Electronic Classification Activity Request (eCAR) Tracking System

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

– The County of San Diego, Department of Human Resources (DHR) receives an average of 350 classification requests per year. Prior to the new system, each of these requests was completed on paper and submitted by Departmental Human Resources Officers in each department. They were routed for signature approvals and submitted to DHR for entry into a stand-alone database. The staff time, paper costs, and the errors that resulted from completing the County’s Classification Activity Request (CAR) form manually showed a 23-30 percent error rate in completing the form and/or attaching the appropriate documentation. DHR determined that this was unacceptable and embarked on a mission to create a more automated CAR processing system. DHR developed an electronic CAR Tracking System in 2009 that allowed departments to utilize an electronic “Smart form” to submit a variety of classification requests. The from and any attachments are routed electronically for signature approval and entered into an Access database were the requests are reviewed by Senior Human Resources Analysts and assigned to staff. The system has reporting capabilities to show workload, completion goals, and general statistics. The eCAR “Smart Form” has decreased errors to less than 5 percent and the use of paper has been decreased by over 90 percent.