Question:
Human Resource Management involves a sequence of functions that extends from the time from when an employee enters an organisation until the time when, for whatever reason, the employee leaves the organisation. Some of the specific activities that are involved in HRM include:
1. Job design and analysis
2. Recruitment
3. Staff orientation and placement
4. Development and training of personnel
5. Employee motivation including remuneration
6. Performance appraisal You are to choose an organisation which you will use to evaluate how that organisation’s HRM function uses three (3) of the above six (6) activities to assist the organisation to achieve and sustain competitive advantage in its particular market.
You will present your analysis in the form of a PowerPoint presentation of no more than twelve (12) slides that include supporting notes. The first slide will display the title of your presentation and your name and student number.
The second slide will introduce the organisation, its scope of business activities and the approximate size of its workforce. The last slide will be a listing of all reference material you have used to help compile your presentation. This must be formatted strictly to the Harvard style. The main body of your presentation will be the analysis of the three (3) chosen activities that detail how the organisation gains competitive advantage through its HRM function.
You are expected to conduct your own research to help you to complete this assessment. As an indication, a satisfactory level of research would be evidenced by the presence of at least 12 references in the Reference List.
As with all Kaplan assessments, your Reference List must be formatted strictly to the Harvard style. Your reference material may be in the form of texts, academic journals, business journals and reports, organisational websites and reports, newspapers, magazine articles and even transcripts of television and radio interviews and investigations. Remember that much of the theory relating to HRM can be found in texts.
Contemporary information can be found in other source materials. On-line sources of information that have no established academic reliability such as Wikipedia, Slideshare, Business balls etc. are to be avoided
Criteria F (Fail) 0%-49% P (Pass) 50%-64% CR (Credit) 65%-74% D (Distinction) 75% – 84% HD (High Distinction) 85%-100% Mark Assessment Content (HRM201 – Human Resource Management) OUT OF 80 MARKS Introduction to the presentation, the chosen organisation and its workforce.
An inadequate description of the organisation that does not permit the reader to sufficiently understand how the organisation operates and the scope of its workforce.
Describes a basic history of the organisation and its workforce Describes the main stages of the enterprise’s development and the current scope of its workforce Provides a comprehensive insight into the enterprise, its workforce and its position in its industry. Provides a comprehensive insight into the enterprise and its workforce. Identifies why it is a leader in its industry. /20 HRM
Activity 1 Does not adequately describe how and why this activity is used to build and maintain competitive advantage for the organisation. Provides a basic but competent argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage. Provides a strong argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage by using theory and some examples for support.
Provides a convincing argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage by using theory and several examples for support. Provides an expert insight into how the organisation uses this HRM activity to gain competitive superiority in its market.
Theory, examples and contemporary data are utilised to support the argument. /20 HRM Activity 2 Does not adequately describe how and why this activity is used to build and maintain competitive advantage for the organisation. Provides a basic but competent argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage. Provides a strong argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage by using theory and some examples for support.
Provides a convincing argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage by using theory and several examples for support. Provides an expert insight into how the organisation uses this HRM activity to gain competitive superiority in its market. Theory, examples and contemporary data are utilised to support the argument. /20 HRM Activity 3 Does not adequately describe how and why this activity is used to build and maintain competitive advantage for the organisation.
Provides a basic but competent argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage. Provides a strong argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage by using theory and some examples for support. Provides a convincing argument for how the organisation uses this activity to build and maintain competitive advantage by using theory and several examples for support. Provides an expert insight into how the organisation uses this HRM activity to gain competitive superiority in its market. Theory,examples and contemporary data are utilised to support the argument. /20 Structure Format and Presentation (HRM201 – Human Resource Management) OUT OF 20 MARKS Answer clearly and logically presented.
Appropriate theory and research used to answer question posed Lacks logical flow and structure; Argument supported by theory sourced from nonacademic literature. No discussion of academic research. Cites very few sources. Some errors in logical flow and structure; Argument supported by basic discussion of relevant theory sourced from a minimal number of academic sources. Little if any discussion of relevant research. Generally sound logical flow and structure; Argument supported by broad discussion of relevant theory sourced from academic literature. Relevant research acknowledged but not discussed. Cites several academic sources. Very good logical flow and structure; Argument supported by detailed discussion of relevant theory and research sourced from numerous academic sources.
Excellent logical flow and structure; Argument supported by comprehensive discussion of relevant theory and research sourced from numerous quality academic sources. /5 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Copyright Regulations 1969 This material has been reproduced and communicated to you by or on behalf of Kaplan Business School pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (‘Act’).
The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act. Kaplan Business School is a part of Kaplan Inc., a leading global provider of educational services. Kaplan Business School Pty Ltd ABN 86 098 181 947 is a registered higher education provider CRICOS Provider Code 02426B. Assessment Marking Rubric Correct academic writing style used, including correct spelling, grammar and punctuation Writing style is unclear; lacks academic discipline; numerous spelling and grammatical errors.
Writing style lacks some clarity; some flaws in logical flow and structure; some use of discipline specific academic language. Several spelling or grammatical errors. Writing style is mostly clear; Mostly written in discipline specific academic language; Some spelling or grammatical errors. Writing style is clear and concise; Correct use of discipline-specific academic language. Some minor spelling or grammatical errors.
Writing style is very clear and concise; Fluent use of discipline specific academic language. No spelling or grammatical errors. /5 Format of answer consistent with question requirements and KBS guidelines. Slide count is within + / – 10% of requirement Does not comply with KBS guidelines. Major layout errors. Breaches slide limit restrictions. Mostly compliant with KBS guidelines. Basic formatting with some layout errors. Compliant with slide limit restrictions. Complies with KBS guidelines. Format generally sound. Compliant with slide limit restrictions. Exceeds basic compliance with KBS guidelines. Format portrays information well. Compliant with slide limit restrictions. Exceeds basic compliance with KBS guidelines.
Format presents information clearly and concisely. Compliant with slide limit restrictions. /5 In-text referencing and reference list follows Harvard style and consistent with KBS guidelines Several sources are unacknowledged. Major errors in format of references. Noncompliance with research scope guidelines. Acknowledged most sources in the text and reference list. Some references in the incorrect format. Compliant with research scope guidelines. Acknowledged most sources in the text and reference list. Most references in the correct format.
Compliant with research scope guidelines. Acknowledged all sources in the text and in reference list. All references in correct format. Compliant with research scope guidelines. Expert usage and acknowledgment of all sources in the text and in reference list. All references in the correct format. Compliant with research scope guidelines.
Answer:
The presentation aims to described how Human Resource Management activities can be employed well into the core activities of the organization.The chosen company for the given presentation is Fed Ex The chosen human resource activity are as follows:
?Recruitment ?Developing and training employees ?Employee motivation
?Fed Ex enterprise was established in 1971. ?The firm is an American multinational courier delivery service company with its headquarters in Memphis.?The activities of FedEx include sales , marketing, IT and administration to support transportation business. ?The Tech Connect business provides technical support. ?The Office business provided document and business services. ?The company is popularly known for its overnight shipping service and strong tracking service (Fedex.com. 2018). ?The company has received various awards and recognitions for the best place to work in. ?At present, the company has a workforce of 500000+.
HRM ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE COMPEITIVE ADVANTAGE
?The HR Department is responsible for ?Formulating strategies which help in recruitment ?These strategies help in retaining employees as well ?The Human Resource Activities control the overall operations of the business and hence, they tend to form an integral aspect of achieving the objectives of the organization (Alfes et al. 2013).
RECRUITMENT
?Recruitment is often considered to be the first stage of an employee relationship with the organization. ?FedEx has a well defined recruitment system which involves indulging in activities like Pre-test interview, Writing Test which is generally a skill based test followed by a Group Discussion. The candidates who have been able to successfully clear all the rounds will be selected. ?Recruitment helps the organization to get the right kind of people for the organization. FedEx is a customer oriented organization and this makes it even more important to hire good employees who will be able to engage in developing a successful organization-employee relationship (Bratton and Gold 2017).
?FedEx aims to achieve its organizational objective of providing 100% customer satisfaction and it knows that it is not possible to do so without recruiting the right kind of people ?For this reason, the company stresses on recruiting the right people with its three step method in order to achieve its ultimate objective of customer satisfaction which would not be possible without adequate employee support.
EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION
?Motivation of the employees is an extremely important aspect to continue the operations of an organization. ?Employees are motivated in numerous ways which include monetary and non monetary methods ?The monetary methods of motivation are a good remuneration and incentive scheme ?The non-monetary methods are extra convenient schemes. Health benefits, regards, recognition and promotions (Cascio 2018).
?Some of the strategies used by FedEx are very common and similar to that of the other organizations however there exist certain strategies which are unique. ?The ` People first` corporate philosophy of FedEx is very unique and it requires the firm to foster a unique relationship with its employees.?The initiatives taken by FedEx to motivate its employees often tend to standout among the players in the industry.
?One of the biggest examples of this is the ` Open door program`?Employee motivation is considered to be important at FedEx because the company knows that the employees who are motivated perform better and that goes a long way in increasing the productivity at work.
DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
?Training and development of the employee skills can be defined as a method whereby the organization intends to build a workforce that is efficient and able to meet the needs of the changing business environment. ?FedEx us aware of the fact that if it is successful in developing the skills of the employees then it will be able to attain organizational success (Goetsch and Davis 2014). ?FedEx believes that the employees of the business are its greatest asset and that if they are successful in looking after the people then the organization will be able to easily serve the customers as the employees will return the favour. ?At FedEx a continuous system of Training and Development is followed to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in the future.
CONCLUSION
?Therefore from the given analysis it could be stated that FedEx is indeed the best place to work in and it takes complete care of its employees.
?FedEx realises that by taking good care of the employees, it will be able to achieve organizational success and that will act as a competitive advantage for it in future.
?Employees are considered to be the backbone of the organization and having a skilled workforce, contributes immensely to a competitive advantage of the firm in the market.
?Fir this reason, FedEx has a well defined Employee Motivation, Recruitment and Training and development strategy to help in keeping its employees happy which indirectly makes the firm successful.
RECOMMENDATIONS
?The following recommendations have been made for FedEx:
?Developing a comprehensive Incentive System
?Improving the Leadership in an organization
?Enhancing internal communication
?Mentoring
REFERENCES
?Alfes, K., Shantz, A.D., Truss, C. and Soane, E.C. ,2013. The link between perceived human resource management practices, engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model. The international journal of human resource management, 24(2), pp.330-351. Routledge.
?Bratton, J. and Gold, J.,2017. Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave.
?Cascio, W. ,2018. Managing human resources. McGraw-Hill Education.
?Fedex.com. 2018. FedEx: Shipping, Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management.
?Gatewood, R., Feild, H.S. and Barrick, M. ,2015. Human resource selection. Nelson Education.
?Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B. ,2014. Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson.
