Video Teleconferencing in Video Teleconferencing in Human ResourcesHuman Resources

Johnny Muhuntharaj

Nick Bruzzone

Mike Fry

HR Connects PeopleHR 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

Old IdeaOld 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

New CapabilitiesNew Capabilities

Greater bandwidth and advances in fibre optic technologies

More data can be transferred in real time (voice + graphics, images, and even streaming video)

RequirementsRequirements

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)

People Can Meet OnlinePeople 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)

Talent AcquisitionTalent 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

AdvantagesAdvantages

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

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

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)

Video TrainingVideo Training

240co employees could be trained by specialists from all over the world

Interaction would still be possible with the instructor through video conferencing

AdvantagesAdvantages

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

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

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

Future Application Within 240coFuture 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

Costs vs. SavingsCosts 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

RisksRisks

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

Feasibility AssessmentFeasibility 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

RecommendationRecommendation

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

Future ConsiderationsFuture 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