HRM Practices: Employee Development in Say It & Microsoft

This report provides a detailed analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within 'Say it with Chocolate' and Microsoft. For 'Say it with Chocolate', the report focuses on the purpose of HR functions, the roles and responsibilities of a HR officer, advantages and disadvantages of current selection procedures (external recruitment), and potential improvements to these methods. For Microsoft, the report examines the benefits of apprenticeship and graduate training schemes for both employees and the company, development opportunities available to permanent employees, the advantages of flexible working practices, and the motivation methods employed. The analysis covers recruitment strategies, employee training, career development, and motivational techniques, offering a comparative perspective on HRM in different organizational contexts. The report highlights the importance of effective HRM in addressing employee turnover, enhancing productivity, and achieving organizational goals, with a focus on practical applications and strategic considerations.

UNIT 3- HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1..............................................................................................................................................4
(LO1).................................................................................................................................................4
Part 1............................................................................................................................................4
TASK 3..............................................................................................................................................9
(L02).............................................................................................................................................9
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................13
(LO3)...........................................................................................................................................13
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................17
LO4.............................................................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................................24
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................25
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INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is the important function and aspect of the organization like the
other functions of the management. Thus every organization needs to focus on the importance
and function of the human resource department (Veloso, et al. 2015). Human resource
department plays a tactical role in the management of the people, culture, environment and
the culture.
This assignment will give deep insights into the scope and purpose of the HRM, selection and
recruitment. This will also gain understanding and knowledge of the employee performance,
reward and development and the factors that affect the decision making of the human resource
in context with the “Say it Chocolate” and Microsoft.
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TASK 1
(LO1)
Part 1
“Say it with Chocolate” is the UK based organisation which is operating its business in the North
Yorkshire. It provides greeting cards which are based on the tailor-made chocolate. The
company is looking for expansion of its business and that will need talented and skilled
workforce (Veloso, et al. 2015). Being a human resource officer of this company, it is crucial for
recruiting the workforce. For this a report has been prepared which are as follows:
A) HR FUNCTION PURPOSE AT THE “SAY IT WITH CHOCOLATE”
There are various functions which are being followed by the ‘Say it with Chocolate’ and that
involves operative and managerial functions both. In respect to the managerial functions, the
team of the human resource follows the planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling
functions. The human resource team of the ‘Say it with Chocolate' engaged in the performing of
the above functions for the recruitment of the new staff and workforce that will balances the
problem of the employee turnover and also help in maintaining the quality of the products
offered by the company (Chowhan, 2016). Planning is accompanied for the achievement of the
goal of the Human resource department and also the company with the help of the proper
research as the number of vacant places to be filled or employees needed for the expansion of
the business. The other function is the organising which is also important in which the work has
been designated to the employees. Directing is being done for the enhancement of the
employee potential to work. The last function focuses on the scrutinizing the work of the staff
and making the changes wherever necessary (Armstrong, and Taylor, 2014).
The operative function aims at the recruitment, selection, training and appraisal of the
employees. This all functions are performed by the human resource team of the “Say it with
Chocolate” that will also help in the recruitment of the workforce so that the company’s
current problem of the employee turnover can be sorted out (Chowhan, 2016). The human
resource of the company also engaged in the development and training of the employees so
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that the company can maintain its product quality and also the employee turnover problem can
be minimised.
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B) RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLES OF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER
Following are the responsibilities and roles of the human resource officer:
1. To create, implement, supervise and manage the policies of HR and ensuring the
development of the HR policies for the corporate in respect to the Say it with Chocolate.
2. To develop the team of HR and to ensure the professional HR provision of the Say it with
Chocolate (Shin and Konrad, 2017).
3. Managing the team of the company and guiding, mentoring and developing them.
4. Also ensuring the recruitment at the vacant place.
5. Preparing the input and information for the budget of the salary.
6. Developing the business plan of HR.
7. To develop and maintain the system of the HR.
8. To support and facilitate the team members development (Armstrong, and Taylor,
2014).
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C) ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE CURRENT SELECTION PROCEDURE AND
COMPARISON WITH OTHER APPROACHES
Selection method adopted at “Say it with Chocolate”
External recruitment: The Company aims at the recruitment of the staff from the outside of the
organization. Say it with Chocolate is recruiting its workforce for the expansion and growth of
the organisation from the outer area as their nearby area have the high rate of the
unemployment (Para-González, et al. 2015).
Advantages of the External recruitment method:
1. It brings the fresher skills to the company.
2. It also enhances the competition.
3. It also improves the quality of the products as the new employees would provide the proper
training (Shailashree, and Shenoy, 2016).
Disadvantages of the External recruitment method:
1. The candidates have the less understanding of the company.
2. This method needs a lot of efforts and time.
Comparison with another method:
1. The external method takes lots of time as compared to the internal method of the
recruitment.
2. Internal method recruitment has the candidates who have already knowledge of the
company.
3. External methods provide the new ideas and market knowledge by the new candidates
(Shailashree, and Shenoy, 2016).
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D) POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CURRENT SELECTION METHODS AT “SAY IT WITH
CHOCOLATE”
The recruitment process of the “Say it with Chocolate” can be improved by the adoption of
following changes (Armstrong, and Taylor, 2014):
The selection process of the company focuses at the conduction of the test, the company can
avoid the test procedure and adopt the technical test so that there can be the evaluation of the
suitable candidate for the vacant post can be done. Moreover, there may be the conduction of
the formal interview and there should be the panel of 4-5 members for the interview process
and prior to the interview process group discussion should be conducted to scrutinize the
potential employees. After the selection process, the company should conduct a full day
induction program so that the new employee can have the proper understanding of the
company. The company should make the rules for minimising the employee turnover like the
agreement period or can address the reason for resigning from the company. Also, the
company can also go for the campus recruitment this will also help in the recruitment of the
desired candidate (Para-González, et al. 2015).
.
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TASK 3
(L02)
Microsoft is a multinational corporation that provides, manufactures, develops, supports,
licenses and sells the computer software. It has been recognized as the world’s largest maker of
software in terms of the revenue as in 2016 and also as the most valuable companies in the
world. This task focuses on the preparation of the summary report that will address and
encourage the following (Ayentimi, et al. 2018):
A) BENEFITS OF THE APPRENTICESHIP AND GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES AT MICROSOFT:
Benefits to the employees:
Microsoft focuses on providing the graduate training schemes and apprenticeship which helps
in the self-development of the employees. It also appreciates the employees for their working.
Apprenticeships programs that are offered by the Microsoft focuses at providing the chances if
work towards a qualification. It also helps the employee in gaining the knowledge and skills that
are needed for the success of the organization (Rees and Smith, 2017). This also opens the door
for the progress in the career as it helps in the development of the career quickly.
Apprenticeships provide the professional and fantastic experience to the employers and also
give the real and practical approach to apply the skills and knowledge to the employees that
they have studied during their academic duration. It also provides the chance of earning money
while learning so it provides the dual benefit of earning and learning (Fuller, et al. 2017).
Benefits to the employers:
There are various benefits of the apprenticeship and graduate training programs to the
Microsoft also: It helps the company to increase the productivity of the organization with the
less pay and also providing the training to the employee, it reduces the cost of the company.
Microsoft uses the customized apprentice training as per the job profile requirement. This helps
the company to save a lot of time. The company also gets the fresh ideas and the people who
are serious, knowledgeable, academic understanding and hardworking (Fuller, et al. 2017). This
all can use by the Microsoft in the betterment of the society.
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B) DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PERMANENT JOB ROLE:
Following are the development opportunities available to the Microsoft employee after getting
in the permanent job role:
Career development or counselling services: The employees of the Microsoft have the right to
get the different educational programs and study further for the skills improvements and
getting incentives and appraisal in the current job role. Microsoft allows the employees to take
a break from the study and rejoin the company after the completion of the services (Cummings
and Worley, 2014).
Coaching on the career development with the help of the ongoing connections with
managers:
Microsoft provides the coaching on the development of the career through the managers. The
managers provide the guidance related to their career and suggest the best option for their
growth in the career (Cummings and Worley, 2014).
On the job stretch opportunities: Employees at the Microsoft are allowed for the stretch their
job by providing the opportunities according to the roles and responsibilities. This helps in
growth in the professional life. These opportunities are provided to those people who are
considered for the future roles of the executive based on their potential and performance.
Tuition reimbursement: Company also focuses on providing the reimbursement for their
educational and other professional courses fees so that the employees don’t have the burden
of the courses (Kauhane and Nätti, 2015).
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C) BENEFITS OF FLEXIBLE WORKING PRACTICES ADOPTED BY THE MICROSOFT:
There are various benefits to the Microsoft organization due to the adoption of the flexible
working practices. It helps in reducing the burnout of the employee which is due to the
overload. It also allows the people to work as per their desire and when they feel fresh and
enjoy the working. Microsoft may experience the increment in the employee engagement,
commitment and morale to the organization. It also reduces the tardiness and problem of the
absenteeism (Kauhane and Nätti, 2015). This also helps in the increment in the ability to recruit
the outstanding employees. Microsoft may also face the decrement in the staff and employee
turnover. It will ultimately increase the productivity as the employees are free to work as their
flexibility in the time. This practice helps the Microsoft for working on a single project which will
save the time, money and cost of the employees and helps in achieving the organizational
goals. This will help the employee to increase their motivation which will help in increment of
the profit and productivity of the company. This will also increase the trust and confidence of
the employees towards the company (Cummings and Worley, 2014).
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D) MOTIVATION METHODS USED AT THE MICROSOFT:
Microsoft believes in the providing benefits and incentives to the deserving and potential
employees. Their development and performance program applies to the employees of the
Microsoft at the each and every level of the organization at that extent that is permitted by the
local law (Harju, et al. 2016). The key and main component of the reward system of the
Microsoft is the compensation which is based upon the stock system. It provides the stake of
the ownership in the success of the Microsoft. About 95 per cent of the employee is having
right for the award of the annual stock and approx. 90 % of employees are allowed for the cash
bonus. Microsoft also provides the discounts and offers to their employees. Apart from this
Microsoft aims at providing the incentives and offers to the employees for their performance
and rewards. It also provides the accidental and medical insurance to the employees for
providing the safety and security of the employees (Kauhane and Nätti, 2015).
Job design process is followed by the Microsoft by the human resource department for
ensuring the easy execution of the job. It also provides the company in adjusting the demand of
job load in respect of the job. It also helps in the distributing the responsibilities and duties and
this will help in performing the job in the better manner (Cummings and Worley, 2014).
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