Request for Proposal Process - Assignment Example

The steps that have been outlined in the development of an RFP are such that they clarify the situation to both the parties involved i.e. the vendors and the customer. The customer highlights their requirements in a clear and orderly manner and as such enables the vendor to understand what is required from him and to respond accordingly. The steps benefit both parties as it eases the purchasing of products and services and accelerates the bidding process. About an HRIS system, the RFP enables one to review their current situation, note what is missing, communicate their requirements and need for change, and finally request proposals from vendors.

It enables one to evaluate proposals from vendors according to a common blueprint delivered to all vendors and find those that have to meet all the conditions stated while eliminating those that were unable to. One of the main risks of an RFP process is that the vendors may utilize unknown resources (Sant, 2004). The vendor may use third-party resources to complete some components of the product. This may lead to complications in the future as the company has to deal with more members who are not included in the contract.

Another risk is that the RFP may have an imprecise service level agreement thus causing problems after the implementation of the product. The third risk is that the vendor may compromise the project to fit the selection criteria. If cost is the main criterion, the vendor may under-bid or cut corners thus causing problems in the future (Sant, 2004). Finally, all vendors (even those who lose the contract) have to dedicate time and money to developing a proposal. This may cause them to embellish the description of their product so that they pass the selection process.

As good stewards of employee information, what can HR do to better ensure that important electronic employee information does not fall into the wrong hands? One of the main methods is instituting a database security system that is only controlled by the administrator. This should incorporate details on who is allowed to access the information, in what situation they can access or change this information, and a log of everyone who accesses this information. Another means of protecting employee information is by instituting a companywide policy that details how employees can utilize the company resources and what information is available to each respective employee. Finally, the HR team should develop a response plan in case of unauthorized access or data loss.