Which of the following is a characteristic of open-source HR Information Systems?

Within the HRPA competency areas addressing HR technology and data (Reporting and Financial Management; Organizational Effectiveness), HR professionals are expected to understand system options and governance so they can select and steward HRIS that meet organizational needs. Open-source systems are defined by the availability of source code and the permission to inspect, adapt, and modify the software to fit organizational requirements. This aligns with HRPA’s emphasis on selecting HR technologies that support business processes, enable configuration, and allow responsible data stewardship.

Option A is incorrect: some open-source licenses require sharing modifications only if you redistribute the software; organizations are not inherently required to “share back” customizations merely because they used or modified the code internally.

Option B is incorrect: “open-source” refers to licensing and modifiability, not price; implementation, hosting, support, and add-ons may involve costs.

Option D is incorrect: limited public access is characteristic of proprietary systems, not open-source.

Relevant Framework Reference (HRPA):

Professional Competency Framework: competencies on selecting and managing HR technologies and ensuring data governance to support business outcomes (Reporting and Financial Management; Organizational Effectiveness).

HRPA Study Guide: HRIS fundamentals—system selection criteria, configurability, governance, and alignment to organizational needs.