ICONtrol puts a friendlier face on the HRIS - ICONtrol Human Resources software from ICONtrol Inc - Evaluation

HR Magazine, August, 1994 by Gary Meyer

ICONtrol Human Resources from ICONtrol Inc. is a vividly visual, icon-guided HRIS with a comprehensive portfolio of features. One that makes it distinctive is its ability to run under MS-DOS with Windows and Macintosh System 7. This moderately priced PC-based offering has a distinctly user-friendly interface to ease the HR task of collecting and maintaining extensive applicant and employee data, which includes recruitment, benefits, attendance, compensation, performance reviews, training, injuries, promotions, terminations and more.

ICONtrol is easily adapted to customers' unique needs and preferences. It differs from older HRIS approaches because the graphic operating motifs create a virtual compute-by-picture capability.

HOW IT WORKS

The many colorful icons allow at-a-glance identification of and entry into ICONtrol's major functions. Icons also clearly mark the subcategories of each function. For example, among the Applicant sub-system menu of choices, you'll find Education, References, Applicant Tracking and Testing, each depicted by its own unique symbol. For Education, it's a graduation cap with tassel--the others are equally easy to spot and remember.

ICONtrol offers varied ways to eliminate keystrokes. Drop-down lists show the many preset choices for valid data-field entries. "Radio buttons" allow quick choice of yes-or-no items such as whether or not you want to interview or if a person is willing to relocate. Checkboxes allow rapid marking and capture of routine information, conveniently displayed. All these aids let users glide through data entry and other system functions relying almost exclusively on the mouse.

Users can modify or add to the pre-loaded data entry tables or create their own, contributing to the flexibility of this product. ICONtrol also permits other modifications such as additional screens and data fields for gathering and storing data related to a particular company.

Data accommodation is extensive giving ICONtrol the potential to serve as a warehouse of HR information. For example, data can be incorporated into pre-designed screens. There are checklists of ADA requirements for job descriptions, costs incurred in recruitment, detailed employment history, training courses offered, FMLA tracking, COBRA-affiliated items, numbers and lengths of absences/tardinesses, injuries, skills, grievances, performance evaluations, and cafeteria benefits choices. The scope and depth of data that can be housed is impressive.

ICONtrol contains more than 200 ready-to-run reports that satisfy a broad range of timely HR information needs such as applicant and attendance tracking, EEO reporting, and skill and training summaries. Most can be initiated by clicking on the desired icon. Each report can be user-modified to meet minor variation in needs. To handle exceptional information requirements, ICONtrol includes a separate report-writer program called Dynamics (by Great Plains Software). Although this tool requires familiarization time to fully master, it nicely adds to the system's overall reporting power.

ICONtrol includes varied features to ensure data confidentiality and integrity. Passwords are required to enter the system, and levels of user access can be easily established and altered at the system administrator's discretion. A behind-the-scenes audit log monitors all system activity. It records the actions of every person using ICONtrol, capturing the date, time and screens that were accessed. Separate reports can list users denied or granted access or the activity of a particular person.

Loading the system is pure simplicity. The clear instructions explain that process and how to tailor ICONtrol to your preferences.

WHAT WE LIKE

ICONtrol's visual, intuitive interface makes HR data collection and information production speedy, uncomplicated and almost fun. The comfortable, simple operating scheme invites use and full exploitation of the system's potential power.

I applaud the system's many extra features. Besides the essential HR information management functions, ICONtrol can track company property issued to an employee, create and print screens with checklists of activities for events such as orientation and termination, analyze exit interview responses, show a five-year record of an employee's attendance/tardiness and much more. The reference manual earns high marks for its organization, clarity and completeness. Each tab identifying a section shows the icon that you see on the screen, along with its identifying text label. All system functions are clearly described, with samples of actual screens and how to use them. The information is presented in non-technical language in a consistent, appealing format. Clearly, someone put time and thought into designing and assembling this guidebook.

A worthwhile piece of tutorial documentation called the Discovery Guide escorts the user step by step through all aspects of installing and using the system. For this realistic and practical exercise, the reader takes the role of a new HR manager in a fictional company.