In an organization that recently implemented an HRIS, which step of the physical design process was ineffective when 43% of departments were behind schedule and end-user attendance was 50%?

• A. Developing an implementation schedule
• B. Defining user roles
• C. Creating a training plan
• D. Conducting user acceptance testing

Answer: (A)

Scheduling the rollout in an HRIS implementation is the key factor being evaluated. When a large portion of departments are behind schedule and end-user attendance is only about half, it indicates the rollout plan itself isn’t realistic or well communicated, and the timelines and milestones aren’t effectively coordinated across teams. The implementation schedule sets when each department should complete design, testing, training, and go-live activities, and it also signals when end users should participate in training and acceptance testing. If that schedule is ineffective, delays propagate across departments and participation drops because people aren’t aligned on when to engage or what to expect. The other options matter for readiness and security (defining user roles), training quality (creating a training plan), and validation (user acceptance testing), but the symptoms described point most directly to problems with the implementation schedule itself.