HRM Report: Kingfisher plc - Purpose, Functions, and Practices

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices at Kingfisher plc, a British multinational retailer. The report begins by defining the purpose and functions of HRM, highlighting its role in enhancing employee efficiency, maintaining positive employee relations, and fostering human resource development. It then explores various HRM functions, including training and development, compensation and benefits, performance appraisal, and planning, along with different approaches such as the "Best fit" and "Best Practice" models, as well as hard and soft HRM models. The report then delves into recruitment and selection, comparing internal and external recruitment methods and their respective strengths and weaknesses. Task 2 examines the benefits of different HRM practices, such as training, development, and reward systems, for both employers and employees, and evaluates the effectiveness of these practices on organizational profitability and productivity. Finally, the report discusses the importance of employee relations and key elements of employment legislation, and their impact on HRM decision-making, concluding with a summary of the key findings and recommendations for Kingfisher plc. The report emphasizes the significance of effective HRM in achieving competitive advantage and organizational success.

Human Resource Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1 Explain the purpose and the functions of HRM ......................................................................3
2 Explain the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches of recruitment and selection..5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
3 Explain the benefits of different HRM practices for both the employer and employee..........6
4 Evaluation of effectiveness of HRM practices for organizational profitability and
productivity.................................................................................................................................7
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................8
5 Importance of employee relations that influence HRM decision-making...............................8
6 Key elements of employment legislation and its impacts upon HRM decision-making.........9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is an approach in which related division have responsibility
of managing and controlling the activities of employees of the organisation. This is a department
of organisation who have roles and responsibilities of hiring new knowledgeable or experienced
candidates for the organisation so that profitability and productivity of firm can be enhanced.
Chosen organisation for this report is Kingfisher plc which is a British multinational firm along
with based in UK. This assignment will be discuss about purposes and functions of HR along
with proper utilisation of tools or techniques which is done by this department for enhancing the
efforts of workforce. Benefits of HRM practices for the employer and employees will also covers
in this assignment. Legislations for employers and its importance for the firm along with
implementation of technologies so that process of recruitment can be improved.
TASK 1
1 Explain the purpose and the functions of HRM
HRM is a process in which plans are formulated or developed for administering the
activities and functions of the organisation. It is mainly concerned with optimal utilisation of
resources so that better outcome will be received in the future. It also takes proper actions so that
good relationship between employees and employer can be maintained in a proper manner. Some
main purposes of HRM are:
 To improve efficiency and effectiveness of human resources in the firm
 Maintain positive relationship among the staff members and employers of firm.
 Enhance the development of human resource.
As Kingfisher is a leading retailer in UK therefore they have to make effective human
resource management at the workplace so that efficiency and effectiveness of employees can be
enhanced which will beneficial for the firm in gaining competitive advantage at marketplace.
Some of the main functions of HRM in Kingfisher are given as under:
Functions of HRM
Training and development: HR manager of Kingfisher plc have duty to provide
effective training to their employees on regular basis so that their efficiency or effectiveness can
be maintained as per the market trends (Zhang, 2015).

Compensation and benefits:Organisation can achieve their desired goals or objectives
through providing additional benefits or incentives to their employees.
Performance appraisal: HR manager of Kingfisher have to provide appraisals or
incentives to their employees as per their performance level so that their efficiencies can be
improved.
Planning: It is very important for the HR manager of Kingfisher for achievement of
preset goals that they have to manage and control the activities in a proper structure (Sabet,
2016).
For conducting these functions or their daily activities in more effective manner HR
managers of Kingfisher can use the following approaches:
The Best fit approach VS Best Practice
Best fit Best Practice
It states that several HR policies are based on
reward plans
It is based on contingency theory which guides
the HR managers to make their decisions as
per the context or situations of firm.
In it, HR managers have to provide better
motivation to their employees so that daily
activities will be performed by them in an
effective manner.
It provides best fit results in achievement of
competitive benefit for the firm.
Hard and soft models of HRM
Hard – In it, organisation have to use the employees of firm as resources for the
operations and activities in the process of planning. The major aim of the company is to hire and
manage the workforce on the basis of needs of company.
Soft – In it, the HR manager have duty to consider the needs and wants of their
employees so that their motivation level will be increased and goals will be achieved in a given
time frame.
Recruitment and selection - It is to be done in a proper manner so that knowledgeable and
experienced candidates can be hired for the firm. Therefore, HR managers of Kingfisher have
duty to perform such activities in an effective manner so that effective results will be received in

future period. HR managers of organisation have also duty to provide better training to them so
that their efficiencies and effectiveness can be improved.
Through these approaches HR department can perform their functions and
responsibilities in an effective manner for accomplishing the goals of organisation.
2 Explain the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches of recruitment and selection
As Kingfisher is rapidly growing in European markets then a large number of employees
are always required for achieving the goals or objectives of the firm. Firm uses both approaches
such as internal or external for recruiting and selecting the employees. Both of them are
discussed as under:
Internal source approach- In it, employees are recruited in inside of the firm. For
example- transfer of the staff members assists the Kingfisher in filling the vacant job in a
division in an easy manner. With the help of this approach, HR managers of cited firm can
promote their skilled employees for filling the other vacant posts. It encourage the HR to fill the
vacant position of the firm through promoting or transferring their loyal and experienced
employees. Sources of internal approaches are given as under: Promotion: It is very helpful for enhancing the motivation level of the employees. In it,
HR managers provide promotion to the employees so that future tasks will be handled in
an effective manner (Lewicka, 2015). Transfer: In it, individuals or employees of Kingfisher are moved from one division to
another division of the firm. Employee referrals: Under this, existing employees of the firm provide their references
of their family members or relatives so that vacant position of firm can be filled in easy
manner.
Strengths
 It saves the time and cost of firm
 The employees are aware from the organisational structure so they do not face any
complexity in mixing with the culture of workplace.
 In it, HR managers have proper knowledge about the skills and capabilities of the
employees so that they can easily fills the vacant position of firm with existing
employees.
Weaknesses

 It can create demotivation or dissatisfaction in those employees who gets no promotion.
 Discriminations may created among the existing staff members.
 It can limit the opportunities of hiring fresh and knowledgeable candidates
External Sources of recruitment – In it, HR managers of Kingfisher can hired candidates from
the outside of firm. It includes various sources like Walk-Ins, advertisement, college placements
etc.
 College placements – In it, HR manager sent some of its assistants in the educational
institutions where they take interviews from the students who have knowledge and wants
to work with the firm.
 Walk-Ins- It is a direct form of recruitment in which desired candidates are invited
through advertisements to come and apply directly for the vacant job position. In this,
candidates have no need to submit their applications in advance when the interviews
process will be begin then they have to come and follows the recruitment procedures of
firm (Gooderham, 2015).
 Advertisement- It is the most common source of external recruiting. In it, HR manager
have to post the advertisement with a proper detail of vacant job position, required skills,
expected qualifications etc. which is helpful for an individual to evaluating at their own
level against the requirements of firm.
Strengths
 It encourages the HR managers to recruit or select young and innovative employees.
 It also enhances the brand image of firm.
 It is also helpful for the firm in inviting a large pool of candidates for a vacant position.
Weaknesses
 It is very cost and time consuming approach
 sometimes, unfitted or inefficient employees are hired
 Needs to provide better training to the new joiners.

TASK 2
3 Explain the benefits of different HRM practices for both the employer and employee.
There are various approaches which can be used by the HR managers of Kingfisher in
order to improving the performance level of their employees. Some of the practices along with
advantages are discussed as under:
Learning, training and development practices: Skills and knowledge of employees are
different in nature therefore, HR manager have responsibility to provide better training to their
employees so that productivity of firm can be enhanced. There are two kinds of training which
are given as under: On job training: It is providing within the workplace of firm so that cost will be reduced.
The main motive behind providing this training is to enhance the knowledge of
employees regarding their roles and responsibilities. Methods of these trainings are
internship, apprenticeship etc.
 Off job training: This training is provided to the employees when a complex task will be
carried out which will be beneficial for the firm in increasing productivity or profitability.
This training consists case studies, seminars, conferences etc.
Reward and payment management: It is also an effective practice of HRM which is
more suitable for providing motivation to the employees. In it, rewards are provided to those
employees who are highly efficient and providing more efforts for completing their tasks. Two
kinds of rewards are as under: Intrinsic reward: It is a kind of non-physical rewards in which rewards, appraisals, are
given to the employees so that more contribution from them can be gained for achieving
organisational goals (Collins, 2018).
 Extrinsic reward: It is a tangible form of rewards and used for motivating the employees
that includes medals, memento, certificates, monitory benefits etc.
Benefits of these practices to the employees and employer – Through using training
and development practices, performance level of employees will be enhanced which will
beneficial for the employers in enhancing the profitability and productivity. Whereas, through
reward and payment management employee's feels motivated in the workplace which will
improve their efficiency. This improved efficiency of employees will also profitable for the
employer in getting effective outcomes in future period.

4 Evaluation of effectiveness of HRM practices for organizational profitability and productivity
HR practices are more helpful for the firm in enhancing the profitability or productivity
so that desired goals or objectives will be achieved in a given time period. The above HRM
practices are very beneficial for the firm and employees because through it employees gets
motivated and provide effective efforts which is beneficial for improving overall performance of
the firm. The effectiveness of approaches in growth of firm are briefly explained as under:
Effectiveness of learning, training and development practices- Effectiveness of these
practices is that it provides proper guidance to workforces of the firm so that expected results
will be received in a shorter period of time. When employees will get proper guidance and
supports from their leaders and managers then they will perform better on the given task which is
beneficial for the organisation in terms of enhancing productivity or profitability. With the help
of this practices, HR managers of Kingfisher will know about the specific weaknesses of the
employees which will be helpful for them in providing training to their week employees
accordingly. When proper training will be provided to the staff members they will understand
current market trends and requirements of customers that will beneficial for the organisation in
enhancing the productivity or profitability (Azarniya,2015).
Effectiveness of reward and payment management- It is also an effective practice of
HRM which helps the HR managers in determining the skills and capabilities of employees so
that requirement of appraisals can be identified in proper manner. When appraisal or rewards
will be given to the employees they feels motivated and provide more efforts for completing the
task which is beneficial for the organisation in getting positive results within a small time. Due to
these rewards and payments the employees of kingfisher are motivated in their work and they are
contributing their maximum efforts in organisational functions and operations.
TASK 3
5 Importance of employee relations that influence HRM decision-making
Employee relations – Employee relations can be determined as an interrelation between
the employees and management of a firm. For improving the performance of staff members at
workplace the HR managers of organisation has to make effective relations with the employees
so that effective results will be gained within a small period of time. If HR managers of
Kingfisher will fails in managing good relations with their employees then overall performance

of firm will be hampered in negative manner therefore maintaining relations with the employees
are very essential to enhancing productivity or profitability of firm in the marketplace. When
management will form effective relations with the employees then chances of conflicts and
issues from the workplace will be reduced which will beneficial for the management of
Kingfisher in enhancing their growth and sustainability in the marketplace. For this,
Management of Kingfisher can adopt Some effective strategies which are given as under:
Better communication: It is very necessary for the management to provide important
informations to the employees so that they gets updated regarding the operations of firm.
Through implementing an effective communication structure in the workplace employees will be
able in sharing their problems or issues with their superiors and when their problems will be
solved they will provide maximum efforts for achievement of organisational goals. Therefore, it
is a major responsibility to the managers of Kingfisher to communicate with their employees on
regular basis so that problems or issues will be identified and resolved in easy manner. If they
will not discuss the necessary informations with their employees then they will not get
satisfactory results from them which can impact the decision-making process of HRM in
negative manner (Edgar, 2015).
Share vision: It is very necessary for the managers of Kingfisher to share plans policies,
vision and mission with their employees so that goals will be achieved in a given time-frame.
When employees will be aware regarding mission and vision of firm then they will provide
better suggestions and ideas to their superiors which will indirectly support in the decision-
making process of firm.
Employee engagement activities: Managers of Kingfisher have to provide motivation to
their employees so that healthy relationship will be maintained in the workplace. It is also
essential to the HR managers of firm to organise several activities and entertainment
programmes for their employees so that their engagement in the activities of firm can be
enhanced.
6 Key elements of employment legislation and its impacts upon HRM decision-making
There are various legislations which can impact on the decision-making of HR managers
are given as under:
Equality act, 2010 – According to this act, management have duty to provide equal
opportunities to the employees who are working within the firm. It also does not allow any kind

of discrimination which is based on sex, gender or religion within the firm. Therefore,
management of Kingfisher has duty to obey this regulation so that business operations can't be
influenced in negative manner.

Data Protection Act, 2018- This act is formulated by the UK government and as per this
act, every firm has responsibility to not disclose the informations of their employees with anyone
so that their trust on the firm can be maintained in proper manner. Therefore, management of
Kingfisher should follow this act for enhancing the loyalty of employees towards the firm.
Health and safety Act, 1974 – According to this act, management of each firm has
responsibility to make an effective work environment and implement all the safety measures in it
so that in the case of mishappening remedies can be provided to the victim. In the context of
Kingfisher, their HR managers have to provide effective training to their employees on safety
and health at workplace so that they perform their duties in well manner.
Dismissal and employment contracts- Managers or employees both can terminate the
job in which managers have to use dismissal and employees have to use resignation. But they
both have duty to adhere the legal rules or regulations so that it can't influences on their
professional career. For instance, Employees have responsibility to provide notice to the
employer from one weak before of the resignation and managers have to also obliged to adhere
the rules and regulations of employment. If they both will not obliged their responsibilities in
proper manner then it will impact on the brand image of kingfisher which will not beneficial for
their strategies and decision-making.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarised from the above report that HR department is very important for
an organisation if they wants to get sustainability or growth in the marketplace. Hence, it can be
said that HR department is backbone of a firm. Roles and responsibilities which are performed
by them is to recruit knowledgeable and experienced candidates who will be helpful in operating
the organisational activities in an effective manner. They also provide better training to the
employees so that they get aware regarding their roles and responsibilities and provide effective
contribution in the achievement of goals.