Analysis of Human Resource Management Practices in British Airways

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report analyzes HRM in the service industry using British Airways as a case study.

Human Resource Management
for Service Industry

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Analyze role and purpose of human resource management in selected service industry with
reference to British Airways........................................................................................................2
1.2 Justify a human resources plan based on an analysis of supply and demand for selected
service industry business.............................................................................................................4
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Assess the current state of employment relations in selected service industry.....................6
2.2 Discuss how employment law affects management of human resources in selected service
industry........................................................................................................................................7
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Discuss a job description and person specification for selected service industry job...........8
3.2 Compare the selection process of different service industry businesses.............................10
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................12
4.1 Assess the contribution of training and development activities to effective operation of
selected service industry business.............................................................................................12
M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions.................................................14
M2 Select / design and apply appropriate methods or techniques.............................................15
M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings..................................................................16
D1 Use Critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusion.........................17
D2 Take responsibility for managing and organising activities................................................18
D3 Demonstrate convergent, lateral and creative thinking.......................................................19
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................20
References......................................................................................................................................21

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: HRM duties......................................................................................................................2

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Job description...................................................................................................................8
Table 2: Person specification...........................................................................................................8
Table 3: Selection process.............................................................................................................10

Introduction
Human resource management is identified as strategic way for handling workforce of business
for obtaining competitive edge. The study will focus on the purpose and role of HRM in context
to British Airways that is indulged in service industry. Further, it will assess and explain state of
employment law and relations in chosen business. It will also mention person specification and
job description and compared selection process of TFL and BA. At last study will contribute in
assessing activities of training and development that will help in managing the operations in best
manner of service industry that has been selected.
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Task 1
1.1 Analyze role and purpose of human resource management in selected service industry with
reference to British Airways
Human resources are determined as concept that manages the organisational activities by training
employees, motivation, termination and hiring. It consists of several responsibilities such as steps
development for task, dispensing employee compensation and staffing candidates. It is practised
in service industries too such as British Airways known as largest industry of airlines which is
started in 1974 as flag carrier in UK by dispensing quality services to customers across world. It
has gained wider contribution in success due to contracts like flight routes from Heathrow to the
Madeira that can be accomplished from HR role that includes the following:
Hiring and Recruitment – It is identified as primary function that aims at bringing new working
role in organisation (Noe, et.al, 2017). It has activities recruiting, interviewing, hiring and
screening by promoting job vacancies that require special and mandatory qualifications for
candidates. The department helps in administration of personality tests and skill assessment by
matching qualities required for given job vacancy. The HR department in BA further establishes
handbooks for employees that explain firm’s procedures and policies for new employees.
Figure 1: HRM duties
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(Source: Human Resource Management, 2018)
Compliance with Employment Contracts – It is major duty of human resource department that
aid in ensuring that business is actually operating by complying with labour laws. It is essential
for organisations to legally comply with developed laws for safeguarding employees rights from
exploitation. In reference to BA, it helps in deciding actual working hours in which all workers
will work and extra working will be counted as overtime that needs to given in form of extra pay
by firms (Wright, 2018).
The HR approaches can be initiated in firm that includes hard HRM under which employee is
just identified as business asset and on contrary soft HRM it is treated as important sources of
gaining competitive advantage.
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1.2 Justify a human resources plan based on an analysis of supply and demand for selected
service industry business
There are several activities and operations in British Airways that requires effective direction for
completing flight plans. In such situation and job responsibility, it is important to create human
resource development plan that aims at directing and coordinating staff members that includes
certain steps:
First Step – It aims to identify employee skills and competencies by questionnaires according to
performances that will help in selecting efficient workforce for future tasks (Bratton and Gold,
2017).
Second Step – This step creates pressure on HR managers to mention employee number needs
based on project requirement that will be selected for boosting productivity thus able to manage
market demand and supply.
Third Step – The skills of candidates is focused on by giving opportunities from recruitment,
selection and hiring methods.
Fourth Step – According to created human resource plan, review and evaluation is done from
employee performance.
The job vacancies are creating huge demand for the skilled staff that can be completed by using
process of recruitment and selection. The task becomes tough for employers as skilled employee
selection is risk as it impacts productive results. The workforce supply and demand in
organisation can be fulfilled by analysing candidate in professional manner. There are various
reasons that impact employee selection such as:
External Factors – The competitors of BA such as Easy jet might create issue by gaining higher
profits that will impact the sales of BA. Under certain situation, new employees are vulnerable of
doing mistakes that cannot be afforded in high competitive market (Kavanagh and Johnson,
2017).
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Internal Factors – The structure of business is major reason that brings complex issues in task
completion. Creating more hierarchies brings tensions with employees their task gets increased
of reporting multiple bosses that needs to have flexible working conditions.
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Task 2
2.1 Assess the current state of employment relations in selected service industry
The term employee relations specify relationship that is shared by the employer and employee
for aiming to manage from communication level in formal and informal manner. The firm has to
create plans and strategies from which business functioning gets smoother by developing best or
cordial relations with employees that will enhance productive benefits. Hence, for making such
approach it becomes necessary to understand state of relation in British Airways that is described
below:
Organisational Structure
The structures of organisations are reason through which employee gets motivated to complete
given tasks that determines its internal environment (McDonald and Thompson, 2016). The
divisional structure in BA aims at using flat structure that is simple to follow for conducting
smooth functioning. It is aimed on initiating unionization that dispenses opportunity to take
correct decision, identification of job roles and regular supervision. BA always restructures their
policies that provide success at global level. For example – It introduced intranet that aids in
displaying job roles and task that is entered by manager and upper authorities. In such
developments employee morale gets boosted that creates strong employee relations.
Consultation
It is important to take reviews of employees related to process and steps that aids in boosting the
productivity. The employee efficiency and working culture will be boosted with innovative ideas
that will provide guidance in taking necessary decisions. In recent time, BA faced issue to cut the
emissions by bringing fuel efficiency that was economic issue pressurized to resolve as soon as
possible by country’s environmentalist. In reference to it, staff suggestion scheme was initiated
to take ideas and it provided low prices tickets and saved fuel cost till £600000 of BA (Silvia and
Schroeder, 2018).
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2.2 Discuss how employment law affects management of human resources in selected service
industry
The term employment law refers to wider area that aids in safeguarding relationship of employee
and employer by labour laws by excluding collective bargaining as well as negotiation. They are
formed through administrative regulations, judicial decision making, deferral status, state statues.
The law aims to safeguard employees and staff member’s rights from exploitation. The planning
of human resource succeeds by initiating effective rules and laws by benefiting employees
(Barrow and Lyon, 2018). BA being large industry of airline also initiates employment laws for
protecting rights of employees that includes following laws:
Employee Retention Act
Growth of organisation is basically depending on professional relationships that are essential to
develop with employees and customers at equal level. The retention act is launched to eliminate
union leader influence on employees that will reduce strikes and fights by not completing given
task or accepting given responsibilities. It is essential for BA to initiate act for developing best
employee consumer relations for avoiding lockout situation thus gains completive advantage.
Employment Right Act
It aims at safeguarding employees from urgent termination either from partial reasons or due to
low productivity and quality. The contract is prepared while hiring employees that give actual
information for termination. It helps in giving job security to employees by explaining terms of
retirement, termination and resignation. Hence, it is important for BA to practise act to satisfy the
employees.
Maternity and Paternity Rights
The rights of maternity is gap that is dispensed to mother before and after birth of child and on
paternity rights the care of new born is taken by both parents for which leaves are provided for
specific time period (Taylor and Emir, 2015). Hence, it is beneficial for BA to obtain such laws
in industry for getting the benefits of employee trust and faith.
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Task 3
3.1 Discuss a job description and person specification for selected service industry job
Table 1: Job description
Job Description (Cabin Crew)
Job Profile Cabin Crew Post (London City)
Unit (Department) BA CityFlyer
Band Non-management
Experience
Needed
Currently practising for serving customers of specific organisation.
Job Purpose Able to deliver consumer services using outstanding approach by
becoming member of Cabin Crew with passion and enthusiasm by serving
customers with necessary information.
Skills Required  Able to present as crew model by making uniform standards related
to BA.
 Able to maintain responsibilities of health and safety with high
standards of security at time of journey.
Table 2: Person specification
Person Specification (Cabin Crew)
Job Role BA Cabin Crew – London City
Job Details Essential to comply with important regulations by providing services to
customers regarding safety and security measures, informing about service
by maintaining higher standards and able to coordinate activities according
corporate rules in top manner.
Essential
Qualifications
 Must have 18 years of age and carries fluency in spoke English and
writing skills.
 Must have passport that carries proof of non restrictions in UK as
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