HRM Practices in Chocola-Fantastica and Microsoft: A Detailed Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices at Chocola-Fantastica and Microsoft. The introduction outlines the scope, focusing on HRM functions, company strengths and weaknesses, and potential improvements. LO1 delves into the purpose o...Read More

HUMAN RESUORCE
MANAGEMEN

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
LO2..................................................................................................................................................6
LO3..................................................................................................................................................9
LO4................................................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Human Resource Management, is describes as the procedures of managing and handling
employee & workers in the organization. It also affects hiring, firing, motivating and training
program of employees. Human Resource Management also deals with different issues such as
training, development, communication, motivation, recruitment etc.
Chocola-Fantastica, is a fasted growing chocolate manufacturing company which deals in
chocolate based greeting cards, presents etc. The company is established in South Wales.
Microsoft's Corporation is an American MNC's. The company headquarter is in Redmond,
Washington. The company mostly deals in computer software and hardware, electronics, social
networking sites, cloud computing etc. This study includes HR function and its important as per
Chocola-Fantastica (Wehrmeyer, 2017). Also, describes the strength and weakness of company,
potential improvement of company. This study also represent Microsoft's company training and
internship program for their employees and it's important. In this study also describes company
flexible working arrangement for their employees. This study have been included employee
engagement and it's importance. And in the end study shows Job specification, advantages and
disadvantages of company job advertisements.
LO1
a) Purpose of HR function.
Human resource management is a systematized approach to the impressive management
of people in a company such that they assist their enterprise increase a competitory advantage. It
is planned to exploit worker action in work of a leader important objectives.
The purpose of HR function for Chocola-Fantastica will cover -
Staffing needs
As Chocola-Fantastica is located in highly unemployed area and find it difficult to retain
employees due to their unsatisfactory of quality of greeting cards and presents the HR
department is responsible for recruitment and selection of employees on regular basis for
fulfilling staffing needs for Chocola-Fantastica.
Company principles
The HR department for Chocola-Fantastica will aim at establishing principles of company upon
the recruitment and selection activities as they receive complaints from applicants about unfair

selection procedures along with several strict principles enforcing employees to compulsory
fulfilling probation period.
Employment
Chocola-Fantastica human resource department is responsible to hire right amount of staff
capable of performing practice that aim in fulfilment of company's objective like capable
production department to produce standard quality cars and gifts and also fair managerial staff
eliminating unfair practices during recruitment practices.
Training
Employees of Chocola-Fantastica will go under several training practices under guidance of HR
department to provide some training that will enhance work practices in them for better
production along with training of newly hired employees as they are in hugely unemployed
sector and company faces employee needs on regular basis for their business operations.
Disciplinary procedures
Human resource department in Chocola-Fantastica is responsible for disciplinary actions for
production team to main quality of chocolate based cards and presents along with maintenance of
their selection procedure eliminating unfair practice result in minimizing employee
dissatisfaction and maintain retention of employees for their business operations (Taylor,
Doherty and McGraw, 2015).
The Human Resource department of Chocola-Fantastica will imply several practices in
maintain staff turnover by standardizing quality of production along with moulding it's selection
procedures into fair ones eliminating happen stance of unethical activities in their work premises.
b) Strengths and weakness of current selection method by Chocola-Fantastica.
Chocola-Fantastica use two types of selection methods for hiring new staff in company.
This selection methods are test and informal chat. In test method of selection company conduct a
test of their candidates in which organization will ask about the basic knowledge of candidate
have about apply job and also generally ask about the profile of company.
In the second method of selection that is informal chat, in this method of selection company
conduct an informal interview round. In this company ask few questions about candidates
themselves and about organization.

Chocola-Fantastica to fulfil staff requirement imply following selection practices.
The candidate interested in working at Chocola-Fantastica are gone through process of
selection that include a basic test of their skills in various platforms specially English and Maths
as they are to coordinate with fellow employees and management along with their skills in Maths
are assessed so that they can access production activities by scoring minimum of 50% passing
criteria (Brewster, Mayrhofer and Farndale, 2018). Further candidates go through reference
checking and face informal interview to interact with management of Chocola-Fantastica.
Strengths of current test selection process
 Assessment of their skills and knowledge compared to requirements of organization is
evaluated to ensure proper working conditions of employees ones employed or recruited.
 Minimum scoring standards set by Chocola-Fantastica will ensure selected employee
posses basic knowledge required and can manage to develop from training sessions.
Weakness of current selection process
 Evaluation of skills in Maths and English will not cover all the knowledge and skill
aspect employee must possess to perform assigned job.
 Standards of minimum scoring and interview procedure of 15 minutes will not withdraw
right candidate as employee must be judged on several aspects and interview procedure
must be flexible according to different candidate and situations.
Strengths of current informal chat selection process
 The checking of reference will help in developing of proof candidate reliability and know
the background more clearly also providing someone responsible for selected employee.
Weakness of current informal chat process
 Reference checking criteria by Chocola-Fantastica might conclude biased review in
favor of candidate resulting in selection of undeserving candidate and affecting
performance of individual and company in various aspects.
c) Potential improvements enforced by Chocola-Fantastica enhancing selection procedures.
Chocola-Fantastica to enhance selection procedure can aim at following improvements.
Assessment of overall knowledge
Chocola-Fantastica to ensure the best selection practices in their organization must focus
on overall assessments rather that specific ones. The judgement of employees overall skills
requires technical skills, quick understanding and learning, mental stability along with handling

work pressure or any organizational related issue (Shen and Benson, 2016). An employee may be
average in Maths and English but may possess leadership, self motivation, dedication and is
responsible for work related issues. The rigidity of standard selection procedure for Chocola-
Fantastica might result in costing them loosing of overall talented individual as production of
cards requires different talents such as craftsman, designer, technical expert and an overall
potential thinker for creative development of chocolate based greeting cards and presents. The
positive impact of this method is it is helpful for to know about the exact skills and knowledge of
the employees. But the negative impact of this method, it is time and cost effective method. For
assessment of overall performance of employees management have to spend lots of time and cost
on this method.
Interview style
This style lead them to an necessary deeper discussions and changes topics at times as
well. The applicability of formal and structures interview patterns by Chocola-Fantastica will
lead to easy comparison between individuals avoiding missed opportunities and eliminate biased
opinions along with developing the interest of employees on working conditions also as they are
unhappy about the current interview processes. Also, handling the job to fair recruiter and
interviewer drawing conclusion based on actual findings rather than that of biased decisions will
lead to effectiveness of process of company as well.
The positive impact of employee of this method, it is based on his/ her overall knowledge
along with changing of interview style into more professional one will draw best and efficient
talents for Chocola-Fantastica working conditions and procedures as well. The negative impact
of this method is lot of time and lacks reliability making it a unscientific procedure as the
interview style is unstructured in current processes.
LO2
a) Microsoft provides some types of training and internship programme to their employees for
their growth and knowledge development i.e.:
The-classroom training: Classroom training is most effective and efficient form of learning and
training. This types of training although consumes employees times and efforts but the rewards
and awards are important. Classroom training also removes employees stress, depression and
distractions of regular work, so they can easily focus upon enhancements of their development
skills (John and Taylor, 2016). Microsoft prides provides their employees these types of training

for their growth, their knowledge and skills enhancements. With the help of classroom training
employees of Microsoft prides feel highly motivated and enthusiastic in the organizations and
towards their work.
On-the-job training: On the job training is a scheme of learning new skills, competencies and
knowledge which is essential for performing job role and task. These types of training is also
helpful for an individual to develop their careers and the growth of organizations. Employees
also get lots of experience likes using machinery, tools, performing task etc. Microsoft prides
also provides On the job training to their employees to learn them new roles, tasks and duties
which is they are performed in the organization. On the job training is the most popular method
and it can be easily managed and arrange. Microsoft uses these training for learn their employees
practical task.
Benefits:
There are saviours types of benefits of classroom training in Microsoft's. Classroom training
build a strong personal relationship within employees and organization. Employees feel more
retain with organization and wants to work with same organization. It also improves employees
attention in an organization. With the help of classroom training employees learn from their
peers and supervisors. On the other hands, there is also some benefits of On the job training. On
the job training improves productivity of employees and it also enhance company profitability
and productivity. This training also makes individual multi-skills in industry, they perform
various task in company which is cost and time effective for organization.
Microsoft's also provides summer internship program to their employees for brush up
their knowledge and skills. With the help of summer internship program employees of firm learn
practical approaches related to their job role. It is kind of official scheme which is provides by an
employer to their employees. With the help of internship program organization and it's
employees grow in various ways. Good internship program in company also improves business
national and international boarders. I did internship program with Microsoft's which is summer
training program in which I learned about technical things such as Microsoft's terms and policies
in program design etc.

Benefits:
Internship program offer a well- construction internship system with hands on training, real
education and intellectual possibility can enhancing brand consciousness and acceptance among
jobseekers. An effective internship scheme also attract and helps in retaining employees. Just
because of retention of the employee's organization hiring and recruiting cost reduce. With the
help of internship program organization is also able to form and mould to industry culture, values
and norms.
b) Flexible working arrangements for staff:
Stay Healthy: Microsoft's first focus upon their employee's health and safety. For these they
provide them benefits and program which can improve employee mental and physical health.
Just because of these program each and every employee of company feel happy, healthy and
motivated at work-place and also their social life (Nankervis and et.al., 2016). Company not only
provides health and safety scheme only to their employee's but also provides some benefits to
their family. These flexible arrangement is beneficial for the organization and for an individual.
Good health of employees manage healthy work culture in an industry. Also, employees wants to
stay with the Microsoft's because company provides them healthy life. It may save company
extra charges such as recruiting, hiring etc.
Future Plan: Microsoft consider their employee future first. For these they plan each and every
individual future at the organization level. Company review all their employees personal and
professional lives, and try to find out their goal and objectives in the future. For achieving
employees goals and objectives organization make effective future plan. So, the employees of
Microsoft feel motivated and flexible with the firm and always wants to retain with organization.
The major benefits of future plan is company employees thinks that organization fulfil each and
every thing of employees so, they always dedicated to the company. And, organization also
enhance their profitability with the help of enthusiastic workers.
Take Time away: Microsoft also provides flexible working hours to their employees. They also
provide various vacations and holidays program to their employee, so that they can spend their
quality time with their friends and family. Company provides flexible shift hours so, employees
can rotate their shifts and pursue some interesting things outside of work. The great benefit of
take time away is employees find some time with their family and friends, also live their social
life. Which is very important for every employee. This is also beneficial for Microsoft's, because

with the help of this program employee of firm feel relax and flexible. Also, perform their job
and duties with most effective manner.
Continue Education: Microsoft's gives an opportunity to their employees to learn something
new. If employee's wants to expand their knowledge and skills on specific topic, then company
provides them education facilities to develop their knowledge. This all facilities are free of cost
for company employees. This is also profitable for company and employees. Continue education
improves employees knowledge, and with the help of this knowledge and skills of employees
can perform various task in firm.
Work from home: Microsoft's provides opportunities those employees who are not able to
address in office than they can perform the task from home. That things give a type of motivation
towards the work and also they spend some time with friends and family.
Flexibility in work: Microsoft's give an opportunity to their employees that they can perform
their task from the home, in part-time or also they can perform task tele-workling which is
provides them satisfaction, and they stay retain with organization.
c) Motivation of workers by its job roles:
Supporting a business environment that motivates worker in one of the most essential belongings
inside any enterprise. Designing job is psychological theory of motivation that is describes as the
in order and meaningful share of work to team and employees inside the company.
Job rotations: It is the strategy in which workers and employees can rotate their job role in the
same company. In this employee take new, interesting and challenging task in which they can
show their interest and productivity (Reiche and et.al., 2016). This thing motivates the
employees, and they show more interest in their job role. The most important and positive thing
of this strategy that employee's can learn new things and also gain experience by the new
responsibilities. But negative impact of job rotation, not always all employees perform some new
task they are comfortable with their own task.
Job enlargement: Job enlargement way of exploding the extent of a job through with extending
the reach of its job responsibility. In this various types of activity si combine at the same stage in
the company and then add them all activities in the existing job. These things motivating
employees and it also has positive impact of workers such as they can improve their skills and
knowledge and also have new task to perform. But the negative thing of this method is that
always all employees not feel same times they take new task as burden on them.

LO3
a) Employee engagement and its important:
Employee relation state an organization attempt to mange relationship between
employees and employers. A company with good employee relation activity gives a good, fair
and pursuant treatment all employees. Just because of these program employees are retain with
an organization.
Employee engagement is a belonging of the relation between a system and its worker. An
occupied worker is one who is fully attentive by and eager about their occupation and so takes
constructive activity to boost the company honour and interests (Stewart and Brown, 2019). The
value of employee engagement can't be exaggerated- employee engagement scheme have been
verified to cut down employees turnover ratio, enhancing workers productivity and skilfulness,
retain customers at higher rate and earn high rate of profits. Most essential thing, engaged worker
are blessed, both at work and in their lives.
Key approaches of engaging workers in Microsoft's:
Flexible working: Employee's engagement is important program in Microsoft's. With the help of
effective employee engagement program company can improve employee satisfaction (Brewster
and et.al., 2016). If the employees are not satisfied with their duties, they feel demotivated about
they daily routine work. Employee engagement is also important in Microsoft's because its gives
company employees motivation towards the job. Because employee is engaged with their
employment and feel satisfactory with their status, they feel great retention with the Microsoft's
and therefore more liable to make quality work, which beneficial for firm and consumers.
Rewards and payment: Microsoft's thinks that engaged workers perform their task most
efficient manner, also done their assign task smartly because they like what they do (Berman and
et.al., 2019). It is also very important for company, because if employees are engaged, and they
realize they are fumed well by their mangers, they are feel sense of duty to act this content by
putting in their best attempt.
Word of mouth appreciation: Employee's engagement also enhance profitability of company.
If employees of Microsoft's feel good and happy at their work, they work hard, when they work
hard they make more superior work which in the end points to a happy and satisfy consumers.
Happy and satisfy customers are always coming back and also suggest Microsoft's products and

services to other people. With the effective employee engagement policies Microsoft's can not
improve the profit but also enhance their customer base at different market.
Importance of employee engagement
Less Absenteeism: With the help of effective employee engagement program Microsoft's can
also reduce absenteeism. When company absenteeism is low, then company is more engage in
productive activities (Noe and et.al., 2015). Also, employee's also feels that they are important
assets of company and that's why they don't want to let them down.
Increased Employee Loyalty: Employee engagement activity also enhance employees loyalty
in Microsoft's. A great benefit of having retain and engaged workers is that they are more loyal
towards the firm. With the help of employee engagement activity organization can know about
employees loyalty, their interest and likelihood towards the company.
Higher Retention and Lower Turnover: Employees engagement is also important for
employees retention in Microsoft's and for lower turnover. Because hiring and on boarding
procedure for new employees is very expensive and time-consuming that's why Microsoft's focus
upon their employee engagement activity. Another benefits of investment in employee's
engagement activity is drop-off organization turnover rates by secure that company team is
happy.
Employee legislation influencing HR decision making
Anti discrimination act- Organization must be engage in following this act. They must be
involving in providing equal opportunities to all employees who are working in firm. This will
help organization in creating goodwill.
Health and safety act- Organization must be known involve in providing safe working condition
to all employees. This can help them in attracting and retaining employees. It will create
employee loyalty.
LO4
a) Person specification for role of receptionist.
To perform role of receptionist in Chocola-Fantastica developed requirement of several
roles and responsibilities along with several of requirements a candidate must possess to perform
it's job functions responsibility.
Chocola-Fantastica Receptionist Job Description
Job Title Receptionist

Department Administration
Reporting Head of Administration
Qualifications Essential Desirable
General Education ✔
English (Speaking, writing and understanding) ✔
Authorized Receptionist Certificate ✔
Customer Care Certificate ✔
Receptionist Diploma ✔
Tasks Essential Desirable
Client Interaction ✔
Book Meetings ✔
Courier Management ✔
Reception cleanness ✔
Phone calls managements ✔
Interacting visitors with departments ✔
Post Management ✔
Managing administrative paperwork ✔
Customer Service Support ✔
Maintenance client stationary stock ✔
Other duties assigned by manager ✔
Purpose and responsibilities Essential Desirable

Manage IT facilities and Telephone switchboard ✔
Stationary stock ✔
Ordering refreshment, visitors badge and attendance log ✔
Offering professional welcome to client and visitor ✔
Responsible for telephone inquiries ✔
The above address job description and need of required skills such as general
qualification along with polished communication skills required. The applicant must also to
match the requirement of Chocola-Fantastica in managing client, book meeting and manage
phone calls. The responsibility also cover measures of courier management along with managing
walking customers and several other duties by the manager (Chelladurai and Kerwin, 2018).
Finally, handling telephone calls, maintaining stationary and handling customer's prospective
comes under the job like welcoming them in well-defined manner and offering them fresh
refreshments at the time of their visit in the premises.
b) Current method of advertising job in organization.
Chocola-Fantastica currently is advertising job vacancies among existing staff in the
organization for references and recommendations along with putting physical noticeboard for
vacancy on noticeboard of main site entrance.
Advantages of current referral job advertisement method
Recommendations – The employees of Chocola-Fantastica are open and happy to recommend
their relatives, friends for any specific job profile and helping the company filling their vacant
positions (Bratton and Gold. 2017). By inviting recommendations the firm can develop trust
among new employees as their current staff has trust on candidate makes their selection process
simple and effective.
Advantages of current notice board job advertisement method
Feasibility — Chocola-Fantastica to recruit appropriate employee for vacant position adopted
advertising the vacancy on notice board on main entrance of their site so it can be made visible to
all and employees might know when there is a vacancy in their office and at times if there are
fulfilled.

Disadvantages of current referral job advertisement method
Reliability of recommended employee — To fulfil the vacancy of receptionist for Chocola-
Fantastica a employee recommended for the job may not be reliable and trusted as company
persist very little information about him and also the employee recommended is not totally
responsible for any wrong happen stance as Chocola-Fantastica will not ruin their relationships
with current employees as well.
Disadvantages of current notice board job advertisement method
Limited approach — The circulation of vacancies among the available staff for their
recommendation of their relatives and known along with advertising vacancies on notice board
in or around company's premises will only advertise their vacancies with the people who already
know it making it a limited scope for people to reach for such a job type.
Thus the advertising method of internally in the organization along with inviting
recommendation from fellow employees have several reputation if considered for selection
practices.
c) Recommendation of job advertisement for receptionist vacancy.
To fulfil vacant position of receptionist in Chocola-Fantastica they must follow several
job advertisement practices.
Social Media – To fulfill the vacancy of receptionist of Chocola-Fantastica can advertise their
requirement to enormous amount of public in no time incurring not even a single penny in the
name of expenses. The factor of social media will cover advertising vacancies on Facebook,
Instagram along with sending mail to people for fulfilling job requirements. The enormous
amount of users for these sites will advertise their job vacancy to many users helping them fill
the vacant position.
Initiate company's local newspaper – Chocola-Fantastica can initiate own local newspaper
addressing job vacancies, product details, adaptations, etc to targeted markets. The publication
made by Chocola-Fantastica for job advertisement will attain lot of attention alongside marketing
their products will cover multi-purpose task in single expense and can also cover the vacant
position of Chocola-Fantastica in a very effective way and manner alongside(Noe and et.al.,
2017).

Institutes – Aced mic institutes are the best mediums to advertise their vacant jobs as people
enrolling in several courses looking for jobs will consider the opportunity and make an effort to
face the interview will help Chocola-Fantastica fill their vacant receptionist position. Along they
will also have enough of applicants through this practice that Chocola-Fantastica will have
option among st available to recruit for filling the post. Several times tie up with such institutes
will also provide ready candidates for such emergencies.
Online job sites – Chocola-Fantastica to recruit appropriate employee for filling their receptionist
vacancy can advertise their job many times for no cost or free or even if a little cost incurred will
help them receive enough applicants for performance of job title. These job sites tie up with
organizations and provides them employees at the time of requirement and are named placement
agencies in general.
With the help of this job adverts or job sites Chocola-Fantastica can hire very efficient
employees for their company and also this job adverts most of the time provides those employees
who are hard-working and actually wants to perform with company.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that the function of HR and it's importance in
Chocola-Fantastica company. Also, represented the various strengths and weakness of current
method that has been used by the organization. Above study has been evaluated potential
improvement such as assessment of overall knowledge and employment styles. From the above
study it has been concluded that training and internship program of Microsoft's like on the job
training, class room training, simmer internship program and it's benefits on employees and
organization. The above study has been concluded that flexible working arrangements like time
schedule, health and safety, employees motivation by their job roles in Microsoft's. The above
study also explained employee engagement and it's importance on companies employees such as
less absenteeism, higher productivity, higher retention etc. It also includes person job
description, current method of advertising like friends and family, notice board etc. and also
conclude recommendation of jod advert for Chocola-Fantastica company.

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