EMTH6013 Report: HRM on Emerging Themes and Future Trends

This report, prepared for an EMTH6013 assignment, delves into the critical aspects of Human Resource Management (HRM) concerning emerging themes within the business environment. The report is divided into two main parts. Part A examines four key pillars: work environment, technology, industry and market, and society expectations, and their interrelation. It evaluates the current impact of emerging industries and markets on various sectors, particularly the retail industry. Part B focuses on specific emerging themes relevant to the e-commerce sector, analyzing industry forces using Porter's Five Forces model, and explores the implications of these themes for the future of business over the next 5-10 years. The analysis includes examples from companies like Best Buy and Tesco, highlighting the importance of adapting to changing trends. The report concludes with recommendations for maintaining competitiveness in a dynamic market, emphasizing the significance of technology, internal culture, and societal expectations. The report underscores how these factors, if managed effectively, can enhance a business's profitability and sustainability.

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HRM on Emerging Themes 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Part A...............................................................................................................................................2
Part B...............................................................................................................................................5
Task 1: Emerging Themes present in the Industry......................................................................5
Task 2: Implication of Themes on Future of Business in Next 5- 10 Years...............................6
Task 3: Recommendation to Maintain Competitiveness.............................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

HRM on Emerging Themes 2
Introduction
With the developing market, it has become the need for the companies to develop their business
structure on the basis of various themes so as to become competitive as well as sustain their
growth in the market. Emerging themes refers to the various aspects and trends that are
prevailing in the business environment. These trends can results in affecting the current state of
business process in both positive and negative ways. The emerging theme refers to new trends
and changes present in the environment that the organizations should consider before taking any
action in the business environment (Balaji, and Roy 2017). The below mentioned report details
about the emerging themes present in the worldwide environment. The part one highlight details
about the four main emerging themes and the part two of the paper explain the emerging themes
present in certain industry, its implications and the recommendation for the future. More details
about the paper are discussed below:
Part A
The emerging themes nowadays have started changing the working of the organizations so as to
grow forward in the direction of success of the company. The emerging themes in the current
environment have started affecting all the industries based on their work profile and industry
features. Considering the case of retail industry, it should be note that there are four pillars of
emerging themes that are technology, work environment, industry and market and society
expectation as well. These are the four pillars on the basis of which the organizations work to
maintain success in the target market. Diverse aspects in these pillars have started to emerge due
to which companies have started changing their skills and working pattern to manage it as well.
The only fact that is true in the business environment is that change is only constant factor
(Kurnia, et. al., 2015).
Culture, technology, industry and market and society expectation are the four pillars on the basis
of which the trends and activities in the environment change. So, if a business will capture these
four pillars in their organization then they can successfully grow and increase sales as well.
Emerging industry and market lay a crucial impact on the disciplines and wider retail sector. The
environment of the retail industry is diversified and it keeps on changing on a regular basis (Yeo,

HRM on Emerging Themes 3
and Grant 2019). Below mentioned is the discussion of four pillars of emerging themes that
affects the functions of companies present in the retail industry:
 Work Environment: the work environment refers to the environment in which an
organiation work and produces goods and services to offer to its customers in the
environment. This environment is also called in the internal workplace environment of
the organization. The internal environment refers to the culture that is present in the
internal workplace environment of the retail organization while, external culture refers to
the cultural aspects that are present in the outside industrial environment. The internal
environment keeps on changing based on the interest of the employees present in the
company along with the new reforms developed by the organization. (Kurnia, Karnali,
and Rahim 2015). The work environment influences the people to work in the industry
and in favour of the organizational objective as well.
 Technology: the segment is changing with a regular pace in the external environment.
Mobile computing is becoming famous in the technology industry and it is being adopted
by most of companies present in several industries to achieve competence. Further, the
payroll technology is giving an inside edge to the companies. This type of administration
is certainly making easier for the companies to increase the satisfaction of the employees
and develop significantly. Technology in the HRM system will help the organizations to
increase the internal effectiveness of the business that will certainly increase the
competitiveness of the company in the external market as well. Use of cloud computing,
mobile technology and payroll system will help the HR manager to grow by satisfying its
people.
 Industries and Market: Thirdly, it should be noted that the changes in the industrial
factors affect the activities of the business in the external environment. Talking about the
retail industry, it should be noted that the introduction of technology or point of sale
system affect the working of the whole industry. Resulting to which, it can be said that
these factors affect the profitability and sustainability of the companies in the worldwide
international environment (Imna, and Hassan 2015). Further, The external industrial
environment change according to the change in various factors like preference of
customers, price of raw material, presence of substitution, competition etc. The company
present in retail segment needs to focus on the culture so as to make sure that the changes

HRM on Emerging Themes 4
are applied in their business as well. Introduction of competition or amalgamation of
several companies from other industries into the retail industry can be seen as a change in
the industry theme that can affect the business.
 Society Expectation: lastly, society expectation refers to the one of the most important
segment that should be effectively looked after by the business present in the retail
industry. This pillar of the emerging themes keeps on changing due to which it becomes a
need for the companies to improvise their activities accordingly.
All the four emerging themes are interrelated and affect the state of the business in the external
environment. As technology is a part of industry and market trends, customer and society
expectations are crucial to maintain the internal workplace environment and lastly, technology is
the most important motivating factor that influences change in the business environment. The
interconnection of all the four aspects looks good as they hold the power to increase the
profitability of any business. However, on the other hand if these factors are ignored then it can
ruin the competitiveness of the business (Palacios-Marqués, Soto-Acosta, and Merigó 2015).
For the concern of industry an market pillar in the business, the organization should manage their
activities in an environment friendly manner. In this way, the organization will be able to
maintain a sustainable position and rise above competition as well. Lastly, it should be noted
customers expectation aspects keeps on fluctuating as the needs of customers keeps on changing
resulting to which they start to expect differently from the organization as well. Thus, it should
be noted that the companies present in the retail industry need to take care of the expectation of
the client and change their business practices according so as to increase their profitability in the
target market. Lastly, the fact should that one hand these emerging themes help the organization
while on the hand if these aspects are not concerned seriously then it can affect the activities of
the organization in negative ways as well (Al Mamun, and Hasan 2017). For instance, Tesco not
using the culture and technology properly due to which they are struggling to manage their
growth in the retail industry. Thus, in the limelight of above mentioned events, it should be noted
that the companies present in the external environment need to focus on the pillars otherwise the
business will fail to manage the competence in the industrial environment.

HRM on Emerging Themes 5
Part B
Task 1: Emerging Themes present in the Industry
The e-commerce industry is volatile industry as it keeps on fluctuating on the basis of different
factors present in the business environment. Therefore, it should be noted that the above
mentioned emerging themes highly affect the e-commerce sector and the companies in the
growth and sustainability. As the e-commerce industry mainly works on technology due to which
it becomes one of the most important pillar in affecting the activities of the industry. The retail
industry nowadays has started using technology to improve the customer experience. For
instance, the company present in the retail industry like Amazon have Walmart have started
using technology to improve satisfaction level of customers in the target market (Lehner 2015).
Further, below mentioned is the elaboration of Porter Five Forces of the retail industry:
Threat of entrants: there is low degree of threat of new entrants in the market as the organizations
entering in this market require high degree of investments with them. Not many organizations
are qualified to afford such huge amount of investments along with high degree of risks as well.
Thus, the industry is relax from the tension of new competitors coming in the market.
Threat of substitutes: There is low degree of threat of substitutes in the environment as the
services that the companies present in the retail industry are not offered by any other company
present in other industry. There are no substitute products and service present in the environment
that the customers can use to replace with the companies present in the supermarket industry
(Pantano 2016).
Industry Rivalry: There is high degree of industry rivalry present in the retail industry as there is
prevalence of cut throat competition within the supermarket companies. All the organizations
provide similar services with similar products in the environment due to which differentiation
reduce. The customer only purchases the product on the basis of availability, preferences and
brand loyalty present in the market.
Bargaining power of buyer: there is high degree of bargaining power present in the hands of the
buyer as the buyers are free of purchase the products from any company with incurring any
additional costs as well.

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Bargaining power of supplier: there are many suppliers present in the environment so the
bargaining power of supplier is moderate. The supplier put up a price in the market that makes
both the parties profitable (Ehsani, and Ehsani 2015).
Taking an example of the company Best Buy that failed to manage its operations in the Chinese.
The company struggled in analysing the demand of the customers present in the diverse industry
due to which they were unable to provide quality services to customers. Resulting in which,
dissatisfaction level of the customers rose that resulted in failure of the company to perform its
actions in the market of China. The organization that will not change according to the changing
themes will definitely fail in the external environment. Thus, it should be noted that work
environment, technology, society and industry comprise of for pillars that hold the capacity to
ruin the functioning and profitability of an organization easily, if not looked wisely. The culture
of the industry plays role in influencing the employees to work in direction of success of the
company (Ngo, and Nguyen 2016). It is important for the organization to increase the
satisfaction level of employees so that they can effectively work to provide profitability to the
company in the external environment. Thus, the company should aim to provide facilities to the
employees so that they can increase the level of satisfaction. Motivated employees will definitely
work in the direction of the company (Yu, and Tseng 2016).
Whereas unmotivated employees work against the growth objective of the company, therefore it
can be clearly seen that internal culture affects the motivation level of the employees due to
which they fail to achieve the objectives defined in the environment. The emerging themes work
in favour as well as against the activities of the company. It is important for the organizations
present in the retail industry to monitor these themes and work on them so as to achieve success
and profitability in the external environment (Gabriel, and Kirkwood 2016).
Task 2: Implication of Themes on Future of Business in Next 5- 10 Years
As everything present in the environment has both good and bad factors so the emerging themes
also affect the working conditions of the business in both positive and negative ways. Culture,
technology, society and industry are four main pillar in building success of the company,
similarly, these pillars are also responsible in ruining the current image of the business in the
target environment. The implication of these themes of companies can be severe as well as
positive in the future. Talking about the culture aspect, it should be noted that increasing

HRM on Emerging Themes 7
competition and decreasing satisfaction level of the employees in the business is interrupting
between the growth objectives of the company (Meyer, and Peng 2016).
Resulting to which, in the upcoming years it is suggested to the companies present in the retail
and e-commerce industry to initiate the performance management techniques efficiently
otherwise the employees with not work for the organization. Therefore, dissatisfaction of the
employees from the business functions can be seen as an implication of the emerging themes in
the business environment. Further, it should also be noted that the emerging themes make the
organization look at only few aspect that are important but it also make the organization forget
various other aspects that are crucial for the growth of the business (Zutshi, Creed, and Connelly
2019). For instance, a business is only concerned about the four pillars of emerging theme but
what if another issue of raw material or governmental policies appears in front of them for which
they are not prepared. This issue can eliminate the efficiency of the company, as the company
would not be prepared to overcome these challenges in the environment. Thus, it should be noted
that this aspect could corner of the organization by making them look at only four major pillars
affecting the growth of organization. A company present in the retail e-commerce industry needs
to be diversified otherwise they will fall back in the target market. Further, technology being
another major pillar of emerging themes affects the activities of business in several ways (Amin-
Chaudhry 2016).
Technology is a feature that keeps on changing on a regular basis, it is difficult for the
organization to maintain pace with the updated technology in a short interval of time. It is time
consuming as well as costly to spend the efforts of management on technology as no
organization can adopt new technology and uses it successfully in a month or two. Thus, not
using technology is a problem for the business while using technology also appears to be an issue
in its implementation. Thus, it should be noted that in next 5 to 10 years, the environment will
become more diversified and developed due to which the business will start facing new and
unsolved issues (SivaKumar, and Gunasekaran 2017). There is also a possibility that the themes
that important to the contemporary industry right now might not be important in the future. If the
business will not concern about the emerging themes then they will not be able to attain
competitive advantage in the target market. Thus, it should be noted that emerging themes are

HRM on Emerging Themes 8
important to initiate competitiveness of the business and to eliminate the issues as well (Ahn, and
Rho 2016).
Talking about the impact of such themes in the business environment, the fact should be noted
that all the four factors that are technology, work environment, society and industry plays are
lead role in influencing the work of an organization. Both positive and negative impact is made
on the company with the introduction of these pillars in the environment. The implication of
emerging themes is that they make the management ignore several other relatively less crucial
aspect that they should focus on simultaneously in order to succeed in the external environment.
Below mentioned are recommendations given for the companies to maintain their competence by
using such pillars in the business environment.
Task 3: Recommendation to Maintain Competitiveness
Below mentioned are the aspects that should be recommended to the companies to maintain
competitive advantage in the target market:
Market Research: In order to maintain competence in the target market, it is important for the
business to initiate market research on a regular basis. Market research facility helps the
organization to be competitive by knowing about all the attributes present in the environment. In
case of occurrence of a new effect in the business environment, the market research feature will
alert the organization on a prior basis. Market research will help the organization to know about
the aspects prevailing in the environment and factors that can change the functions of the
company for good or bad. Prior information of this aspect will help the manager to prepare
themselves for the upcoming issues and manage them effectively when they come in the
organization (Parker, and Wang 2016). Thus, it should be noted that in this way the market
research facility would help the organization to prepare them to face unknown situation in the
external environment. Further, it is recommended to the companies present in the industry that
they should check will the update in technology and other external environmental changes to
initiate effective activities in the internal environment of the company and grow.
Monitoring and Feedback: Every activity performed by the business should be evaluated and
monitored effectively. The monitoring activity will help the organization to effectively analyse
the activities performed by the business for success and profitability. The company should set up

HRM on Emerging Themes 9
a plan, process or metrics to analyse the performance and activities of the company in the
external environment. This aspect will help the business in finding out the issues present in the
internal system. As market research recommendation is for the external environment of the
company, similar monitoring and feedback recommendation is for the internal environment of
the company (Liao, et. al., 2017). Monitoring process will evaluate the activities conducted by
the company and will help the management in finding gaps and working direction of the success
as well. Similarly, the company should attain feedback from the employees as well as customers
of the company. This aspect will help the company to analyse the expectation of the stakeholders
from the organization. On the basis of feedback, the business should then incorporate facilities
for the growth of the company. The company should seek feedback on the new changes initiated
by the organization in respect to emerging themes present in the environment (Pantano, et. al.,
2017).
Attain Back up Plan: This is the most crucial recommendation for the companies that they
should work on so as to attain growth and profitability in the external environment. It is
important for the organization to incorporate changes in the business but it is also good for the
organization always has a back-up plan in case the innovation or change falls back. The backup
plan will help the organization to maintain an optimum level of profits in the environment even
when one segment or innovation of the business is failing. Secondly, the back-up plan will help
the organization to eliminate several issues in the environment and grow with a steady pace as
well. This plan will help the organization to freely take risks in the environment without facing
fear of losses in the business environment (Kumar, Anand, and Song 2017). Thus, in the
limelight of all the above mentioned aspect, the fact should be noted that implementation of these
recommendation will successfully help the organizations to save themselves from the implication
of emerging themes present in the business environment.
Conclusion
Thus, it should be noted that all the four pillars are important for the organization in their own
way. These pillars are interconnected so if the organization will start focusing on one pillar then
will directly drive them to rectify the issues faced due to another pillar as well. These themes can
be good or bad for the organization based on the activities of the business. Further, the above

HRM on Emerging Themes 10
mentioned report detailed about the four main emerging themes present in the environment and
its impact on the working of the company. The implications linked to emerging themes are
discussed in the paper along with the recommendations that the companies should use to
maintain competence in the external environment.

HRM on Emerging Themes 11
References
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the service industry. Service Business, 10(1), pp.113-133.
Al Mamun, C.A. and Hasan, M.N., 2017. Factors affecting employee turnover and sound
retention strategies in business organization: A conceptual view. Problems and Perspectives in
Management, 15(1), pp.63-71.
Amin-Chaudhry, A., 2016. Corporate social responsibility–from a mere concept to an expected
business practice. Social Responsibility Journal, 12(1), pp.190-207.
Balaji, M.S. and Roy, S.K., 2017. Value co-creation with Internet of things technology in the
retail industry. Journal of Marketing Management, 33(1-2), pp.7-31.
Ehsani, Z. and Ehsani, M.H., 2015. Effect of quality and price on customer satisfaction and
commitment in Iran auto industry. International Journal of Service Science, Management and
Engineering, 1(5), p.52.
Gabriel, C.A. and Kirkwood, J., 2016. Business models for model businesses: Lessons from
renewable energy entrepreneurs in developing countries. Energy Policy, 95, pp.336-349.
Imna, M. and Hassan, Z., 2015. Influence of Human Resource Management practices on
Employee Retention in Maldives Retail Industry. International Journal of Accounting, Business
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Kumar, V., Anand, A. and Song, H., 2017. Future of retailer profitability: An organizing
framework. Journal of Retailing, 93(1), pp.96-119.
Kurnia, S., Choudrie, J., Mahbubur, R.M. and Alzougool, B., 2015. E-commerce technology
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pp.1906-1918.