HR Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know

1. Introduction

1.1 What is “HR Analytics?”

1.2 The Art and Science of it All

1.3 The Four Roles of HR Analytics

Chapter Summary

Quiz 1

The Rest of this Book

2. Recruiting and Staffing

2.1 Generic Staffing Model

2.2 Job Analysis

2.3 Sourcing

2.4 Recruiting

2.5 Reliability

2.6 Validity

2.7 Words of Caution in Using Assessments

2.8 Metrics

Chapter Summary

Case Study: Physical Therapy Recruiting

Quiz 2

3. Total Rewards

3.1 Job Evaluation

3.2 Salary Surveys and Benchmarking

3.3 Incentives and Pay-for-Performance

3.4 Evaluation of Benefits

3.5 Metrics

Chapter Summary

Case Study: Incentive Plan Return On Investment

Quiz 3

4. Training, Succession and Careers

4.1 Competency Modeling

4.2 Training Needs Assessment

4.3 Training Measurement and Experimental Design

4.4 Regression Modeling and Causality

4.5 Analytics in Succession and Career Planning

4.6 Succession Planning

4.7 Metrics

Chapter Summary

Case Study: ManuCo Succession Planning

Quiz 4

5. Nonexempt Workforce

5.1 Why focus here?

5.2 Hourly Hiring

5.3 Utility Analysis

5.4 Collective Bargaining

5.5 Productivity Analysis

5.6 Absenteeism

5.7 Metrics

Chapter Summary

Case Study: ManuCo Hourly Hiring Utility Analysis

Quiz 5

6. Getting Started

6.1 Capability / Readiness Matrix

6.2 Recruiting

6.3 Training impact

6.4 Total Rewards - Pay Equity

6.5 Employee Turnover

6.6 A Note About Inclusion and Diversity Analysis

Chapter Summary

Case Study: The Four Roles of HR Analytics

Quiz 6

7. In Closing

Number 1: Know Your Data

Number 2: Understand What You Can and Cannot Do (Yet!)

Number 3: Know Your Organization

Number 4: Think Differently

Number 5: “People Should Make People Decisions”

Some Closing Thoughts - My Hopes and a Thank You

Chapter Summary

Appendix: Getting Started with Excel – Video Tutorials

Basics of Microsoft Excel

The Excel Environment

Basic Operations

Formatting

Data Manipulation and Basic Formulas

Pivot Tables

Charts and Graphs

Slicers

Putting It All Together

Congratulations!

References

Dr. Michael Walsh is an industrial and organizational psychologist with over 15 years of human resources and people analytics experience. Michael currently leads Global Talent Management and Organizational Effectiveness for Eaton Corporation’s Vehicle Group. He also teaches a Human Resources Analytics course for master’s level students at the University of Illinois and Wayne State University. Previously, Michael’s passion for People Analytics landed him at Bloomberg and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles where he started and led the Global People Strategy and Analytics and People Analytics and Insights functions, respectively. Michael began his professional career as a client facing consultant for Mercer’s Human Capital practice focused on HR Strategy, Organizational Design/Development and Human Capital Analytics. Michael worked for Mercer in Chicago, Dubai and New York. His master’s degree is in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois and his PhD is in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Vibrant Publishers is focused on presenting the best texts for learning about technology and business as well as books for test preparation. Categories include programming, operating systems and other texts focused on IT. In addition, a series of books helps professionals in their own disciplines learn the business skills needed in their professional growth.

Vibrant Publishers has a standardized test preparation series covering the GMAT, GRE and SAT, providing ample study and practice material in a simple and well organized format, helping students get closer to their dream universities.

The Self-Learning Management Series is designed to help students, new managers, career switchers, and entrepreneurs learn essential management lessons and covers every aspect of business, from HR to Finance to Marketing to Operations across any and every industry. Each book includes basic fundamentals, important concepts, and standard and well-known principles as well as practical ways of application of the subject matter.

Every function of an organization can benefit from analytics. Dr. Michael Walsh has and his book 'HR Analytics Essentials' provides a helpful framework for establishing and using analytics to support the Human Resources function and key decision-making. This book is a good tool for individuals in the field of H.R. and managers.
-- Leslie Yerkes, President, Catalyst Consulting Group, Inc.

This book provides a good, basic overview of HR analytics that is easy to understand and is not overly technical. It could be a useful supplement to an introduction to HR text used in an undergraduate class to provide additional coverage of HR analytics which is especially important to the strategic role of HR in organizations.
-- Loren Kuzuhara, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This book explains the scientific method of inquiry as it is applied to HR functions in a clear and understandable manner. The book has easily viewed charts, graphs, case studies, discussions questions, and quizzes to help the reader. The use of statistics to operationalize data is easy to comprehend. The book covers the essential areas of the HR function in organizations such as staffing and training and compensating both salaried and hourly employees. A plus are the video tutorials available online. I would recommend this book without reservation to both, teachers, students or practitioner of HR who wish to comprehend the subject matter of HR Analytics.
-- Dr. Jerry Spiegel, President, Lakeview Educational Association 

HR Analytics Essentials is a competent source for those wanting a primer on using data about people to drive meaningful change within an organization. While most textbooks in this area focus on either quantitative analysis or psychological theory, Dr. Walsh’s work does an effective job at bridging the gap between these two through an organizational lens. By exposing the reader to a broad range of important concepts relevant to HR analytics, this book is a terrific starting point for those wanting a framework to understand both the importance and application of data in human resources.
-- James Meersman, Juniata College

Dr. Michael Walsh outlines a pragmatic approach to HR Analytics for the most novice to the most advanced. His writing style is easy to follow, and often funny, without talking down to the reader.
-- Dr. Wendy Hirsch, VP HR Technology, Analytics & Services, Eaton

an intellectually fascinating blend of instruction, theory, and illustrative samples

This guidebook expertly walks readers through the more foundational principles of the analytical process and is packed with HR-specific conditions and steadily deepens the discussion from foundational to more advanced topics. Individuals with a basic background in statistics will quickly absorb the contents and those with experience in HR will easily identify opportunities for utilization. This book could also pique the interest of Organizational Change Management professionals and anyone interested in organizational strategy.
-- Reviewed by Deborah Adams for Readers' Favorite

Workforce analytics and metric are changing the employment landscape, and HR professionals who embrace data analytics as they examine employee behaviors and preferences have a great opportunity to improve productivity in the workplace. HR Analytics Essentials is must read for every human resource professional and the book itself is a must have in human resource’s toolbox. If you want to move from being analytically resistant to analytically willing and finally become analytically savvy you must start with this book first.
-- Fernán R. Cepero,
YMCA OF GREATER ROCHESTER - ASSOCIATION OFFICE

It’s better to analyse than paralyse your business with wrong decisions. This is an excellent book that
includes video sessions on the most crucial and fundamental aspects of HR analysis including Pivot
table, data slicers, etc. The video tutorials will help the readers to comprehend and practice concepts
on real time basis in actual organizational scenarios.
-- Ms. Jyoti Kukreja
Assistant Professor,
Jagannath International Management School

Thanks for sharing the study material of the book on HR metrics. I have received the hard copy as well. I am using it for my PGDM students. The online google link shared by you of the book is quite useful in teaching. However, I found the PPTs have very less material, it could be improved by adding more material from the book. Overall it's a great read and in line with current curriculum requirements.
-- Dr. Fehmina Khalique
Associate Professor
Head - Research Cell
Editor- Lloyd Business review
Lloyd Business School

A great guide to the essentials of HR. This would be an excellent textbook for a human resources college course.
-- Jennifer Hall
Librarything User

This is a good survey textbook for introduction of the basics of Human Resources, statistics, and data analytics. The writing is clear and understandable and logically walks through the process of understanding HR concepts and how to use statistics and data analytics to evaluate and support decision making. As a survey of these areas, the coverage is very broad (appropriate for novices in HR and data analytics) and not very deep (but provides a valuable starting point for more specialized learning). I can see that this book would be very appropriate for a college class with a knowledgeable professor. Covers concepts and provides data for application. Online resources include 2 Excel spreadsheets with about 500 rows of data for exercises
-- Del DeVries
Librarything User

First of all, I would like to congratulate M.J Walsh for lucidly presenting such a subtle title. The contents of this book are very relevant and contemporary. This book is beneficial for the students as well as for the practitioners. The overall presentation is excellent. However, in my opinion, some more applications in the field of HR could have been incorporated. Last but not least, I would thanks to the VIBRANT publications for their good effort in this regard.
-- Nirmal Chandra Roy

Online Resources

Instructor Resources