Project: Evaluation of HR Software (ADP, BambooHR, Clear Company)

This project evaluates three HR software solutions: ADP, BambooHR, and Clear Company. The evaluation employs a criteria-based approach, assessing software usability, sustainability, and maintainability using the ISO/IEC 9126-1 standard. The assessment includes detailed scoring across various sub-criteria, such as documentation, installation, ease of use, identity, licensing, and community support. The project provides an in-depth analysis of each software's features, including user interface, HR functionalities, database integration, administrative tasks, and employee self-service capabilities. The software's strengths and weaknesses are highlighted, with considerations for recruitment, payroll, benefits, and overall suitability for different organizational needs. The project concludes with a comparative analysis, providing insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each software to aid in the selection of the most appropriate HR solution. The project also mentions the evaluation method used including tutorial based evaluation and testing of features.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HUMAN
RESOURCES
NAME
DATE

The selected software to be evaluated are
 ADP for small businesses
 Bamboo HR
 Clear Company HRM Software
The three softwares are to be evaluated based on principles of software evaluation and a criteria
used to select the most suitable HR software in the context of the case study. Software evaluation is
always a tricky balance between maintaining objectivity and subjectivity (Chiarovano et al., 2018).
According to the Software Sustainability Institute (UK), there are two main criteria used for
evaluating software; a criteria based approach and a tutorial based approach ('Software
Sustainability Institute', 2018). The criteria based approach is a quantitative approach to assessing
the quality of software where three main aspects are evaluated; the sustainability, usability, and
maintainability of the software (Jedlitschka and Salo, 2008). The tutorial based criteria foe
evaluating software is a form of pragmatic evaluation where a reproducible record of experiences is
used (Jackson, Crouch and Baxter, 2016). For this case, a criteria based approach to evaluation is to
be used: the criteria has been developed based on the principles of software quality testing as
contained in ISO/IEC 9126-1 standard for software quality (Kanellopoulos et al., 2010). This
assessment criteria will check whether the software conforms to certain characteristics and whether
they exhibit certain qualities expected of a software that is sustainable. The software to be chosen
will be one in which most characteristics base on the evaluation criteria are satisfied. Usability of
software pertains to the ease of use and ability to learn to use the software. It refers to the degree to
which software can be used by a consumer to achieve certain objectives that have been quantified
wit efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction (Dillon, 2018). Software sustainability has two aspects
to it; sustainable software and the engineering of software for sustainability (Katz, 2016). Software
maintainability refers to the ease by which a software component of system can be modified so as to
correct faults, adapt to a changed environment, and improve performance (Crouch, 2016).
Evaluation criteria
The three software are evaluated based on these criteria, in accordance with the table below; the
criteria and sub-criteria will be assessed on the software and given scores between one and five,
where one is the lowest score and five is the largest score. This is because using the yes/no
responses leaves little room for flexibility and grading the software in different grades based on
observed features.
Criterion Sub Notes Score

criterion
Clear
Compan
y HRM
Software
Bamboo
HR
ADP
for
small
busine
ss
Software
usability
Documentati
on
Appropriate, comprehensive, and
well structured user documentation
4.2 4 4.3
Understandab
le
The purpose of the software and what
it does is easily understood
4.5 4.3 4.3
The software uses and intended
market are easily understood
4.4 4 4.5
The basic functions of the software
are easily understood
4.5 4.4 4.4
The advanced functions of the
software are easily understood
4.2 4 3.9
Installation Software can be installed in a straight
forward way for a supported system
4.7 4.4 4.5
There are instructions on the website
on how to install the software
4.8 4.7 4.7
All non bundled third party
dependencies are listed, along with
their web addresses, license
requirements, and versions, along
with and indicator whether they are
mandatory of optional
4 4 4
All mandatory third party
dependencies are presently available
3 3 3
Archives do not spread contents all
over the directory when unpacked
4.5 4.5 4.6
Tests available to verify if installation 4 4 4

has been successful
Read me text available with
information license and copyrights
4.5 4.8 4.7
When uninstalled, the uninstaller
removes all files, else warns users of
retained files
4.5 4.5 4.5
Easy to learn The functions of the software are easy
to learn
4.2 4 4.1
Basic use cases have clear
instructions provided
4 4 4
Reference guides provided for all
options of configuration
3.7 4.2 3.9
Getting started guide provided 4.5 4.4 4.5
Maintainabilit
y and
Sustainability
Identity The software has a unique and clear
identity
4.6 4.5 4.6
The software has a clear logo and
does not infringe eon any existing
trademarks
5 5 5
Licensing The available license is appropriate
for adoption
4.8 4.7 4.6
Licensing and developers of software
clearly stated
4.2 4.4 4.5
Copyright The software owner (copyright
holder) is easy to see
3 3 2.8
Community There is evidence of future or current
community
4.1 4.3 4
Governance The development of the software and
its management is easy to understand
4 4 4
Accessibility There is evidence of present and
future ability for the software to be
4.8 4.8 4.8

downloaded
Portability The software can be used on multiple
platforms
4.9 4.8 4.7
Testability The correctness of the source code
can be tested easily
2.2 2 2.7
Evaluation method
After using the ISO/IEC 9126-1 based evaluation tools for the quality and usability of the software;
the three different software are then tested on features and their suitability for the purpose discussed
after a subjective type of tutorial evaluation. The software are evaluated after use and then
compared
Bamboo HR
The software has good features, starting with the user interface and color used: the mix of color
provides high contrast that makes it easy to use. The features that relate to HR are plenty and serve
the HR needs by integrating various HR functionalities, including requests for time off an
attendance. The software has inbuilt features that describe in detail and in summary of the
qualifications, competencies, ad skills of the employee. The software consolidates data gleaned
from different areas of an organization into a single view. This data can then be accessed, sorted,
controlled, and analyzed from nearly any device that has internet access. This is a particularly
suitable feature that allows instant access using any device, be it a tablet , mobile hone or PC/ Mac.
HR related issues such as salary and job history, training, benefits, and other core HR functions in a
single suite. Software features a centralized database for employees; the database is interactive and
can integrate with other applications. The database is updated across the board when information is
changed ensuring all information is up to date.
The software makes administrative tasks easy, through automated time offs as it specifies how time
is to be calculated. The software enables employees access to their information, even remotely so
they can perform self service, including checking their tax documents, employment information,
and even update their resumes. Further, using the employee self service feature, employees can
make requests for time off, track training, and even request for benefits; the mobile application
features enables these to be done while on the go. Bamboo HR also enabled reporting for HR,
enabling decisions about employees, and company rules, policies and procedures to be made based
on accurate data. As such, it is an important tool for decision making in the organization. Bamboo
HR provides unique features from the first time a prospective employee interacts with an

organization; applicants can be seamlessly managed through the software such as using the central
database to organize job openings and managing applicant information for those openings. It also
offers other standard expected features such as payroll management. The software however has
weak employee recruitment features and practical applications such as insurance and retirement
benefits management
ADP Software
This is a HR and payroll and benefits administration software that is well designed and has easy to
use features. Through the software platform, an organization can manage taxes, employee health
cover, payroll, and employee insurance. It is database driven and can be used in multiple software
platforms, including Android, IOS, and Microsoft; with cloud access and a mobile version, it can be
accessed from multiple devices. It has an API for anywhere access and has a dashboard that shows
activity. Automatic notifications are inbuilt into the software, such as automated reminders and
customized reports can be generated from the software. It also includes features for employee self
service through the employee portal and because it is database drive, changes are updated instantly.
It has features for goal setting and tracking progress as well as an innovative feature for recruitment
management. The software includes statistics for reporting along with a feature for tracking
employee time and attendance. Time off requests can be made by the employee remotely, as well as
training management features. The added features of insurance management as well as automated
updates on laws and regulations on employee safety and insurance means that it enhances efficient
and safe workplaces. With a dedicated customer service portal, it satisfies employee demand for
digital platforms and services. It can easily integrate with other systems to provide quality advice
from other HR professionals while enabling the filing of taxes to be done seamlessly through it.
Aspects like calculating retirement benefits for employees are automatically incorporated into the
software. The software performs seamlessly and is priced per device, making its pricing highly
flexible. However, it lacks robust employee recruitment features, as compared to say, Clear
Company.
Clear Company HRM
This is also a good HRM software, but which is more forward oriented in that the features it offers
include tracking of applicants and applicant management, souring of candidates, paper less on-
boarding, goal setting and tracking, and performance management. Application management and
tracking is a major feature of the software as it started out as an application tracking software and
has over the years added several new and unique features including partnering other vendors,
providing an end to end talent management system. It enables one click background checks to be
done and comes with a mobile application portal connected with social sharing tools. Video
interviewing can be undertaken through the software and takes candidate details in a manner that is

easy to consume and use for recruitment decision making. The software also has inbuilt features for
sourcing of candidates that enables recruiters to access over 160 million social talent profiles,
making sourcing efficient and reducing the time needed to source for the right talent. It enables
deeper talent pipelines to be created and candidate profiles shared for further follow up.
Candidates can digitize process using online packets by transforming their present on-boarding
work flow into digital versions that are customized, thanks to its paperless on-boarding feature.
Another important and unique feature of the software is performance management that can
accommodate unlimited 360 degree or peer reviews. It has features for automated reminders that are
sent to employees that have not done their reviews and it also has customize tools for reporting for
managers to track individual progress against benchmarks. The software has a feature for goal
setting and tracking that makes it possible for managers as well as employees to identify and
accomplish goals that aid their success while positively impacting company performance. All goals
can be broken down for easy understanding and know the person responsible for each task or
project. The company will thus have a clear picture of their individuals and teams and their
performance and important data can be collected and reports created for management decision
making. However, the software lacks practical HR features such as payrolls, time management, and
is more of a recruitment and employee performance management software.
Analysis of Pros and Cons
Having done the criteria based analysis and the tutorial like analysis based on Pros and Cons for
each software, a weighting model is then used to judge the different softwares and grade them in
order to choose the best. Because the criteria evaluation includes many issues and aspects, it is
given a greater weight of 60%, while the tutorial evaluation is given a weight of 40%. The scores
are then multiplied with the weights for each evaluation method and a final score obtained as shown
in the table below;
Criteria
Evaluation
Average Score
Weight Tutorial
Evaluation
Average score
Weight Total Score
Bamboo HR 4.17 0.6 3.9 0.4 4.06
ADP 4.22 0.6 4.7 0.4 4.41
Clear
Company
4.21 0.6 4.3 0.4 4.25

The ADP software gets the highest score, mainly because of its features that include insurance,
updating on employee safety rules, and the user interface. After evaluation and scoring, the software
are graded for suitability of use as ADP (best), Clear Company (second best), and bamboo HR
(last), based on their weighted scores. The best software, therefore, is ADP HR