Human Resource Management: Chocolate Presence Case Study

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Human Resource
Management
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Task 1 (Lo1)...............................................................................................................................5
a) Explains the purpose of the HR function and its importance to the organization, given its
current problems and future plans for further growth............................................................5
b) Explains the strengths and weaknesses of the current selection methods used by the
organization............................................................................................................................7
c) Evaluates at least 2 two potential improvements that could be made by Chocolate
Presence to enhance its selection process..............................................................................1
Task 2 (LO4)..............................................................................................................................2
a) Create a person specification for the role...........................................................................2
b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the current methods of advertising jobs in
the organization (internally within the organization and on the notice board outside the
main entrance)........................................................................................................................1
c) Explain where you would recommend the job advert for the Receptionist vacancy to be
placed and why.......................................................................................................................1
Task 3 (LO2)..............................................................................................................................2
a) Microsoft offer graduate training schemes and internships. Evaluate the benefits to both
the organisation and employees of such schemes..................................................................2
b) Microsoft offers a range of flexible working arrangements for staff. Firstly, identify
some of these arrangements and then evaluate the benefits of offering these to both
Microsoft and its employees..................................................................................................3
c) Evaluate how Microsoft motivates its workers through the way it designs its job roles...1
Task 4 (LO3)..............................................................................................................................2
a) What is meant by the term employee engagement and why is employee engagement
such an important part in effective employee relations in Microsoft?...................................2
b) Critically evaluate the key approaches to engaging workers discussed in the Summit and
how these approaches improve communication in the workplace.........................................1
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c) Identify the key elements of UK employment legislation, explaining how they influence
HR decision making such as recruitment, training and development and reward.................3
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
HRM is an important function of every organisation that it helps in accomplishing business
objectives through effective planning and management of resources. In this regards, the
report will cover purpose of HR function and its importance in Chocolate Presence along
with strengths and weaknesses of selection. Further, potential improvement for current
selection process, person specification for the job role of recreationalist and advantage and
disadvantage of current method of advertising job in Chocolate Presence will be discussed in
this report.
In addition, job advertising medium for the vacant job role and Microsoft graduating training
schemes and internship benefits to both employer and employee will be explained. Benefits
of flexible working arrangement for employees and its benefit for both organisation and its
employees, different methods Microsoft adopt to motivate its workers with the job roles and
employee engagement and its importance in building effective employee relations in
Microsoft will be discussed. Finally, the report will analyse approaches addressed in summit
and how they improve communication process and UK employment legislation and their
impact on HR decisions will be discussed.
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Task 1 (Lo1)
a) Explains the purpose of the HR function and its importance to the organization, given its
current problems and future plans for further growth
Introduction
Human resource management can be defined as the practice of recruiting, hiring, deploying
and managing the employees in an organisation. HRM is any organisation is responsible to
make policies in order to govern different business procedures and performance of
employees. In a medium enterprise like Chocolate Presence, it is crucial to manage the
functions of the employee with effective human resource management to achieve business
objective. The main function of HRM in Chocolate Presence is as follows:
Figure 1 Human Resources Management Functions
Current problem within the organisation
Within the Chocolate Essence organisation the problem of staff turnover and customer
dissatisfaction due to poor product quality is facing by the organisation. The functions and
activities of Human resources are not implemented in an effective manner due to which
employee dissatisfaction problems are occurred and that generated turnover problem at the
same time. Due to poor performance of the employees the quality of the services gets affected
and that that put direct impact on the customer trust and loyalty.
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Following are the points which cover the major functions of human resource
management within the Chocolate Essence organisation:
HR planning: It includes evaluating and forecasting of employee requirement and supplies
the people for the right job at right time for proper functioning of organisation (Roles and
Responsibilities of Human Resource Management, 2018).This function helps in recruiting the
employees in organisation.
Recruitment and selection: It is the most important function which includes selecting and
hiring the best skilled employees to increase the organisation productivity. Chocolate
Presence HR management requires hiring the skilled employees so that productivity can be
improved and quality products can be delivered to customers.
Reward and performance management: This function includes monitoring and managing
the performance of the employees as per the set standard in organisation. Reward
management is includes providing appreciation and incentives to high performer employee.
This function is effective for Chocolate Presence in order to reduce the staff turnover.
Training and development: Providing training and development to employees is crucial in
motivating and improves their productivity through acquiring new skills and knowledge and
improves the productivity to deliver the quality products and improve the profitability.
Importance and Purpose of human resources management: HRM is essential in
managing performance and business operations to maintain and enhance the quality and
productivity (Rittinghouse and Ransome, 2016). Being medium organisation, it is essential
for an HRM to employ the right candidates so that the productivity can be improved. It is
essential to improve the quality of the products to improve the customer’s base and
profitability.
Future strategies that can be adopted by Chocolate Essence
According to the problems analysed within the organisation it is essential for the HR manager
to focus on the commitment and efforts level of the employees so that their performance will
get improved. By providing motivation and encouragement to the employee will help
Chocolate Essence and HR team to reduce the employee turnover. Changes in the
performance appraisal by offering rewards and other benefits in respect of employee’s hard
work will support them to improve HR functions and employee retention.
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b) Explains the strengths and weaknesses of the current selection methods used by the
organization
At present Chocolate Presence have high vacancies. In this regard, firm has adopted the
selection procedures through taking English comprehension and maths. The candidates who
scores more than 50 percentages will be shortlisted for interview. The interview procedure is
simple informal chat.
Strength and weakness of selection process in organisation
Assessment test: English comprehension test will help in evaluating their written
communication. Math aptitude test is beneficial is analysing their aptitude and rezoning. In
addition, these tests are easy to conduct and less time consuming. The passing criteria are 50
percent which help in short listing the candidates. The interview process is less time
consuming and is easy for candidates
However, it can be said that the selection process is not much effective looking at the current
business scenario (Wrench, 2016). As business required skilled talented employees, the
selection test should be efficient enough to analyse the aptitude, English, logical and
technical skills of the candidates. In addition the 50% passing is very low to evaluate the
skilled employees. Further, interview process must be prepared to analyse the effectiveness of
candidates and identify whether he/she will be potential enough for the vacant job and helps
in increasing firm’s productivity.
Interview method: Interview method of selection process is currently using by the Chocolate
Essence when the candidate passes assessment method. This selection method is quite
reliable as the interviewer through which it becomes easy for the HR manager to observe
candidate skills. This will help to analyse the confidence and effective personality so that
selection of skilled candidates will be analysed. But within this process the process is long
and takes long time to complete the process.
Some alternative methods that Chocolate Essence will use as selection process
Psychometric test is one of the effective selection processes under which personality, skills
and intelligence of the candidate will be tested. This testing will help the HR manager to
analyze the candidate actual capability (Kumari, 2012). But due to which method the chances
of fake answers from the candidate are quite high. Panel interview will also be used by the
HR manager of the organization under which few selected interviewers will take the
interview of the shortlisted candidates. This method will take short time to complete the
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process and help to select most deserving candidate by taking panel suggestion. Nervousness
within the candidate will be generating under this process which may reduce the confidence
level of the skilled candidate also.
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c) Evaluates at least 2 two potential improvements that could be made by Chocolate Presence
to enhance its selection process
A Chocolate Presence requires improving its current selection process which is not much
effective. It can be said that, firm can adopt the online application firm process which helps
HR to short list the candidates on the basis of their skills and qualification. The short-listed
candidates will be called for the written test which will assist in analysing their potentially as
per the job role.
Another improvement is related to the practice of HR department in managing the selection
process. The HR team require make effective strategies for the selection process. The
selection procedures need to fair and equal to all the candidates. Further, Hr can make
strategies to use different methods of selection which are based on group presentation which
helps in evaluating their communication skills both verbally and non-verbally (Linnenluecke,
2017). HR can adopt the role play method as selection process of the candidates. It is efficient
for HR in selecting the best suitable employee for the job role which is effective in increasing
the productivity of the organisation. However, it has limitations as this process will be costly
and time consuming for the organisation.
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Task 2 (LO4)
a) Create a person specification for the role
Person specification for Receptionist in Chocolate Presence
Essential skills and Qualification
 Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
 Excellent of greeting guests and visitors and welcome them in friendly manner.
 Has efficient ability to promote organisational image to the customers.
Desirable Skills
 Have different language skills.
Essential Experience
 Experience of Microsoft Office software and multi task.
 Coping up with time management and prioritising works.
 Can use IT facilities like telephone switchboards.
Desirable Experience
 Previous reception experience
 Experience in using booking system and database.
Desirable Attitude
 Ability to express patience, tolerance towards the clients.
 Ability to work in flexible environment.
 Ability to work in pressure.
 An effective attitude towards personal development.
 Good level of motivation.
The person specification described the requirement of the basic skills and attributes which are
required for the recreationalist in Chocolate Presence.
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b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the current methods of advertising jobs in the
organization (internally within the organization and on the notice board outside the main
entrance)
Advertising job is essential function of HR which helps in attracting the skilled and qualified
candidates for the vacant job role. They are effective in attracting the interested candidates to
hire the potential candidates for the job role. Chocolate Presence has adopted the advertising
process through circulating job with organisation in exiting staff and on external notice board.
This approach is effective and has both advantage and disadvantage which are described
below:
Advantage of Internal job offer
Quick process: In an organisation, employees are already aware of the vacant job position,
working culture. It is effective for the organisation to communicate to employees related with
job. It is one of the quick processes for HR, as employees will circulate the vacant job
information to their friends and family.
Cost-effective: It is a cost effective medium for organisation as it leads to save the cost of
add, advertising on TV etc.
Disadvantage of internal job offers
Ineffective in attracting new talents: advertising the job internally will limit the option for
candidates (Hawkins, 2017). As employees has to fill the job vacancies through internal
approach, firm will miss the opportunity to hire the new skilled and qualifies employees
which are more productive than the existing employees.
Biased appointment: This approach has disadvantage that many a times, non-qualified
employee get the job because of the references and good relations. It leads to demotivated
others employees and can raise the chances of conflicts in organisation which can affect the
performance of employees.
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c) Explain where you would recommend the job advert for the Receptionist vacancy to be
placed and why
It is the responsibility of HRM in Chocolate Presence to make efficient HR planning which
involves making strategies and decision for advertising the information related to vacant job.
Effective approach for advertising helps in attracting potential candidates from vast pool of
customers. Apart from the approach uses, HR team of Chocolate presence can use the
advertising of job in news papers, social networking sites, and online job websites. It is
effective method to advertise the job which is efficient to attract the interested candidates.
It can be said that, concerning the medium enterprises, this approaches can be costly for the
firm. HR have to make budget for their recruitment process and select the approach which is
cost effective and helps in attracting skilled and potential candidates for the job role (Olander
et.al, 2015). However, these are approaches are effective to adopt as it will provide long-run
benefit to the organisation.
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