HRM Report: Analysis of HR Practices at Chocola Fantastica & Microsoft

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, focusing on two companies: Chocola Fantastica and Microsoft. The report begins by outlining the core purpose and importance of HR functions within an organization, emphasizing their role in employee development, recruitment, and overall productivity. It then delves into the specific HRM practices of Chocola Fantastica, evaluating its current selection methods, including assessment tests and written tests, and proposing potential improvements, such as mock tests and a focus on relevant skills. The report continues by presenting a person specification for a receptionist role, detailing essential and desirable attributes. It further examines the advantages and disadvantages of internal job advertisements. The second part of the report shifts its focus to Microsoft, exploring training schemes, flexible working arrangements, and employee motivation strategies. Finally, the report discusses the importance of employment engagement and employee relations within Microsoft, outlining key approaches to engage workers and highlighting elements of UK employment legislation that influence HR decision-making. The report concludes with a synthesis of the findings, offering a comparative perspective on HRM strategies in the two organizations.

Human Resource
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
Purpose of HR functions and its importance to organisation.................................................3
Strength and Weaknesses of current selection method used of Chocola Fantastica..............5
Two potential improvements which can be made by Chocola Fantastica to enhance selection
process....................................................................................................................................6
LO2..................................................................................................................................................6
Person specification................................................................................................................6
Advantages and Disadvantages of current methods of advertising jobs in the organisation. 8
Recommendation about job advertisement to the organisation .............................................9
LO3..................................................................................................................................................9
Training schemes and internships offered by Microsoft and benefits to both employees as
well as organisation................................................................................................................9
Flexible working arrangements for staffs.............................................................................10
Various ways through which Microsoft employees are motivated......................................10
LO4................................................................................................................................................11
Employment engagement and employee relation and its important in context to Microsoft11
Key Approaches to engage workers in Summit ..................................................................11
Elements of UK employment legislation which influence HR decision making.................12
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Human Resource management is essential part in the organisation which is concerned
with people dimensions. HRM defines as organising, directing and controlling, monitoring of
human actives in an organisation (Albrecht, 2015). It is a set of policies and practises which are
carried out by management for development of human resource, which consider hiring,
selection, training and pleasing and performance appraisal. In this report, Chocola Fantastica and
Microsoft have been considered. Assignment is basically divided in two parts, in first section
Chocola Fantastica has been taken as a base company and in second section Microsoft has been
chosen. It is an organization which believes in managing human resource in an appropriate way
to increase their competitiveness and overall productivity.
LO1
Purpose of HR functions and its importance to organisation
It is advised as an essential element for tackling each department and optional actions in
an appropriate manner. In context to Chocola Fantastica, the aim of HR is to increase overall
presentation of employees through various plans and policies for development of employees
within an organisation (Chen, 2016).
Purpose of HR function
The main aim of HR is to examine needs and need of its manpower in order to hire
skilled and talented candidate into the work place of Chocolate Fantastica. Apart from hiring, HR
is majorly focusing on training and development sessions for their workers so that higher
productivity and profitability can be increased in effective manner.
HR Functions and its importance to organisation
HR division is comprised of administration and operative purpose. The operative
functions which include compensation, development, encouragement and many more. On the
other side, managerial function considers planning, staffing, coordinating, and directing for daily
operations within a company. In context of Chocola Fantastica, employers are effectively

utilising these points in essence to develop equal firmness among workforce and daily business
operations in work society. These both functions are discussed below in brief :-
Operative Function
Procurements: It is a role which includes recruitment, selection, planning of manpower
in an organisation. In reference to Chocola Fantastica, human resource manger focuses on
recruitment activities to find out skilled and talented candidates who can match the requirement
of the job profile (Chowhan, 2017).
Development: Another important functions is development of employees by providing
training and development sessions for improving their staffs performance in effective manner. In
reference to Chocola Fantastica, manger of company conduct training programs once in a weak
on their workplace so that workers will be encouraged and improve their productivity in effective
manner.
Motivations: The motivation is provided in two ways that are monetary and non
monetary for the benefits of employees. Through this way employees can be encourages to
towards their roles and duties in the work place. In context to Chocola Fantastica, HR manger
evaluate the performance of employees to meet their objective in positive way. Human resource
management provide monetary rewards and non monetary apparitions to its workforce for
gaining higher production.
Managerial Functions
Planning: It is essential to plan in order to achieve organisational goals and objectives. A
manger need to make a action plan, to get things done by its subordinates in effective manner. In
reference to Chocola Fantastica, human resource manager manually communicate with their
employees about their targets and programmes which will be conducted during the year.
Organizing: The next step is organizing with superior and designing goals, strategies and
different code of conduct for every employees, for properly achieving desired short as well as
long term targets of the company. The managers of Chocola Fantastica, critically delegate the
task, powers and responsibilities which appropriately coordinate various actions for employees
at same time in an organisations (Direnzo, 2015).
Staffing: It includes recruiting of new candidates and encouraging present workers by
internal as well as external recruitment within a company. The manager of Chocola Fantastica
focus on recruiting right person at right job in the company.

Controlling: It measures the deviation of actual performance from the standard
performance, it ensures effectiveness and efficient utilization of organisational resources.
(Donate and Pablo., 2015). In context to Chocola Fantastica, the manager can analyse employee
behaviour towards other members working within the organisation also their loyalty towards the
work assigned to them.
Directing: It is process in which manger instructs and supports and supervise the
performance of employees to achieve pre-planned objectives. By tapping maximum
potentialities of an employee which will constantly motivate and guide them to perform better
result. In context to Chocola Fantastica, leaders direct their workers to perform in better way so
that higher output can be expected and growth in the market place can be increased
.
Main purpose behind this human resource function is that by conducting such functions
within an organisation will develop positive brand image of the organisation at a competitive
outlet. All such efforts help employees in increasing their performance level as they get
motivated to perform better and they develop a sense of competition among them. Importance of
this function is that it will create positive image of the organisation at the marketplace which
enhance their overall profitability and performance.
Strength and Weaknesses of current selection method used of Chocola Fantastica
Selection: It refers to of selecting the right candidate with significant knowledge and skill
which set to fill the vacant job position within an organisation. Selection procedure alter from
industry to industry and company to company also even varies from departments in an
organisation.(Girard, 2015).
Assessment Test: It is a organized means of checking or observing the capabilities of the
specific candidate in order to perform particular task and respond to range of different situations.
In reference to Chocola Fantastica they have their own written test on English comprehension
and maths which is conducted for the candidates. There is a criteria of passing marks which is
50% in both subjects. Candidates clearing written test are able to appear for personal interview
round and then last decision of selection is made. This ensures that selected candidates have
required competence and capability needed by the company.
Strength of Assessment test

 The main advantage of assessment test is that HR manger can able to find skilled and
knowledgable candidate for correct job profile.
 Best way to asses the candidates potentiality and abilities to handle the challenges. Advantage of personal interview is that interviewer can easily examine the candidate with
their physical attributes.
Weaknesses of Assessment test
 Fear of rejection in the minds of candidate, due to which they will not able to perform
well.
 Many times assessment test evaluation is not done fairly due to lack of time, so potential
candidate fail to clear test in effective manner.
 The main disadvantages of interview is that it is time consuming and costly for the
organisation.
Written Test: It has been said that it is one of the most effective method used by
managers in order to select best and suitable staff members. For this, managers adopt written test
which help in identifying skills and knowledge of individual person on a specific topic. This is
one of the most suitable method adopted by HR manager of the company which produced
various positive results. It has been identified that this method have both strength as well as
weaknesses which are going to be discussed as follows:
Strength of written test:
 One of the biggest strength of this method is that HR manager will be able to identify the
knowledge as well as skills of a candidate in an effective manner. In addition to this, it will help in examining the perception, experience as well as
knowledge of person on the basis of their education level. This will help them in order to
hire best and most suitable individual for a job position.
Weaknesses of written test:
 Biggest weakness of this factor is that it consumes lot of time and effort of both
individual and organisation which might affect the overall efficiency in a negative
manner.

Two potential improvements which can be made by Chocola Fantastica to enhance selection
process
 Written test: In Chocola Fantastica written test is of not much useful as they hire for
making chocolates and other work related to it. Written test is generally conducted for
those profiles where technical skills are needed. Hence, human resource department
should focus on assessment of candidate on other skills which are needed to perform the
job
 Mock test: A mock test will be much useful for candidates as this will help recruiter of
Chocola Fantastica in analysing various skills possessed by candidate and then selection
decision can be made according to their performance in mock test. Mock test will help in
assessing and selecting best candidate among all applicants. (Head and Alford, 2015).
LO2
Person specification
The candidate must have some efficient skills for completing the job role offered by
Chocola Fantastica. It includes educational requirements, training experiences as well as
personal qualification that candidate must possess.
Person specification for the role of Receptionist
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Title of the job: Receptionist
Department: Management/ Administration
Report to: Administration Manager
Attributes Essentials Desirable
Competencies Individual should have
effective communication
skill while taking calls and
attending anyone. Along
with this, they should have
polite nature and handle
adverse situation calmly.
Greet all the guest and visitors
warmly and support them in order
to understand the environment of
organisation.

Experience Candidate must have 5
months experience in same
field.
Must have basic experience with
good communication skills
Along with this, time
management skills is essential to
complete the task
Educational Qualification In this area both Diploma as
well as Post-graduation
degree is required.
Graduation in the field of
management from any certified
university and collage.
Along with this maximum 1 year
experience of receptionists.
Role requirement Guide or direct the clients by
providing them proper
instructions.
Keeping all the records in the
of meeting in book or Laptop
computer.
Keep the area around reception
clean, organise and hygiene.
Provide parcels, couriers and post
to the respective departments
within time frame.
Advantages and Disadvantages of current methods of advertising jobs in the organisation
Chocola Fantastica recruit skilled employees by following specific path which connects
with the organisation. It is important for the company to appoint skilled and talented applicants
into their company, so that specific job position will be filled effectively (Hitt, 2016).There are
various methods through which Chocola Fantastica can adopt in order to select and recruit right
candidate. Management team of the company is looking for a applicant for the job role of
receptionist within the company. Some of qualities which incudes good communication skills ,
time management and many more. There are various advantages and disadvantages of this
method used by company which are as follow:-
(Internal job advertisement):
Advantages Disadvantages
 Not expensive: It is one of the simple  Increase in competition: In the

method which helps recruiter to select
right candidates within the
organisation.
 Less risky: It is the method where
candidates are relatives, friends, family
members who knows the culture and
environment of the organisation .
present competitive environment, there
is high level of competition which
affects the overall process of
recruitment and selection. In order to
convert such weakness into strengths it
is essential for organisation to adopt
new tools and techniques of advertising
job position.
External job advertisement:
Advantages Disadvantages
 Posting advertisement for job position
on the notice board in the main
entrance is quite effective which as a
result provide various opportunities for
both company as well as for candidates
who are looking for a job. In reference
to Chocola Fantastica, management
team of the company put required
information on notice board in order to
hire individual.
 It has been analysed that sometimes
noticeboard become one of the biggest
reason behind miscommunications. It
creates miss understanding among
candidate's and company as each and
every individual have their own
perception regarding some topic.
Therefore, it is the method which
negatively influence people regarding
job position or company.
Recommendation about job advertisement to the organisation
It has been recommended to the company that they can post vacancies on the official
page of Chocola Fantastica. It has been identifies that they there are large number of people who
would visit regularly on this pages and try to connect with the company. They should focus on
effective advertisement tools in order to attract huge number of candidates towards their
organisation, through this they would able to fill the vacant position. This process aid to invite
pool of applicants towards their company who are highly skilled and talented to fulfil the

requirements of job position. Therefore management team of the organisation could also adopt
social media platform for promoting their job position.
LO3
Training schemes and internships offered by Microsoft and benefits to both employees as well
as organisation
Microsoft is a multinational technology company and its headquarter is in Washington.
This company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Employees and employers of this
company is been provided training sessions for improving their performance in effective manner
(Hornstein, 2015). their aim is to train their workers on different perspective which increase their
abilities and knowledge, skills. They provide internship and training programs for betterment of
future growth of their staffs. These internship programmes are essential strategies to retain their
employees for long term purpose
Benefits to employees
 Various internship programmes which aid to enhance their knowledge and talents, this
will aid them in having adequate skills for future growth.
 Internship programmes of organisation aid individuals in developing various innovative
and creative ideas which helps in implementing and creating new opportunities for
them.
Benefits to Organisation
 Internship programmes and trainings will aid to build image of company which helps to
improve and increase in competence level. This will increase their productivity at
workplace.
 In terms of monetary also savings can be done and company have to pay stipends to their
interns, which low amount as compared to salaried paid to their regular employees.
 (Jabbour, 2016).
Flexible working arrangements for staffs
Microsoft is one of the multinational IT company and employees are satisfied with the
working environment. Manger of Microsoft is focusing on HRM practises by providing flexible
working hours and many more

. All these benefits are provided to the employees by the management team of company. The
benefits of flexible working hours to employers and employees are listed below:-
Benefits to Employees
 Microsoft provides their staffs to work from home when employees are not able to come
to office. Microsoft management thinks that employees must feel relaxed while working
so work from home provides them advantage. Microsoft employees are able to talk to their friends or relatives through video chats ,
emails chats and so on while they are working.
Benefits to Employers
 If employees are given flexible working hours, then their satisfaction level will be high.
Employees can increase firm's productivity or profitability and able to achieve targeted
goals in an effective manner. Thus, it is beneficial for Microsoft to make effective
benefits to employees. Flexible working hours helps in minimising employee turnover.
This helps in maximising the overall performance of company.
Various ways through which Microsoft employees are motivated HR management department
uses various promotional and transfer activities which aid to increase employees skills and
talents in effective manner. Their are various other methods which aid employees enhance
their effectiveness which are follow:-
 Training and development sessions which are provides to each and every employees in
their organisation (Linnenluecke, 2017). This method which helps staffs to produce
positive outcome and develop various future opportunities for them. In context to
Microsoft, it has been said that manger provide development and training sessions to their
employees with in every 2 months. This aid to reduce wastage and effective developing
services in positive manner.
LO4
Employment engagement and employee relation and its important in context to Microsoft
Employees engagement: Employees are occupied by employers in various activities that
are fetching within the organisation. It is essential in the organisation because these employees.
Employee engagement is important as these employees care about work and performance of
organisation. If an employee feels involved within the company, he is mentally and physically

devoted towards achieving targets and objectives of company. This will aid to increase overall
productivity of company as well as performance of employees in positive manner (Long, 2016).
Such employees bind together the work of commitment, effort and satisfaction. Employee
engagement within Microsoft is important because of the following reasons - When employees
engage truly better communication will aid to improve employees retention, customer
satisfaction and overall profitability. In reference to Microsoft workers and employees work
together and happily with other colleagues which will increase efficiency and relation among
workers.
Key Approaches to engage workers in Summit
various key elements like SharePoint, team management, utter and Microsoft Stream are
essential for employee involvement within an organisation. These elements are discussed below:
SharePoint: This approach aid employees to be informed about current news, frequent
changing pages and sites that combine content and language from Microsoft office. In reference
to Microsoft, Sharepoint allows employees to get connected through native mobile intranet.
Team leaders do video calls to guide their staffs and give instruction to work effectively.
Yammer: This approach include connectivity among employees and employers within an
organisation. In reference to Microsoft, leaders of the company has created and discovered
transparency about subject matter and data between manpower in working situation. This
practise aids to source new innovative ideas to drive effective work in positive manner.
Ultimately it will increase healthy relation among employees and employers which will aid to
increase higher production.
Microsoft Stream: This approach is glorious and communicated by excellent video in an
organisation. Employees communicate and involve themselves by video conferencing which aid
to increase their performance in an appropriate way in the culture of Microsoft (Rondeau and
Wagar, 2016).
Elements of UK employment legislation which influence HR decision making
Employees legislation includes compulsory practises of different laws that defend rights
of every worker who is operative in any of the organisation. UK government has strictly passed
employees act Like National Wages Act 1998, Employees Right Act 1996 and many more. In
context to Microsoft, is one of the multinational company which should be conscious about the
changes in government rules and laws which legally enhancing business of local and global

edge. Some of these legislations and norms and their impact on HRM practises are discussed
below:-
Diversity and Equality Act 2010: This represents that all employees have to treat their
colleagues, staff and other employees in an equal manner. Discrimination among employees
creates negative environment at workplace so it should not be practised In reference to
Microsoft, managers need to adopt strategies to set salary structure which is good for staff
associates working in an organisation. It will increase loyalty of employees towards organisation.
Health and safety Act 1974: This act represents that powers of the organisation should
take initiative steps on health and safety of all male and female staffs working in an organization
there are various laws and acts regarding to health issues of employees, employers working in an
company. In context to Microsoft, manger should cater healthy and harmless working conditions
to their workers and high tech safety to protect female employees specially who are working in
night shifts in the work place.
CONCLUSION
As per above discussed report, it is summarised that human resource management
department play an effective role for the development of the company. It is one of the important
part in an organisation. Goals and objective can be achieved by the organisation only through
training and development sessions which is provided by the management of the company. Along
with this, in the present report person specification is prepared for job role of a receptionist.
Their are various merits and demerits of the method used by company for marketing jobs. This
as a result assist in providing recommendation to the companies that they should adopt social
media platform for promoting job position.

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