Strategic Human Resource Management: Strategies, Challenges, and HR Practices

This report explores the concept of Strategic Human Resource Management and its application in preparing and training employees for overseas projects. It discusses various strategies and approaches for employee training, as well as the challenges faced by employees working abroad and the use of management and HR practices to address these challenges.

Strategic Human
Resource Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Strategies and approaches for preparing and training groups of employees in an organization..1
Challenges faced by the employees while working abroad and the use of Management and HR
practices for coping with them.....................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Strategic Human Resource Management refers to an approach in which the use of
different types of strategies and methods is made by the HR departments of the organizations so
that they are able to make sure that the efficiency and effectiveness level of the workers can be
enhanced in the right manner (Maina, 2017). This report is based on MSD Lighting Ltd. It is a
company which provides street lights and other related products to the customers. In this
assignment, there will be specific focus on explanation of the strategies and approaches which
the company has to take for preparing and training groups of employees for working on overseas
locations on projects lasting a year or more. Additionally, specific analysis on discussion of
different types of challenges which are faced by the employees when they work abroad and the
way management and HR practices can assist them in coping with difficulties and becoming
successful will be discussed as a part of this assignment.
MAIN BODY
Strategies and approaches for preparing and training groups of employees in an organization
In an organization, there can be use of different types of strategies and approaches
through which the preparation and training of groups of employees can be done
(MALEKZADEH and SADEGHI, 2017). This can be especially helpful if the workers have to
be provided training for working in overseas locations on different projects. Some of them are
explained as follows-
On-The-Job Training- The employees of the firm can be provided On-The-Job Training
so that they are able to deal in an effective way with the new challenges which they might face
when the company shifts abroad (Narayanan, 2016). This will help them a lot in coping up with
these challenges properly. In the context of MSD Lighting Ltd. This can be a useful method
which will help in the attainment of goals and objectives. This can help in preparing and training
the employees for working in overseas locations on the different types of projects.
Seminars and Conferences- The employees who are working within an organization can
be given training through the use of Seminars and Conferences which will help them a lot in
developing their own skills and abilities in a highly effective manner. For MSD Lighting Ltd. It
is important that the development of efficiency and effectiveness level of the workers can be
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done in the right manner through their use so that they are able to work in a right manner in
overseas locations.
Vestibule Training- In this type of training the use of specially-designed classrooms is
made in which conductive environment is created for the enhancement of skills of the workers
(Presbitero, 2017). These classrooms are quite useful in creating a perfect environment which
can help a lot in developing the skills and abilities of the workers in the right manner. In the
context of MSD Lighting Ltd. it is important that this type of training can be provided to the
employees which will enable them to develop and enhance their level of skills effectively and
efficiently to attain the goals and objectives.
Group Discussions- In this training method the employees can be arranged in the form
of specific groups and can be given topics for the purpose of discussion. They can present their
views by discussing on the topic which not only develops their communication skills but also
helps in developing their analysis and interpretation skills. Also this helps a lot in ensuring that
they develop decision-making abilities which can provide a lot of help to the organization in the
future. In the context of MSD Lighting Ltd. It is quite important that the use of this technique is
made because it will help a lot in preparing the employees for working in the overseas locations
on specific projects which will help the company in attaining its specific goals and objectives
without facing problems and issues.
Online Learning- By making the use of online learning method the employees can make
sure that they are able to learn about new skills and the way to apply them properly. For MSD
Lighting Ltd. It is quite crucial that the use of this technique is made which will help a lot in
ensuring that the workers are able to work properly on specific projects and can achieve the goals
and objectives of the organization properly.
Interactive training methods- In these methods there is a higher-level of interaction
between the instructor and the trainee (Saleh Hamood Nasser, 2016). In the context of MSD
Lighting Ltd. This can be a useful method so that this can help the employees in adjusting to the
specific needs and requirements of projects in the overseas locations so that the goals and
objectives can be attained.
Role-play- It is an interactive method in which there is creation of an imaginary situation
and therefore the actions are taken accordingly as if it is a real situation. Therefore this can be an
effective method through which the training of the different employees can be ensured.
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Therefore, In MSD Lighting Ltd. It is quite important that the use of this technique is made so
that the training can be provided to the employees for working on different types of projects in
the overseas locations which will help a lot in the attainment of the specific goals and objectives.
Workshops- It is a technique in which the employees of the organization can make sure
that they are able to learn about the application of different types of new skills and abilities
effectively and efficiently. In the context of MSD Lighting Ltd. It is very important that the use
of these workshops can be made which will help a lot in the attainment of specific goals and
objectives quite easily.
Approaches which may work best- Group Discussion and Interactive training methods
are the right approaches which should be adopted by an organization like MSD Lighting Ltd. So
that it is able to train the workers properly and can help them in enhancing their knowledge and
skills so that they can work on the different types of projects in overseas locations.
Challenges faced by the employees while working abroad and the use of Management and HR
practices for coping with them
The employees of different organizations face different types of challenges when they
work abroad. Some of these challenges are explained as follows-
 Language challenges- The employees of a particular organization can face difficulties
related to language when they shift to a foreign country (Tung, 2016). This is so because
they are habitual of speaking their own language in their home country and face
difficulties in adjusting with the requirements of language in the other countries. Thus
they need to make sure that they learn new languages by making the use of the courses
which are available. Thus MSD Lighting Ltd.'s HR department can make sure that by
providing the skill training to the workers which will help in training them in foreign
language which will facilitate adjustment. They can pay the employees for learning the
foreign language by joining a course dedicated for the same purpose which will be
helpful in gaining proficiency in the language effectively and efficiently.
 Cultural challenges- The employees of a particular company can face various types of
issues which are related to culture because the country in which they have shifted will
have a different culture as compared to their home country. Thus this requires them to
make the required adjustments. The HR department of MSD Lighting Ltd. Can make the
use of HR practice of providing professional skills to the employees for coping up with
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this challenge. This can help them in learning more about the culture of the country
where they are shifting which will help a lot in ensuring that adjustments are made by the
employees accordingly which will help in coping in a better way with the different types
of challenges effectively and efficiently without problems and issues.
 Financial challenges- The workers may face financial challenges when they relocate to a
foreign country because of the difference in the exchange rates (Wood, 2016). They may
find that the expenses of living in a foreign country are higher as compare to their home
country. Thus the HR department of MSD Lighting Ltd.'s HR department can use the HR
practice of providing financial security to the employees so that they can deal effectively
with this particular challenge and can manage themselves effectively in the new country.
Providing additional financial incentives to the employees when they move abroad can be
highly helpful for them because this can ensure that they are able to cope up with the
financial challenges.
 Communication challenges- The employees can face communication challenges while
relocating to a new country because they make time to communicate properly with the
new colleagues there. This is so because they have to create a network with the new
colleagues in the country where they are shifting. Thus in this way the use of HR practice
of providing professional communication development can be used by the HR
department of MSD Lighting Ltd. So that it is able to ensure that the workers are able to
communicate in the right manner with the colleagues when they relocate abroad.
 Social challenges- The social life of employees in their own country and the Social life
in other countries can be totally different. Thus by making the use of HR practice of
providing social security to the employees the management of MSD Lighting Ltd. Can
make sure that it is able to help the workers in dealing effectively with the social
challenges after relocation.
 Financial management- The financial management of many expatriate employees is
affected when they relocate abroad. This can happen due to increase in their expenses
while living abroad. Therefore by making the use of HR practice of providing the right
compensation to the workers the HR department of MSD Lighting Ltd. Can help them in
ensuring that they can cope up effectively with this challenge. This can help them in
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maintaining their financial position in a proper manner which will help a lot in ensuring
that they can attain their goals and objectives.
 Feeling of isolation- Many of the employees who move abroad face the problem of
isolation as they feel that they are lonely in a new country. Thus the HR managers of
MSD Lightning Ltd. Can make sure that the use of HR practice of motivating the
employees can be used correctly which will help them a lot in dealing with the different
challenges.
 Healthcare facilities- The employees who relocate abroad often face challenges in
having an access to the healthcare facilities. This is quite important as it is the right of the
employees to have access to good healthcare facilities. In the context of MSD Lighting
Ltd. It is quite important the HR practice of providing better healthcare facilities is used
so that the employees are able to have access to healthcare facilities in a highly effective
manner.
 Housing challenges- Employees relocating in foreign locations face difficulties in
getting access to good housing facilities (Zehir, Karaboğa and Başar, 2020). This is so
because the rates of rent in foreign countries are on the higher side. Thus it is quite
important for the HR department of MSD Lighting Ltd. That the use of HR practice of
providing cooperation and coordination is used so that the workers are able to cope up
effectively with this challenge.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that Strategic Human Resource Management
is a technique through which the HR department can make the use of strategies and techniques
for ensuring that the attainment of the goals and objectives can be made. There are various types
of strategies and approaches which an organization can take to train the employees for working
in overseas projects. Also, there are various types of challenges which are faced by the workers
while working abroad and the use of Management and HR practices can be made by the
organization so that they can help them in coping with these challenges.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Maina, B., 2017. EFFECT OF STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN THE KENYAN
PUBLIC SECTOR.European Journal of Business and Strategic Management.2(1),
pp.69-92.
MALEKZADEH, G. and SADEGHI, S., 2017. STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT IN DIGITAL ERA BASED ON BIG DATA.
Narayanan, A., 2016. Talent management and employee retention: Implications of job
embeddedness-a research agenda.Journal of Strategic Human Resource
Management.5(2).
Presbitero, A., 2017. How do changes in human resource management practices influence
employee engagement? A longitudinal study in a hotel chain in the Philippines. Journal
of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism.16(1). pp.56-70.
Saleh Hamood Nasser, A.S., 2016. Relationship between work performance system and
institutional performance in the context of strategic human resource management in
Ministry of Education Oman/Saleh Hamood Nasser Al-Sinawi(Doctoral dissertation,
University of Malaya).
Tung, R.L., 2016. New perspectives on human resource management in a global context Journal
of World Business.51(1). pp.142-152.
Wood, S., 2016. High-involvement management. InEncyclopedia of Human Resource
Management. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Zehir, C., Karaboğa, T. and Başar, D., 2020. The Transformation of Human Resource
Management and Its Impact on Overall Business Performance: Big Data Analytics and
AI Technologies in Strategic HRM. InDigital Business Strategies in Blockchain
Ecosystems(pp. 265-279). Springer, Cham.
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