HRM Issues and Solutions in Canva: A Study

Canva is facing HRM issues related to promotion and excessive overtime. Lack of promotion affects job satisfaction and job security of the workers. The company needs to provide flexible and remote work arrangements, implement motivation theories, conduct regular performance appraisals, and provide monetary benefits to overcome these issues.

Running head: HRM

HRM
Executive summary
Canva is a graphic design company providing innovative solutions and products to the customers
related to graphic and design. It is stated that HRM is considered as the backbone of Canva to
handle the various issues related to employees. In today’s globalization world, employee
promotion and remote work arrangement are vital to develop and grow the business activities
internationally. It also helps the company to be a player in graphic design industry. Due to lack
of poor HRM, the company is facing several challenges while growing the business
internationally. The paper outlines that how the company faces all these issues and how it
manages issues related to promotion and excessive overtime.

HRM
Table of Contents
Executive summary.....................................................................................................................................2
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Background of the company........................................................................................................................4
Mission........................................................................................................................................................4
Vision..........................................................................................................................................................5
Value statement...........................................................................................................................................5
Research findings and analysis....................................................................................................................6
Questionnaire..............................................................................................................................................6
Identification of HRM issues.......................................................................................................................8
Develop solutions and recommendations....................................................................................................9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................11
Appendices................................................................................................................................................13

HRM
Introduction
HRM plays a significant role in each and every company to run the business activities
successfully and smoothly. The main objective of this task is to identify and analyze the HRM
issues which are being faced by Canva while initiating and growing the business. Canva which is
a graphic design Corporation has been chosen in the task. The research study shows that how
Canva faces ample of HRM issues such as lack of promotion and excessive overtime that may
impact on the performance of the workers. Innovative and dynamic solutions that are used by
Canva have also been presented in the task widely. At the end, recommendations that help the
firm to overcome these issues also are drawn in the paper.
Background of the company
Canva is a graphic design tool website which is incorporated in 2012 (Canva, 2018). The
company uses a drag and drop format and renders access to over a million graphics, photographs
and fonts. It is used by professionals, experts and non-designers to attract maximum number of
customers internationally. The company was founded by Melanie Perkins in Australia. It has
been analyzed that Canva has an excellent team of developers, artists, marketers, designers,
investors and advisors. They have come from unpredicted places to perform roles and
responsibilities effectively and efficiency (Canva, 2018). Canva is loved and used by millions of
people across the globe. The company has approx 750,000 users in the global market. The team
of Canva work to attain common goals and objectives in the competitive market.
Mission
Mission plays a major role in achieving the long term vision effectively. The main mission of
Canva is to help the customers or clients for selecting innovative and attractive designs, samples,
drop and drag. It further works to provide nice and dynamic content to the customers. Apart from
this, the firm wants to provide amazing tools, methods and templates which make easy the whole
progress.

HRM
Vision
The main vision of Canva is to become a leader in the graphic design industry by providing
innovative apps and templates to the customers around the world. It further works towards the
improvement and enhancement of culture and working environment. The firm is communicating
and collaborating effectively with customers to maximize and boost profitability in the
international market. Along with this, it is maintaining good and strong relationship with
customers to make a strong image in the minds of the customers who are interested in graphic,
design and tools.
Value statement
The core values of the company include concise, outcome oriented, inclusive, integrity, dignity,
accountability and honesty. These core values help Canva to be a leader in the global market. It
is also providing innovative solutions to the customers with using unique core values (Horwitz,
2009). The solutions and products which are crafted by Canva are used by millions of people in
more than 190 countries every day. In today’s globalization world, the company is growing
rapidly, the company still got a very small product team thus, every single employee plays
various roles and responsibilities and has a wider impact on the community as well as business.
It is studied that the firm works closely with designers, stellar engineers and growth marketers to
explain the next generation of Canva’s products on regular basis. With effective and unique core
values, the company takes the user experience and knowledge seriously and effectively. It does
not want one button or word out of place along with this, the firm cares highly about the feel and
look of the products. Simplicity is another significant core value for Canva that helps in growing
and improving the business internationally. One of the significant core values is to ‘make
difficult things simple’ and the product managers or leaders need to be the champion of this
value (Canva, 2018). Canva is looking employees who posses good communication and UX
skills (wire framing, prototyping and visual communication). The applicants who show both of
these attributes in the interview process are usually very successful and effective at Canva.

HRM
Research findings and analysis
Questionnaire
It is stated that there are various methods can be used by the company to gain knowledge about
the customers internationally. The company uses interview questionnaire method that has been
discussed below.
Q1. Gender and experience
It is noted that various people are included in the interview questionnaire. It is analyzed from the
various studies that 6 out of 10 experts and professionals are man and 4 are women. Various
male and female can participate in this method. The majority of the experts or professionals must
have 2-4 years of experience. Only few people have less than 2 years of experience. It is noted
from the overwhelming study that goals and objectives are maximized and attained by collecting
ample of data and facts from the workers to handle and eliminate the HRM issues and boost the
productivity and efficiency of them.
Q2.Why it is needed to overcome the issues related to promotion and excessive overtime?
It is essential to encourage the workers to boost and enhance the profitability and outcomes in the
competitive market. It is very much essential to identify and analyze the issues related to
promotion and excessive overtime because it affects the working capacity and efficiency of the
workers to a large extent. By reducing these issues, the company can attain customer loyalty and
trust and improve job satisfaction globally. It also helps in providing job security to the workers
widely.
Q3. How the company can promote workers and reduce excessive overtime?
It is needed for Canva to promote and encourage the workers effectively to increase efficiency
and outputs. Along with this, the company can promote and improve the efficiency and
performance by launching new programs and sessions. Apart from this, innovation performance
appraisal sessions can be conducted by Canvas to build and improve the promotion. It will help
to maximize and boost morale, loyalty and trust among the workers. The flexible and remote

HRM
work arrangement could be provided to the employees to make happy and healthy them at the
workplace.
Q.4 How promotions programs and remote work arrangements improve and enhance the
performance of the employees in Canva?
It is analyzed from the various studies that promotion and incentives are significant to uplift
outputs and increase job satisfaction. It is noted that higher promotion lead high job security
among the workers. If the workers are promoted to a strong and high profile or position then they
can able to face various risks and threats of the market. Remote work arrangements help the
employees to maintain a balance between work and home.
Q.5 Why promotion and remote work arrangement are essential for Canva?
The promotion schemes and flexible working hours are essential and significant for the company
to gain competitive benefits in the global market as it further helps Canva to run the business
actions and operations effectively and efficiently. By using promotion schemes, the company
does not need to invest money on external candidates for training and development. Apart from
this, remote work arrangement helps to improve the performance and productivity of the
workers. Thus, it is beneficial for the company in the competitive market.
Q.6 what ways and strategies are used by Canva to handle and manage these HRM issues
related to promotion and excessive overtime?
It is stated that the company collects feedback and reviews from the top management and
managers to judge and analyze the performance and efficiency of the workers. For this purpose,
the firm uses career advancement programs, talent management and innovative performance
appraisal method to earn more and more revenue in the global market. Motivation theories and
approaches are also implemented by the company to overcome various issues related to
promotion and excessive overtime. Employee engagement is done by the company to improve
and encourage their efficiency and performance. In addition, strong and open communication is
maintained by the firm to make good relationship with employees at the workplace. In the
absence of strong and open communication, the company is facing ample of issues and
challenges while functioning at international level. Remote work arrangements are being

HRM
provided to the workers to motivate them for exercising tasks and duties in a hassle free manner.
An audit committee is appointed by the Canva to keep an eye on performance and efficiency of
potential candidates.
Identification of HRM issues
It is examined that Canva is facing ample of challenges and issues while working in the
international market. In today’s era, the firm is entertaining several issues such as financial
problems, gender issues, lack of promotion and excessive overtime issues. Lack of promotion
and encouragement are major issues in Canva that are being managed and handled by the
company (Nicholson, 2018). Due to lack of promotion, the employees are thinking to switch the
job or employment. It reduces job satisfaction and job security of the workers and affects the
financial position and image of Canva adversely (Scullion and Collings, 2011). It is noted that no
worker wants to be stuck in a dead end job, regardless of its benefits and compensation. Due to
this, many workers start to look for work elsewhere when they realize they have no promotion
opportunities and motivation at their current position (Gupta and Shaw, 2014). Along with this,
lack of advancement opportunities is most significant reasons workers begin to look for new
employment in the global market (Schnotz, 2018).
It is elucidated that lack of advancement can push an employee out the door and into position
with some other companies. It largely affects the brand image and goodwill of Canva adversely.
Monetary impact is another reason that affects the growth and progress of the company and
employees as well (Singh et al, 2012). If the company is failed to provide monetary benefits to
the employees then they think to switch employment and go in competitive organization
(Steinmetz et al, 2011). It has been found that Canva creates fewer open positions, thus it can be
complex for the company to promote and motivate their workers at a higher rate. Resistance to
change also increases due to lack of promotion in the workplace that affects the growth rate of
Canva to a large extent (Boon et al, 2009). It has been found that monetary compensation and
rewards are significant for the company to keep employees motivated and happy while
performing roles and responsibilities. It is elucidated that the company does not provide training
and development coaching to the workers thus it may also affect the working capacity of them at
the workplace. Lack of promotion and excessive overtime further affect the strong and unique

HRM
relationship of the workers and employers (Boxall and Purcell, 2011). These issues also affect
the organizational culture and environment of Canva. The employees get disturb and
disappointed at the workplace due to lack of promotion and excessive overtime. Lack of
promotion leads stress, frustration and dissatisfaction among the employees in the organization
(Leviticus, 2018).
Develop solutions and recommendations
The opportunity for advancement as any manager and employee knows, is a great and significant
way to promote the employees. It has been found that Canva needs to use innovative policies,
strategies and approaches to handle and manage the issues related to promotion and excessive
overtime (Vermeeren, Kuipers and Steijn, 2014). The company needs to introduce new appraisal
schemes and strategies to overcome the promotion issues in the workplace. It has been further
noted that Canva should focus on the working environment and culture to motivate the
employees towards the attainment of goals and objectives widely (Sessoms, 2018). Training
seminars and computer based training need to be conducted by Canva to mitigate and reduce
issues and challenges related to promotion and excessive overtime. Monetary benefit is one of
the significant ways to prevent and decrease promotion issues at the workplace (Thompson,
2011). The company should provide monetary benefits, rewards and recognition to the
employees for enhancing and leading their performance and productivity towards the
achievement of targets and goals (Mariappanadar, 2012). Innovative and effective advancement
opportunities can be launched by Canva to build and develop a dynamic image in the global
market. It is further significant to keep opportunities for workers in mind when making offers
and structuring teams. The career ladder is an effective and vital method managers use to
motivate and promote the workers (Van Buren III, Greenwood and Sheehan, 2011). The
employers need to conduct a methodical workplace risk assessment to keep employee happy and
healthy at the workplace. They need to investigate and analyze all incidents and near misses and
evaluate the root cause to overcome the various issues and concerns related to HRM (Weekes,
2014). It is portrayed that the firm needs to communicate and collaborate all the changes in work
processes and equipment to employees. Apart from this, leaders need to assist and guide the
workers for conducting business functions in a hassle free manner (Zibarras and Coan, 2015).
They should encourage and promote the employees to report health and safety issues. Moreover,

HRM
Canva promotes and improves safety training sessions and seminars to avert and minimize the
promotion and excessive overtime issues (Lucas, 2018).
It is recommended that Canva should focus on the remote work arrangement to handle various
concerns related to excessive overtime. The firm further should develop a safety and effective
leadership culture at all levels of the business and ensure all managers of the company uphold the
rules, standards and principles of a favorable safety and culture. Open communication shall be
promoted at the workplace to communicate with majority of people in the workplace. Formal
mentoring shall be provided to the employees to boost efficiency and productivity of the workers
globally. Career advancement programs shall be held to improve and enhance the skills and
talents of the workers internationally. In this way, the company can strive and grow its business
in the international market and can attract more consumers. The mangers must make strong
relationship with coworkers to reduce and identify their issues, queries and complaints while
functioning. Motivational drivers further shall be used to boost the performance and productivity
of the subordinates at the workplace. It is studied that Canva should focus on the internal
promotion to reduce training costs and increase efficiency of the current workers. Recognition
and reward are also needed to eliminate the issues and challenges related to promotion,
motivation and excessive overtime. Remote work arrangements like work from and part time job
further help in mitigating and minimizing promotion issues.
Conclusion
It is concluded from the above discussion that lack of promotion and excessive overtime are
significant issues that are being dealt by Canva while initiating the business globally. These are
the serious and significant issues and challenges that need to be managed and resolved by the
company. These issues further affect the working capacity and capabilities of the employees
adversely. Therefore, it is essential to overcome promotion and excessive overtime issues to a
large extent. Motivation is fundamental factor that helps in reducing these issues globally. It is
analyzed from the above study that promotion plays a major role from the employee and
organization point of view because it leads higher productivity and job satisfaction. The
company can overcome on these issues by implementing innovative strategies and approaches.

HRM
References
Boon, C., Paauwe, J., Boselie, P. and Den Hartog, D., 2009. Institutional pressures and HRM:
developing institutional fit. Personnel Review, 38(5), pp.492-508.
Boxall, P. and Purcell, J., 2011. Strategy and human resource management. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Canva.2018. Our story [Online]. Available from https://about.canva.com/en_in/story/ [Accessed
as on 22nd October 2018].
Canva.2018. Product management [Online]. Available from
https://www.canva.com/careers/product-management/ [Accessed as on 22nd October 2018].
Gupta, N. and Shaw, J.D., 2014. Employee compensation: The neglected area of HRM
research. Human Resource Management Review, 24(1), pp.1-4.
Horwitz, F.M., 2009. Managing human resources in Africa: emergent market challenges. The
Routledge companion to strategic human resource management, pp.462-75.
Leviticus.J.2018. Job promotion issues [Online]. Available from https://work.chron.com/job-
promotion-issues-16139.html [Accessed as on 22nd October 2018].
Lucas.S.2018. Need 6 strategies to promote the growth of your employees? [Online], Available
from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/need-6-strategies-to-promote-the-growth-of-your-
employees-1918617 [Accessed as on 22nd October 2018].
Mariappanadar, S., 2012. Harm of efficiency oriented HRM practices on stakeholders: An ethical
issue for sustainability. Society and Business Review, 7(2), pp.168-184.
Nicholson.N.2018. How to motivate your problem people [Online]. Available from
https://hbr.org/2003/01/how-to-motivate-your-problem-people [Accessed as on 22nd October
2018].

HRM
Schnotz.W.2018. Problems that can develop without promotion with employees [Online].
Available from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/problems-can-develop-promotion-employees-
41323.html [Accessed as on 22nd October 2018].
Scullion, H. and Collings, D., 2011. Global talent management. Routledge.
Sessoms.G.2018. Ways to promote employees [Online]. Available from
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/ways-promote-employees-17676.html [Accessed as on 22nd
October 2018].
Singh, S., Darwish, T.K., Costa, A.C. and Anderson, N., 2012. Measuring HRM and
organisational performance: concepts, issues, and framework. Management Decision, 50(4),
pp.651-667.
Steinmetz, H., Schwens, C., Wehner, M. and Kabst, R., 2011. Conceptual and methodological
issues in comparative HRM research: The Cranet project as an example. Human Resource
Management Review, 21(1), pp.16-26.
Thompson, P., 2011. The trouble with HRM. Human Resource Management Journal, 21(4),
pp.355-367.
Van Buren III, H.J., Greenwood, M. and Sheehan, C., 2011. Strategic human resource
management and the decline of employee focus. Human Resource Management Review, 21(3),
pp.209-219.
Vermeeren, B., Kuipers, B. and Steijn, B., 2014. Does leadership style make a difference?
Linking HRM, job satisfaction, and organizational performance. Review of Public Personnel
Administration, 34(2), pp.174-195.
Weekes.J.2014. 12 ways to promote a positive safety culture in your workplace [Online].
Available from https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/12-ways-to-promote-a-positive-
safety-culture-in-your-workplace/ [Accessed as on 22nd October 2018].
Zibarras, L.D. and Coan, P., 2015. HRM practices used to promote pro-environmental behavior:
a UK survey. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(16), pp.2121-
2142.

HRM
Appendices
Questionnaire
It is stated that there are various methods can be used by the company to gain knowledge about
the customers internationally. The company uses interview questionnaire method that has been
discussed below.
Q1. Gender and experience
It is noted that various people are included in the interview questionnaire. It is analyzed from the
various studies that 6 out of 10 experts and professionals are man and 4 are women. Various
male and female can participate in this method. The majority of the experts or professionals must
have 2-4 years experience. Only few people have less than 2 years experience. It is noted from
the overwhelming study that goals and objectives are maximized and attained by collecting
ample of data and facts from the workers to handle and eliminate the HRM issues and boost the
productivity and efficiency of them.
Q2.Why it is needed to overcome the issues related to promotion and excessive overtime?
It is essential to encourage the workers to boost and enhance the profitability and outcomes in the
competitive market. It is very much essential to identify and analyze the issues related to
promotion and excessive overtime because it affects the working capacity and efficiency of the
workers to a large extent. By reducing these issues, the company can attain customer loyalty and
trust and improve job satisfaction globally. It also helps in providing job security to the workers
widely.
Q3. How the company can promote workers and reduce excessive overtime?
It is needed for Canva to promote and encourage the workers effectively to increase efficiency
and outputs. Along with this, the company can promote and improve the efficiency and
performance by launching new programs and sessions. Apart from this, innovation performance

HRM
appraisal sessions can be conducted by Canvas to build and improve the promotion. It will help
to maximize and boost morale, loyalty and trust among the workers. The flexible and remote
work arrangement could be provided to the employees to make happy and healthy them at the
workplace.
Q.4 How promotions programs and remote work arrangements improve and enhance the
performance of the employees in Canva?
It is analyzed from the various studies that promotion and incentives are significant to uplift
outputs and increase job satisfaction. It is noted that higher promotion lead high job security
among the workers. If the workers are promoted to a strong and high profile or position then they
can able to face various risks and threats of the market. Remote work arrangements help the
employees to maintain a balance between work and home.
Q.5 Why promotion and remote work arrangement are essential for Canva?
The promotion schemes and flexible working hours are essential and significant for the company
to gain competitive benefits in the global market as it further helps Canva to run the business
actions and operations effectively and efficiently. By using promotion schemes, the company
does not need to invest money on external candidates for training and development. Apart from
this, remote work arrangement helps to improve the performance and productivity of the
workers. Thus, it is beneficial for the company in the competitive market.
Q.6 what ways and strategies are used by Canva to handle and manage these HRM issues
related to promotion and excessive overtime?
It is stated that the company collects feedback and reviews from the top management and
managers to judge and analyze the performance and efficiency of the workers. For this purpose,
the firm uses career advancement programs, talent management and innovative performance
appraisal method to earn more and more revenue in the global market. Motivation theories and
approaches are also implemented by the company to overcome various issues related to
promotion and excessive overtime. Employee engagement is done by the company to improve
and encourage their efficiency and performance. In addition, strong and open communication is
maintained by the firm to make good relationship with employees at the workplace. In the

HRM
absence of strong and open communication, the company is facing ample of issues and
challenges while functioning at international level. Remote work arrangements are being
provided to the workers to motivate them for exercising tasks and duties in a hassle free manner.
An audit committee is appointed by the Canva to keep an eye on performance and efficiency of
potential candidates.

HRM