Human Resource Management Report: Harrods HRM Strategies and Impact

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices at Harrods, a well-known online departmental store. The report begins with an introduction to HRM, its purpose, and functions, specifically within the context of Harrods, including workforce planning and resourcing. It then delves into the strengths and weaknesses of various recruitment and selection approaches, such as external and internal methods. The report further explores the benefits of HRM practices for both employers and employees, including training and development, staff relations, and working hour flexibility. It assesses the effectiveness of these practices in raising profitability and productivity. The importance of employee relations in influencing HRM decision-making is discussed, along with key elements of employment legislation and their impact on HRM. Finally, the report applies HRM practices with specific examples relevant to Harrods and concludes with a summary of the key findings.

Human Resource
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Purpose and function of HRM.........................................................................................1
P2. Strengths and Weaknesses of various recruitment and selection approaches..................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P3. Benefits of various HRM practices in firm for both employer and employee.................4
P4. Effectiveness of various HRM practices in context of raising profitability and productivity
................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
P5. Importance of employee relations in context to influence HRM decision making..........6
P6. Key elements of employment legislation and its impact on HRM decision-making.......8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P7. Application of HRM practices into work related context, applying specific examples...9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
Recruitment. 2019. [Online]. Available Through
<http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/recruitment/recruitment-meaning-definition-process-and-
factors-influencing-recruitment/25950>...............................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is very crucial for the whole organisation for operating the
overall activities effectually. It is the practice that involves into recruiting, selecting and retaining
staff in proper way (Abdullah and Zulkifli, 2015). HRM is accountable to manage the firm's
activities and workers who are performing within organisation. For this report the chosen
company is Harrods which is a well known online departmental stores. Its headquarters is in
Knightsbridge, London, UK. The purpose of this report is to describe the HRM purpose as well
as function that are applicable to workforce planning and resourcing. Strengths and weaknesses
of various approaches to recruitment as well as selection. Benefits of different HRM practices for
both employer and employee as well as effectiveness of HR practices. Importance of employee
relations and key aspects of employment legislation that impact HRM decision making. Apart
from this application of HRM practices using particular examples are also mentioned in this
report.
TASK 1
P1. Purpose and function of HRM.
HRM is an organisational function which deals with issues related to employees such as
hiring, performance management, compensation and benefits, training and development,
administration. It is approach to effective management of people for achieving organisational
objective. There are several functions that basically performed through HRM to operate the
business smoothly. Some function of Harrods HRM are mentioned below: Maintaining good working condition: Every organisation aims at maintaining good
working environment in organisation. As this develops the productivity as well as
minimise the cost regarding medical claims, turnover, staff's compensation and many
more. This function helps Harrods to maintain positive and healthy working conditions
for effective and efficient performance of their employees. Recruitment and selection: Recruitment and selection is very important function of
HRM. Recruitment generally ascertain the talented individuals at appropriate place for a
particular job role (Armstrong, Landers and Collmus, 2016). Selection explains the
choosing appropriate individuals for vacant position effectually. It is most challenging
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task for selecting right skilled employee from pool of candidates. This function will aid
Harrods in hiring the proficient candidates or employees in organisation.
 Performance management: For facilitating job satisfaction, monetary benefits and many
more, so the function of Harrods HRM is to conduct performance management each year.
Herein, staff who has provided the effective performance as well as contribution to attain
objectives of business are appreciated and facilitated with financial and non financial
benefits. It will motivate the workforce and other to perform effectively for obtaining
benefits.
Purpose of HRM:
Human resource management purpose is to manage various requirements and issues of
organisation and employee of company (Banfield, Kay and Royles, 2018). The significant
purpose of Harrods HRM is to facilitate and interface among their workers in order to obtain
talents for accomplishing business objectives. Some more purpose of respective firm HRM are
mentioned below: Staffing: HRM purpose is to hire and retain best employees of organisation. For this HR
of Harrods recruit and select right employees which is very crucial for the company.
Maintaining or retaining best employees is major responsibility of human resource
department. Through this they retain proficient candidates to enhance productivity. Employee relations: Relations of employee with other employees is important aspect for
working in organisation. Human resource management purpose for creating and
maintaining positive relationship between employees of organisation. This helps Harrods
in resolving issues or conflicts whenever occurs in company.
 Compensation and benefits: Every employee want compensation as well as the benefits
for their work in organisation. This is considered as salary and another monetary and non
monetary benefits that is passed through company for their staff. HRM purpose in
Harrods is to provide right compensation and benefits to employees according to their
work in organisation. Moreover, this aids to keep the workforce motivated.
P2. Strengths and Weaknesses of various recruitment and selection approaches.
Recruitment and selection are considered as the essential methods that is utilise through
firm for hiring and selecting appropriate individuals for effective job position (Brierley, J. A. and
Gwilliam, 2017). Within Harrods, recruitment is processed through two different process such as
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internal and external in effectual way. After hiring right individuals than firm will comply the
selection procedures to choose talented people for particular job role. There are some approaches
that is utilise by respective company and its strengths or weaknesses are mentioned below:
External approach: This firm recruit the candidates from outside through utilising the
external sources such as online method, campus placement, consultancies and many more
(Budhwar and Mellahi, 2017). In context of Harrods, they can applied this approach to recruit
talented candidates for attaining organisational objectives effectively. Campus placement
considered as the procedures in which firm look forward to fill their vacant posts through
employing students or freshers from several campuses.
Strengths Weaknesses
 This approach is advantageous for
choosing appropriate candidates for the
respective firm.
 It brings new talent at job that aids in
maximising business productivity.
 It is time taking and costly process for
recruiting individuals from outside as
team of HR has to perform several
activities that involves screening
resumes of applied people, take
interviews and etc.
 Recruiting staff by campus placement
and etc demoralises existent employees
who perform effective to attain higher
position at work area.
Internal approach: Herein, firm will hire individuals from insider. It is the procedures
that is utilise for internal recruitment, promotion and transfer etc. It is utilised through Harrods to
hire talented candidates in effectual manner (Guest, 2017). Promotion is considered as a
enhancement of staff position in organisational structure. Moreover, transfer includes shifting of
a workers from one job to other without modifying accountabilities or compensation.
Strengths Weaknesses
 This saves the cost and time of the
respective firm.
 Herein, employers have knowledge
 It fails to bring proficient people at
work area thus, their productivity may
not be maximised through hiring staff
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about their staff skills and capabilities.
Hence, this become easy to accomplish
the vacant post with talent people.
from inside.
 Herein, there is not so much scope to
accomplish the particular position
requirements in which existing
employees are recruited by promotion
method.
Selection method:
Selection is considered as procedures of picking the appropriate candidates with
prerequisite qualification as well as abilities for filling the jobs within firm. Herein, candidates
are chosen through effective interview method (Helmreich and Merritt, 2017). Moreover,
interviewer also perform various types of mock test, group discussion all these are consider
through Harrods manager so that skilled individuals get selected within organisation easily.
Strengths Weaknesses
 Harrods human resource manager have
to capability for resolving the queries
of interviewee.
 It assists in developing effectual
relation with interviewer or interviewee
and improve mutual understanding
among themselves.
 Various time, this can be treated as
incomplete method during procedures
of recruiting any individuals. As
interview so much sufficient for
candidates.
 In this, there is lot of risk as candidates
information can automatically disclosed
through an interviewer.
TASK 2
P3. Benefits of various HRM practices in firm for both employer and employee.
For expanding the talents of the staff at work area, Harrods human resource manager
execute several policies. This involves training and development programmes, develop as well as
maximise staff relations, disputes solution and so on, this is not only advantageous for employees
of Harrods but also for their employers in effective way (Jabbour and de Sousa Jabbour, 2016).
Few benefits are mentioned below:
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 Training and development: This is considered as the most advantageous HR practice in
which Harrods manager facilitates on board as well as apprenticeship training to staff fro
maximising its skills. It will provide an opportunity to employees for minimising its
weaknesses as well as enhance abilities to perform at large platform. While, employers of
respective firm acquire benefits to retain its talent for attainment of goals.
 Staff relation: This particular practices are proves to be advantageous in creating as well
as managing optimistic work environment at job (Jamali, El Diraniand Harwood, 2015).
Herein, Harrods human resource manager assign roles and responsibilities top staff in
groups so that it can coordinate with one another to attain task on specified time.
Moreover, this also advantageous for the employers and employees of respective firm to
maximise their productivity as well as acquire cooperation of them for attainment of
organisational goals.
 Working hour flexibility:Through obtaining working hour flexibility, staff can
accomplish more satisfaction from its job as well as provide relaxation from more work
load too. In respects of Harrods, It is advantageous for employers for acquiring high
commitment of employees for accomplishment of organisational success.
P4. Effectiveness of various HRM practices in context of raising profitability and productivity
Now a days, HRM plays crucial role in firm as this is useful for managing the employees
within organisation. Through this concepts, company can maximise its profitability time to time.
By this concept HRM practices ascertained by recruiting effective candidates, talented
individuals which can be capable to do its best in particular time duration. There are several
activities of human resource management that will aids Harrods for enhancing profitability
effectiveness with the appropriate productivity in good way, that are mentioned below:
 Updating capabilities and skills of staff: Through facilitating time to time training to
staff. Human resources manager of Harrods can develop weaknesses, decrease
knowledge gaps between employees as well as enhances its abilities to perform based on
its business requirements (Mao and et.al., 2016). It will assists respective company to
retain skills of the employees for maximising enterprise productivity and facilitating
effective services to their clients for its long term retention.
 Achievement of prior goals: Through giving appropriate vision to staff, manager of the
Harrods acquire benefits to achieve the objectives in less time period. Moreover, by
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appreciating employees for more contribution will maximise their morale to perform with
full potential to attain business growth.
 Sharing information:This is essential HR practices for firm as it aids in obtaining
relevant information as well as knowledge regarding organisation's work that they has to
accomplish (Markus, Sekiguchi and Takeuchi, 2015). Herein, staff can share information
by interacting with one another for planning its targets of the business effectually. In
context to Harrods, they consider HR practices as this will assists their workers to
communicate relevant information and minimise the burden from its group of company
effectually. Through this firm can create effective products by sharing the information
appropriately. That will enhances their profitability and productivity in efficacious way.
Hence within Harrods, human resource manager execute several HR practices such as
training and development, flexibility in working hours and so on to enhance staff productivity as
well as retain them for longer duration.
TASK 3
P5. Importance of employee relations in context to influence HRM decision making.
This is very important to include employee of company in taking decision making.
Employees of organisation are the key assets of company. Solid foundation of Harrods company
is its people (Moutinho and Vargas-Sanchez, 2018). Employees are source of knowledge and
idea that is beneficial for company. Participation of employees in HRM decision making will be
significant in various ways as this will leads to new and innovative ideas.
Motivate and improve morale
Taking part in decision making process will automaticity improve morale of employees.
Employees of company will feel valuable for company. They will share and suggest their idea
with other people in organisation. This will motivates employees of Harrods company as they are
taking part in decision making process and they will effective follow decisions. Actively
engaging employees in decision making process will boost overall company morale. Harrods
company can keep employees involve in company by this. This will lead to make employees
understand that they have importance in company and their ideas are recognised by company.
Effective relation in between the employees and employer help to ascertain the the basic and
natural needs. Fulfilment of those needs in actual help to increase their motivation level.
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Improvement in workplace relationship
Harrods company can improve workplace relationship between its employees.
Participation in HRM decision making process will give each and every employee opportunity to
share their opinions with others (Nankervis and et.al., 2016). This will help in improving
relationship between manger and employees. Taking decision after listing and understanding
suggestion of all employees will result in positive work environment in company. It not only
improves employee relationship with supervisor but also leads to encourages a strong sense of
team work among workers. Maintaining continuous interaction keep employees well informed
about company. Relation between both help in creation of positive working environment. This
will further have positive impact upon the productivity.
Reduces conflicts
Creating and maintaining positive and friendly work environment will lead to reduction
in conflicts between employees. Human resource management of Harrods company is
responsible for reducing and solving employees conflicts or problems. By taking part in HRM
decision making it is very easy for manger to solve and reduces conflicts between employees.
This will develop employee relationship with other and decrease misunderstanding. Employees
can also suggest some methods or idea to reduce grievances or conflicts from organisation and
maintain peaceful and positive work environment. When work environment is effective and
friendly than extent of conflicts within workplace can be reduced. By this, employees can fully
concentrate on their task and become more productive to organisation. Proper understanding
between both help in proper transfer of information and ideas. This will further help in creation
of trust.
Profit maximization
Earning more profits is an ultimate objective of Harrods company. By involving
employees in HRM decision making, company can take ideas from employees that how they can
work and achieve objectives. People of organisation will themself suggest ideas about their
working and make plans. This will lead to create environment in which employees will work
with effectiveness and efficiency. Motivated employee work with their best skill and ability to
improve productive of Harrods. High productive rate will be directly increase profits of
company. In relation between both the parties help in profit maximisation as this will happen due
to the optimum utilisation of existing resources
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P6. Key elements of employment legislation and its impact on HRM decision-making
For developing the employee situation as well as facilitate them rights to obtain equal job
opportunities, UK government have enforced several legislation. The main aim of such laws is to
obviate discrimination from the job that may occur because of various staff features like colour,
age, religion and so on. Hence, this is essential for every company to comply the legislation at
the time hiring employees at its work area. In respect of Harrods, these regulation directly effect
on human resource policies in which manager must assure that equal chances and rights have to
be provided to all staff for job satisfaction. Some of the legislation are mentioned below:
 Equal pay act, 1970: As per this particular act, manager of Harrods to facilitate equal
pay for whole employees there have not be performed any kinds of discrimination.
Moreover, they have to prefer which overall staff who are performing into company are
to be pay equally according to its performance either they are male or female (Shen, and
Benson, 2016). Thus, accordingly formulate decisions and make policies for inspiring
workers that all of them are treated equally at the time they are being paid with
incentives, salaries and so on. Hence, it will aids in creating optimistic environment into
company.
 Equality act, 2010: The aim of this particular act is to develop as well as maintain
equality among whole staff into work area. This is enforced legally to protect individuals
from discrimination. It is the act which assists worker in obtaining equal chances and
rights into job. Equality act involves whole these acts and facilitates equal rights to whole
staff without discrimination. According to this, manager of the Harrods has to give equal
opportunities and rights top its staff without any types of discrimination.
 Minimum wages act, 1998: This is considered as a legislation that is established through
government for payment of certain amount. All staff perform for earning money.
National minimum wages act 1998 set up to develop minimum wage in whole UK. Those
wages are standardised through government so that workers can obtain fair payments for
its works. UK government have chosen minimum amount that required to be paid in
respect of work done through staff. Thus, HR manager of Harrods has to comply this
particular law as well as pay minimum wages top their workers according to its working
hours.
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 Health and safety act, 1974: It is an act that develop further provision for protecting
health, safety and welfare of the individuals at work area (Sparrow, Brewster and Chung,
2016). This legislation is useful for Harrods in securing staff against several health risks
or facilitates safety in work activities of individuals at task. Fundamental aim of this law
is to control dangerous substances as well as prevention of unethical acquisition. It
emphases upon significance of health and safety of employees or another resources of the
organisation.
TASK 4
P7. Application of HRM practices into work related context, applying specific examples
Human resource manager of Harrods can develop as well as execute several policies for
obtaining talent at work area. This involves recruiting staff, planning its job role, facilitating
training and many more (Stone and et.al, 2015). From several applications, the most significant
one is to hire staff by external sources of recruitment method. Such as, for recruiting a candidates
for manager post into marketing department, HR team of respective firm prepare job
description.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Firm name: Harrods
Job role: Marketing manager
Job type: Full time
Salary: Negotiable
Location: UK.
Roles and Responsibilities:
 Developing effectual as well as best policies to introduce new product or services
effectively into targeted location of market.
 Identify strategies of the rivals to formulate effective policies to influence consumers to
visit stores at least one time for buying product as per the expectation.
 Cooperate with team members as well as facilitate them appropriate direction to sustain
into market.
 Find out latest trends of market area as well as demand of the clients to improve
business activities.
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Qualification required:
Graduation from any fields
MBA in marketing
Experienced required
At 3 years.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Name:
Email:
Contact:
Objective: To represent my skills and put experiences in developing as well as maximising the
productivity of company where my abilities increase business perfromance and my level of
experiences.
Qualification:
Class University/Board Grade Passing year
10th EFG School 70.00% 2008
12th EFG School 65.00% 2010
Graduation QRS College 72.00% 2013
MBA(Marketing) XYZ university 68.00% 2015
Experience:
3 year working experiences into marketing and sales.
Role and responsibilities:
 Implemented clients rebate and coordinated advertising programmes.
 Develop award wining packaging, producing over 20% sales performance as well as
aids in minimising production and inventory cost more that 25% through facilitating
effectual plans.
Personal skills:
 Managerial capabilities
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