Harrods Case Study: Recruitment, Motivation, and Employee Behavior

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Harrods' people management strategies. It begins by examining the recruitment and selection process, including the purpose and content of job advertisements, job descriptions, and person specifications. The report then delves into various motivational theories applicable to Harrods and their practical implementation within the organization. Furthermore, it explores the factors that influence individual behavior and promote effective cooperation among employees. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and offering insights into how Harrods can optimize its people management practices to enhance employee involvement and organizational success. The report uses Harrods as a case study to illustrate these concepts.

Managing People in
Organisations

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
1. Process of recruitment and selection followed by Harrods emphasising on the purpose and
contents of job advertisements, job descriptions and person specifications..........................1
2. Different motivational theories in context of Harrods and their application......................6
3. Factors which influence an individual’s behavior as well as factors which enable effective
cooperation.............................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Human resources are important assets for every business organization to attain better
success in the market place. For attaining the same, it is important for manager to manage their
workers effectively at workplace. Basically, in this, manager plays an important role in which
they are responsible for managing and coordinating all the staff members at workplace. With the
help of this, firm easily attains set targets in an appropriate manner (People management, 2018).
In this, management of people are also considered as an essential part of company which include
recruitment process as well as training and development to individuals which may lead to attain
better success. Along with this, it is also important for the manager to recruit right candidates at
correct position. For this, proper training and development programs also play a vital role in
improving the skills and knowledge of people. This will aid in making the workforce able to
perform their tasks effectually at workplace.
Furthermore, for attaining positive outcomes, manager is responsible for providing better
direction to their staff members in which they easily adopt challenges and perform well. This
will contribute in enhancing productivity level of company at the market place. HR manager also
put their strong efforts for making better policies and strategies for managing all workers and
their activities. By using effective strategies, manager easily maintain better coordination among
all the workers. It directly contributes in managing all the workers at workplace which assists in
establishing a positive and healthy environment. This will assist in encouraging the morale of
workers in the most effective manner. Present report is based on Harrods which is a famous
luxury company which serves quality services to its target customers. They want to enhance their
worker’s involvement at workplace. Along with this, they have number of employees who
effectively execute their activities. This report has also discussed about the process of
recruitment and selection which may lead to enhance worker’s performance level. In addition of
this, the factors are also mentioned which directly impact on worker’s behaviour at workplace.
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TASK
1. Process of recruitment and selection followed by Harrods emphasising on the purpose and
contents of job advertisements, job descriptions and person specifications
Recruitment process is one of the important factors for business organization in which
manager invites a large number of skilled candidates for performing specific job duties (Bolman
and Deal, 2017). With the help of this, firm improves their overall performance level by
executing all tasks in an effective manner. On the other side, selection is also considered as an
important process in which manager takes final decision to recruit the best employees for filling
vacant positions. By using both the processes, firm easily attains their set targets in appropriate
time frame. This will contribute in enhancing the overall growth of company in market place. In
this context, human resources are the important part of business because they perform various
duties for attaining specific goals and objectives. In this, manager also plays an important role in
managing and controlling all the workers in an effective manner.
In absence of workers, firm would not be able to run their business effectively because
they will get failed in inviting as well as satisfying customer’s needs. It will negatively put
impact on business image at market place. Thus, recruitment and selection is one of the
important processes by which manager easily hires capable candidates for performing
organisational activities in an appropriate way. For achieving positive outcomes, it is important
for recruiter to assess all the aspects before conducting recruitment activity. With the help of this,
firm improves their brand image at market place. In context of Harrods, they use effective
recruitment process which may lead to attain the end goals and objectives. Along with this,
effective recruitment tools are used by company to hire capable candidates which lead to fill the
vacant positions within company. All these are as follows: Internal methods of recruitment: This is one of the effective method in which manager
include all the existing staff members. Along with this, they assess their skills and
knowledge by providing them opportunities to show their capabilities for higher position.
If workers are able then they get promoted at higher position within the organization.
Along with this, manager assesses skills of the employees before taking final decision.
By this, they easily select the best one for their job position. Basically, the main
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advantage of this method is to motivate as well as encourage their staff members to
perform well and improve their performance level in an effective manner. External method of recruitment: It is also an effective and appropriate method of
recruitment in which manager invite external candidates who are interest for applying in
the firm. By this Harrrods fill their vacant place by selecting new candidates . Along
with this, manager uses effective and attractive job advertisement to invite new
candidates for the job (Renz and Herman, 2016). In this manager take interview with
them to assess their capabilities towards the particular job. Furthermore, they also provide
better training and induction to their selected candidates for determining their specific
responsibilities in an effective manner (Cascio, 2018). Basically, this approach brings
innovation within company but it is costly and time consuming. This will assist in
attaining positive outcomes which may lead to enhance the overall performance of
company.
 Third party recruitment: According to the current scenario, number of business
organizations use this type of method in which manager define specific job to candidates
as per their requirements. For this, they gather relevant information from various agencies
which may leads in recruiting capable candidates for filling the vacant job position within
organization. With the help of this, firm can easily invite number of candidates with
innovative thoughts.
Thus, all these are more effective and appropriate approaches which help company in
selecting skilled and capable candidates. Along with this, manager also determines all the major
factors which affect the recruitment process. By this, firm easily hires right candidates for correct
job position and at the same time, it also saves money and time of company. All these help in
improving the overall performance level of company at market place. Furthermore, Harrods also
consider various stages in their recruitment and selection process in order to select the best one
for their business. In this, the prime and first step helps in determining candidate’s skills which
are required by company for particular job and duties. This will contribute in making the
selection process more essay.
On the other hand, in second step, manager takes interview by using telephone in which
they assess candidate’s skills towards specific job. With the help of this, recruiter easily takes an
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effective test for evaluating capabilities of the people. After that, manager calls candidates for
group discussion which is conducted by the HR manager. In the last step, manager selects the
skilled candidates by analysing candidate’s talent. All these are effective steps by which manager
hires the capable workers for their business organization to perform particular duties (Anheier,
2014).
Therefore, various factors are also considered in recruitment and selection process such
as job description, person specification, job advertisement, etc. By these, they improve overall
performance level of company by recruiting the best candidates in an effective manner. In this
context, all these are understood by the following points:
Job description: It is one of the effective factors which define all their responsibilities as
well as duties of the workers within organization (Hornstein, 2015). This is a written document.
By using this, Harrods easily determine main contents and features which may lead to invite
various people who are interested in the job. Along with this, manager formulates this document
for showing actual responsibilities of workers towards the particular place. It helps in bringing
better transparency. By this, Harrods easily recruit right people for the right position. In this
context, job description can be understood by the given format:
MARKETING MANAGER
Job description: A people required for company to attaining competitive advantage and better
image at market place. It defines skills and better communication which required for marketing
manager place within the company. Along with this, he/she also able in formulating strategies
which should be beneficial for business organization. Along with this, people should having
better communication skills and also having proper knowledge about how to promote company
products by using communication channels. By this, marketing manager having abilities to
influence customers towards the products and services.
Requirements:
 Having strong and effective communication skills
 Degree in management and marketing from any registered university
 Proper knowledge for using communication channels
Skills in selected candidates:
 Individuals having abilities to implementing as well as developing all the activities of
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promotion for effectively promoting services in market place
 Individuals should have proper knowledge about all the marketing tools.
 People having at least 2 years experiences in marketing manager in firm
Job advertisement: It is also considered as an effective document which is used in an
electronic manner. It considers all the information such as skills and knowledge which are
required for a specific job place. In context of Harrods, they use this type of document for
providing information of specific job position. This will help in inviting as well as attracting
number of capable candidates (Bolden, 2016). Along with this, firm uses effective data for those
individuals who are interested for applying for the job. With the help of this, company fill their
vacant place. In this context, example of job advertisement is as follows:
JOB ADVERTISMENT FOR MARKETING MANAGER
Department: Marketing management
Type of job: Full time
Area:
Harrods required marketing manager who having better knowledge and skills for making
creative policies and strategies. Along with this, individuals having proper knowledge about
brand, customers taste, marketing research and many more marketing activities. They also
know about conducting and marketing events for their company’s products and services to
invite a large number of customers. Candidates should be able in making an effective financial
budget.
Apart from this, individuals are also good in managing the marketing team with positive
attitude and innovative plans. For inviting customers, it is important for candidates to having the
best mind set and also able in influencing customers.
HR manager
….
Person specification: This is also an effective document which defines all information
towards the attributes(Bingham, O’leary and Carlson, 2014). With the help of this, firm easily
evaluates person’s abilities in an effective manner. In this context, the main benefits of using this
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document, Harrods easily collect relevant information about person abilities and qualification
that is required for a particular job. This will help in determining the main skills and knowledge
of people which support company in attaining their set targets. Along with this, the person
specification in Harrods are as follows:
PERSON SPECIFICATION
CONTENT NEED DEMANDING
Experience in marketing
manager
At least 5 years Minimum 2 years
Cognition Essential Demanding
Proper knowledge in sales and
marketing
Certificate and diploma in
marketing management
A grade
Qualification Necessary Demanding
Masters in marketing
management
Graduation in marketing
management
Experience in marketing field A grade
Personal attributes Necessary Demanding
Ability to use marketing tools,
communication skills
People having knowledge
about marketing strategies.
English and French
2. Different motivational theories in context of Harrods and their application
Motivation is one of the important aspect for every business organization in which
provide their workers to enhance their performance level. With the help of this, firm attain their
goals and objectives by utilising human resource in effective manner.
In context of Harrods, they operate their business in various locations in which they serve
fashionable products, luxury gifts and many more to customers as per their demand. In this, they
easily provide them better satisfaction level (Doherty, Haugh and Lyon, 2014). Along with this,
they also use various innovation within their business organization to enhance positive brand
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image 7 8at market place. In addition of this, company also provide training and development
programs to their workers to enhance their productivity level which may leads in improving their
productivity level. It directly contributes in the overall performance level of company. In context
of Harrods, manager also use various theories to enhance workers moral which aid in in attaining
better results. All these are as follows:
Maslow's Hierarchical theory: It is an effective model which cover various level that define
person needs. This helps in motivating workers at workplace. These can be understood by
following theories: Physiological need: It is one of the important and first need of the people. Without these
nobody can survive in the world (Greene and Kirton, 2015). It is considered as a basic
needs of the human being such as food, clothes, shelter and water. In context of Harrds,
manager is responsible for providing all these needs to their workers for motivating them.
By this workers easily perform their task and attain better results in appropriate manner. Safety needs: If physiological needs are fulfilled when it comes by which people improve
their performance level at workplace by getting all the safety needs (Brewster, 2017). In
this manager of the company provide job security to its workers for enhancing their
motivational level at workplace. By this, they effectively perform their duties and attain
better results. In context of Harrods, they give stability to their workers which may leads
in enhancing their performance level in most effective manner. It includes, value prize
and many more which may leads in enhancing their performance level at workplace. Social belonging: It is also an important level which comes after safety needs. It includes
belongingness feeling of the human which considered as an important needs. It defines
friendship, family, friends, love and many more. If all these are fulfilled then people feel
motivated and happy. This will aid in improving their performance level at workplace. Esteem needs: In this level, needs are related with people status, recognition and respect
which may leads in improving their morale at workplace. Along with this, it is considered
in corporate world in which workers get appraisals at the time of performing their job in
effective manner. In context of Harrods, employees get rewarded by giving them cars and
other benefits which may leads in improving their performance level at workplace.
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 Self-actualisation needs: It is last needs of the people in which they fulfil all the needs.
By which they get motivated and enhance their morale. In this they focus on their
personal desires (Melnyk and et. al., 2014).
Apart from this, advantages and disadvantages of this theory are as follows:
Advantages:
 The main advantage of this theory is to enhance workers morale by fulfilling their needs.
 By using this theory, Harrods focus on workers unsatisfied needs which may leads in
motivating workers at workplace. Skill and abilities of employees can be increased by manager.
Disadvantages:
 It is also a constricting section in which firm face obstacle at the time of determining
worker’s needs.
 All the level are not same for all the workers which can demotivate people at workplace
(Pfeffer, 2014).
McGregor Participation theory:
This hypothesis is propounded by Douglas McGregor in the year of 1957. This is
classified into two parts, one is theory X and another is theory Y. There are some assumptions
which has developed by distinctive associations.
Superior of Harrods will use theory X and there are some assumptions related to staff
members and these are mentioned as beneath:
 Work which is doing by employees are not similar as per targets of organisation.
 Working is not liked by manager so they will avoid it.
 People are much lazy so they don't want to take responsibilities.
Henceforth, workers of Harrods need to consider above described elements and take
some corrective steps to avoid raised difficulties.
Theory Y:
 Staff members are much motivated and concentrate on completion of work without any
issues.
 They complete their daily targets within provided period of time.
 Employees accomplish entire responsibilities which are taken by them.
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This has been examined that theory X and theory Y is not similar to each other and thus,
it is required for the manager to make balance amongst them by formulating some strategies
(Luthans, Luthans and Luthans, 2015). This will assist to motivate staff members towards work;
therefore, they will perform work in an effective and efficient manner.
Advantages Disadvantages
 It is considered as an effective tool
which will cater inspiration to staff
members who never take the work
seriously.
 Motivation is provided to workers so that
they will accomplish target with
maximum effectiveness.
 By utilizing theory X, uneasy and
hostile atmosphere will be developed.
 It is not easy to use both hypothesis
in the same period of time.
Recommendations: This has been evaluated from above described motivational theories
that these will be used by manager so that they will boost morale of workers and as a result, they
will be able to perform task with extra efficiency (Zhang and et. al., 2015). It will be used by
superior according to the situation which is present at workplace. In context of Harrods,
employer of firm examined advantages and disadvantages of all theories; therefore, they will
analyse their negative as well as positive affect. On the other hand, firm is established in United
Kingdom and there are many individuals who are working with them to attain coveted targets
and goals within minimum period of time. These hypothesis will work as a motivation for them
and they will enhance the confidence as well. Rewards or incentives will be given to employees
as per their working performance. Manager will cater training to them as this enables to increase
working effectiveness. Along with, they will do business by implementing new or latest
methodologies in order to produce innovative products. Fundamental target of an association is
to provide satisfaction to customers significantly.
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3. Factors which influence an individual’s behavior as well as factors which enable effective
cooperation
There are numerous individuals who are working with association. They all are having
some duties and roles which need to be accomplished by them within limited time span. Attitude
and behaviour of each worker is entirely distinguish from each other (Influences on Individual
Behaviour in the Workplace, 2018). There are many elements which will provide affect to their
working performance either in a direct or indirect manner. Along with, organisational framework
will also influence workers' behaviour. It is essential for the superior to provide work to each
member as per their skills and abilities and therefore, they will be able to perform tjeir tasks
effectively. It will assist to cater success as well as enhancement to enterprise (Al Ariss, Cascio
and Paauwe, 2014). Additionally, they will know about those areas which need some
improvement or modifications.
Moreover, this will assist to implement alteration at premises. This has been determined
that there are many components which will provide impact to staff members' action and this will
directly influence growth of affiliation. This will affect the procedure of decision making as well.
Henceforth, it is required for an employer to find out these factors properly. Human behaviour is
much complex to understand but it is must to analyse this because it caters impact to entire
operational activities. This all is basically associated with market circumstances as it will impact
final results. Along with this, culture and framework of an enterprise will influenced by both
macro and in addition micro components.
In recent era, Harrods is following hierarchical structure which contain some layers and it
is required to modify it. This will enhance cost as well as time of production (Kramar, 2014).
Thus, they need to adopt matrix organisational framework so they will diminish layers and attain
coveted targets and goals effectively and efficiently. Fundamental advantage of using this, it
improves participation of staff members in the procedure of decision making. Moreover,
association needs to find out those elements which will affect cooperation or coordination
amongst workers. To comprehend it, there are many components which will be taken into under
consideration by firm. These are described as beneath:
Social- cultural factors: It will create in the society and in addition will render affect to
attitude and behaviour of persons in distinctive manner. It will show relation of individual with
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