iHRIS Manage, open source software created to support organizations in developing countries to design and manage a comprehensive human resources strategy, has now found a domestic audience. Recently, IntraHealth learned that AmericanWork Inc., headquartered in St. Simons Island, GA, is installing the software to track and forecast staffing needs, salaries, and employee training expenses. The software package was developed by the Capacity Project and is now supported by CapacityPlus, both led by IntraHealth International.

AmericanWork Inc., an organization committed to serving people with mental illness and addictive disease, employs about 300 people in 24 mostly rural locations, including outpatient mental health clinics, day programs, supervised sheltered apartments, and employment acquisition and retention services. 

Rhett Davis, an IT specialist at AmericanWork Inc., is spearheading the project of implementing iHRIS Manage. “We have been using an undeveloped access database and paper records to manage our personnel,” says Davis, “but as we have increased in size and complexity, this system no longer serves us very well.” Davis found the iHRIS Manage online and was extremely impressed, “I have looked at a lot of HRIS and none of them had all of the elements I was looking for. iHRIS is a perfect fit as far as I can tell so far.”

To date, Davis has set up a production site on a dedicated computer stationed in AmericanWork’s corporate headquarters office. While setting up the system, Davis recognized a need to customize the software for his organization by adding a descriptive field to the dropdown list of facility and position type. “As I was setting these up, I considered that it would be very helpful to my HR director and others to have a description of each type when entering new positions or facilities, so they could better tell what types the new position or facility would best be assigned to.”

Davis contacted the CapacityPlus HRIS team in Chapel Hill, and our developers plan to add the desired descriptive fields in the next release of the software. “I am extremely excited about this software and this project,” says Davis. “My office mates have begun to groan and roll their eyes, as I make them look at features or exclaim when I discover something else we will be able to do.  They will be more excited, I am sure, once we get it implemented and it starts making their jobs easier.”

IntraHealth and CapacityPlus staff are also excited about this new, domestic use for iHRIS Manage and hope other organizations will take advantage of the software, customize it for their needs, and provide feedback.