transmitted

4
New Capabilities

• Greater bandwidth and advances in fibre optic
  technologies
• More data can be transferred in real time (voice
  graphics, images, and even streaming video)

5
Requirements

• For real time audio/video and image transmission,
  high bandwidth ISDN or better (cable, DSL) is
  necessary
• Most new PCs have the capabilities to connect to
  a video conference with high speed internet
  access, a simple and inexpensive web cam, and
  free software (MS NetMeeting, ICUII, Video
  VoxPhone)

6
People Can Meet Online

• Visual interaction can take place allowing more
  personal communication
• This can be very beneficial to the human
  resources department
• Screening the most qualified applicants from all
  over the world in a video-interview
• Also is applicable in employee training
• Enables 240co to meet from all parts of the world
  (future international expansion possibilities)

7
Talent Acquisition

• Location should not be an obstacle for 240co when
  seeking new employees
• With this new technology, the video-interview
  would be a standard step for candidates in
  different parts of the country or abroad after
  selecting the top resume

8
Advantages

• Able to establish a broader base of potential
  recruits
• Save travel costs and time
• Obtain some degree of personal interaction before
  final interview
• Some are more apprehensive of flying since
  September 11

9
Disadvantages

• Need for infrastructure at both ends of
  communication points
• Some initial fixed costs of equipment and setup
• Still a lack of personal contact, many subtleties
  are lost (no handshake possible, demeanor of
  parties is difficult to detect)

10
Video Training

• 240co employees could be trained by specialists
  from all over the world
• Interaction would still be possible with the
  instructor through video conferencing

11
Advantages

• Save travel costs and time
• Save training costs
• More employees would be able to attend more
  conferences and seminars more often from a
  designated video training room right here at 123
  Sprott Rd., in Sea Breeze

12
Disadvantages

• Some employees might like to travel once in a
  while
• Lack of personal interaction with instructor and
  other employees from other companies and
  countries
• Not all training institutions are yet capable of
  taking advantage of this new technology

13
Future Application Within 240co

• Video conferencing would be useful for meetings
  between different branch offices of 240co across
  Canada and around the world
• Inexpensive way for company meetings to take
  place in human resources and in all other
  departments

14
Costs vs. Savings

• 50,000 fixed cost for renovation and technology
  to enable video interviews as well as training
  capabilities
• Savings of over 20,000 per year (travel and
  accommodations for 100-150 employees and
  potential recruits per year)
• Paid for in about two to three years

15
Risks

• Video interviewing may not be effective
• Video training may not be effective
• Employees may not like changes
• High cost for relatively small usage
• High probability of wasting valuable company
  resources in terms of the money that would be
  saved if 240co waited 3 years for the technology
  to be less expensive and more publicly accessible

16
Feasibility Assessment

• Economic Feasibility
• Benefits may exceed costs on paper, however, as a
  relatively new company, there are likely other
  financial priorities
• Technical Feasibility
• On our side, this is feasible, but the technical
  infrastructure is not widely accessible to the
  global public
• Organizational Feasibility
• 240co is too small a company to warrant such an
  investment, since the overall effect would be
  minimal

17
Recommendation

• Reject Proposal given some of the major
  disadvantages
• World wide infrastructure is not yet available
• Risk inherent with any fixed cost investment
• Relatively small company size makes proposal less
  feasible
• A high degree of personal interaction is
  essential when assessing potential recruits

18
Future Considerations

• It is the recommendation of this team that an
  investment in video conferencing equipment NOT be
  implemented within the human resources department
  at this time, however, a reassessment should
  occur within three years when this technology is
  more widely accessible, and the price and
  performance both improve in our favour