What is an example of an external HRIS data input?

• A. Market surveys
• B. Internal performance ratings
• C. Employee time sheets
• D. Incident reports

Answer: (A)

External data inputs come from outside the organization and provide benchmarks against which internal data can be compared. Market surveys fit this because they collect compensation, benefits, and labor market information from many employers, offering a view of what the market pays for similar roles. This external data helps HR set competitive salaries and understand market trends without relying on internal records.

The other inputs originate inside the organization: internal performance ratings are evaluations created by managers about employees, employee time sheets are records submitted by staff to track hours worked, and incident reports document events that occur within the company. While these are valuable for day-to-day HR operations, they are internal sources and do not bring in external market context.