Human Resource Management Report: Harrods HRM Strategies and Practices

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within Harrods, a renowned departmental store. It begins by defining the core functions and purposes of HRM, emphasizing its strategic role in managing employees to achieve competitive advantages. The report then delves into the recruitment and selection processes employed by Harrods, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches such as online job boards, recruitment agencies, and internal recruitment methods. Furthermore, it examines how HRM functions enhance employee skills and contribute to organizational objectives, including employee motivation and public relations. The report also explores the importance of employee relations in influencing HRM decision-making, and analyzes key aspects of employment legislation and its impact. Finally, it discusses the application of HRM practices in a work-related context, providing a rationale for the specific HRM practices implemented within Harrods.

Human Resource
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ACTIVITY 1....................................................................................................................................2
P1 Function and purpose of HRM that used for planning and resources of the organisation ....3
P2 Strength and weaknesses of several approaches that are required for recruitment and
selection.......................................................................................................................................4
M1 Function of HRM that improve talent and skill of organisation in order to achieve
business objective........................................................................................................................6
M2 Evaluation of Strength and weaknesses that relates with different approach of recruitment
and selection................................................................................................................................6
D1 Evaluation of strength and weaknesses that are supported by specific examples of the
organisation ...............................................................................................................................6
ACTIVITY 2....................................................................................................................................7
(Covered in Booklet)...................................................................................................................7
ACTIVITY 3....................................................................................................................................7
P5 Analysis of important of employee relations in respect to influencing HRM decision
making.........................................................................................................................................7
P6 Key elements of employment legislation and its impacts......................................................8
M4 Evaluation of key aspects of employee relation management and legislation.....................9
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P7 Application of HRM practices in work related context.........................................................9
M5 Rationale for application of specific HRM practices.........................................................12
D3 Employee relation and HRM practices that influences decision making............................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is the strategic approach which is used by management to
manage the people in an organisation that help to gain the competitive advantages. It is designed
to maximise the staff's performance by focusing on strategic objectives. In other words, HR is a
person who manage all organisation's functions in order to achieve goals and objectives. Harrods
is selected organisation for understanding the concept of HRM which was founded in 1849.
Harrods is a departmental store which is situated in Knightsbridge, London. It provides different
types of products and services like clothing, jewellery, sporting wear, bridal trousseau, pet
accessories, health and beauty items, stationery items, housewares, furniture, home appliances,
packaged gifts and many more which influences customers and increase the profitability (Al-
Khowaiter, Dwivedi and Williams, 2015) (Becker, 2014) (Bryson, Crosby and Bloomberg, 2014)
(Cascio, 2015).
The current report will define various topics such as purposes and functions of Human
resource management, benefits of different HRM practices in an industry for employer and
employee, HRM practices that helps to raise the productivity and profitability and importance of
employee relations that helps to make decision. Apart fro this, report will discuss about
legislations of employment that impacts on HRM decision making and application of HRM
practices that relates to work place.
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ACTIVITY 1
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P1 Function and purpose of HRM that used for planning and resources of the organisation
HRM plays an crucial role in the organisation that is used to manage and organise the
workforce that engages in their work. The main intention of HR officer is to recruit effective
employees that helps them to attain their organisational goals and objectives. Moreover it is a
continue process that specify the work that is performed by human work-force according to
their skill and capabilities. HR departments of Harrods perform an effective functions for the
organisation which is mention as below:
Recruitment and training- It is one of the major responsibilities that is performed by
the HR department of the organisation. They develop effective plans or strategies in order to
hire right candidates at the right time. In context of Harrods HR department formulate job
description particular for each job due to which it is easy for them to define specific knowledge
and skills which are required in an candidate to complete the task.
Developing public relations- HRM maintain positive relations with all stakeholders of
the organisation. It is the essential activity that is HR officer of Harrods that lead them towards
the great extent among all the employees of the organisation. To conduct them accurately in the
organisation they organise meetings, workshop, seminar etc. that enhance positive relationship
with business and customers. Moreover they also plays an active role in managing the co-
ordination between different resources of the organisation (Ciurea and Man, 2017).
Motivating employee- The other most beneficial method for the organisation is to
motivate all the employees of the organisation. For this they executed different techniques
which includes providing monetary and non-monetary benefits to them. So the morale of
employees will be boosted through which they complete their work with more efficiency and
effectiveness. Harrods implement this technique in the organisation due to which employees
complete their work with more efficiency and effectiveness.
Purpose of HRM
Benefits management- An effective HR consider all aspects that provides benefits to
the employees of Harrods. It involves several benefits such as health benefits, retirement plans,
work hours flexibility etc. that is beneficial for company because it reduce the turnover of
employee's in the organisation. Along with this it also helps them to increase the productivity of
organisation by utilising their current resources.
Health and safety- The other function that is performed by HRM department is to
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maintain positive environment at the work place of the organisation. So employees feel
comfortable in the organisation which determines that employees productivity is directly
impacted by the surroundings condition of the organisation. Example- The HR management of
Harrods ensure the safety of their engaged workers by providing safety resources to them like
fire-extinguisher, medicines etc.
P2 Strength and weaknesses of several approaches that are required for recruitment and
selection
In context of business or organisation, recruitment refer to recognise the vacant seat that
is present in different departments. This process determines the duty that is need to be fulfilled
by recruiting suitable candidates for the vacant position. To conduct recruitment process
effectively organisation found different sources or methods to select an individual. While the
selection process is going through resumes of all candidates and conduct interviews in order to
chose the right person at right time at right place in the organisation. Some methods that is
implemented by Harrods is mention as follow:
Online job board and website- Boards and website are useful method for organisation
because they help employer or organisation to attract large number of candidates directly from
their website. Like Harrods update their websites frequently whenever there are different
vacancies exist in the organisation. Along with this it also them to expand themselves in large
area so they approach large number of right candidates. It governs that social media or digital
platform covers large area to perform their activities.
Advantages Dis-advantages
 Online method to attract employees is
the cost effective method for
organisation. Like Harrods recruit their
employees directly from their website
so it reduce their expenses.
 This approach helps an organisation to
make quick decisions which governs
that it increases the speed of
recruitment and selection process.
 Their are large number of employees
applied for vacant job. It creates
complexity for HR department because
it consumes too much time to select
suitable candidate.
 Different issue are present in
developing a website for organisation.
Like unappropriated web design leave
negative impact on candidates.
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Recruitment agencies- Agency that are performing their operations in recruitment
process are working as bridge between employer and candidate. These agencies are present in
both departments whether they are government or private they help Harrods to find best
candidate from large number of candidates. Some advantages and dis-advantages of recruitment
agency is as follow:
Advantages Dis-advantages
 It is useful for employer because it
helps them to select effective
employees for the organisation. This
process helps them to prefer suitable
candidates for the employees.
 Database of large number of people are
collected by them. It helps them to
recruit or provide right candidates to
the organisation. So it is easy for them
to react quickly on vacant seat.
 Most of the agency collect the
particular data for the organisation. It
determines that they specify data for
particular field. Therefore they are not
able to provide candidates for all
employees.
 Usually most of the present candidates
directly approach the organisation due
to which recruitment agency are not
able to cover their cost.
Internal method of recruitment- HR manager of Harrods fulfil the vacant seat of
organisation through approaching the existing and former employees of the organisation. This
helps them to identify those candidates from inside the organisation which are suitable for
vacant seat. Like Harrods prefer internal recruitment for top position in the organisation by the
method of promotion which helps them to gain competitive advantage from their rivals. The
another method for internal recruitment is transfer which helps to change position of current
employees from one position to another (Dou and Wang, 2017).
Advantages Dis-advantages
 This is easy method to approach
employee's as it is a simple process.
Along with this it save cost of
organisation.
 This method stop the organisation from
bringing or generating new ideas as
existing employees follow traditional
method to complete the work.
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 Another benefit it is less time
consuming process which governs that
it helps them to make quick decisions.
 Another dis-advantage that this method
de-motivated the other employees who
are not promoted in the organisation.
M1 Function of HRM that improve talent and skill of organisation in order to achieve business
objective
HR department performs different function in organisation such as motivating
employees increase the morale of employees that helps them to improve productivity of their
performance. This function also helps Harrods to increase the skills of their employees like
developing public relations increases the confidence of employees because they interact with
other stakeholders within short term intervals. Example- Harrods hire their employees with the
process of recruitment and selection by which they recruit their employees through conducting
their interviews and regular test. It helps them to identify the suitable skills of candidates which
are mandatory to complete the task.
M2 Evaluation of Strength and weaknesses that relates with different approach of recruitment
and selection
Their are several types of methods are present implemented by Harrods through which
they hire suitable candidates for their organisation. Online job board, recruitment agency and
internal source are effective methods that help to hire suitable employees to enhance the
performance of employees. In context of Harrods the most effective method for selecting the
employees is to implement online job board and website of the organisation this helps them to
directly approach the suitable candidates. It helps them to reduce the interface of other parties
due to which employees are employer interact quickly each other. Online job board is cost
effective method and make decisions quickly due to which best candidates engage in
organisational activities on quick basis (Frynas and Mellahi, 2015).
D1 Evaluation of strength and weaknesses that are supported by specific examples of the
organisation
Recruitment and selection is the first step that help an organisation to recruit or hire
effective employee for the vacant seat in the organisation. This process works on some principle
which undertakes some steps such as qualification, skill, experience etc. which are required in
candidates to complete their task. Example- Online job broad help Harrods to recruit their
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employees from large pool of candidates. It increases their strength by inviting application from
wide and huge range of prospects. This process is useful for hiring employees for all
departments of the organisation. Another example is of recruitment agency which provides
expert and professional employee's for Harrods. With the help of this method they hire
employees of those job positions which required technical and specific job for the organisation.
Along with it increases their strength as skilled and effective employees helps them to attain
their goals within minimum time period. Last method is internal source of recruitment by which
employees recruit employees from inside the organisation. Transfer and promotion are two
most accurate traditional method of internal source through which Harrods fulfil top position of
organisation. It determines that this approach is more beneficial for employees because it save
the training cost of employees as they are already familiar with it.
ACTIVITY 2
(Covered in Booklet)
ACTIVITY 3
P5 Analysis of important of employee relations in respect to influencing HRM decision making
Employees are the part of organisation who understand the needs of organisation and
make efforts to complete the needs. Every organisation conducts recruitment and selection
process that helps to selects the best candidate for right job and make efforts to achieve
organisation goals. There is need to maintain the employee relation because they helps to
improve the production by making efforts. For instance, In Harrods, there are number of
employees who works together by maintaining relations which is important for industry (Stead
and Stead, 2017). The employees get the demands of customer and think collective how it can be
satisfied. Harrods Company use different strategies to improve the employee relation such as:
Create friendly environment: The management of Harrods creates a eco friendly
environment that helps to understand the needs and objectives of organisation and encourage
them to accomplish the goals.
Proper communication: This is another strategic plan which is used by organisation to
share the problems which are arises within organisation in order to improve the productivity. The
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manager of Harrods communicates with their staff and solve their conflicts by maintaining
relations.
The importance of employees relation which influences HRM decision making is defined as
 It is important to make right business decision by maintaining good relations between
employer and employees which is beneficial for Harrods.
 By maintaining employees relation they can work collectively in order to achieve goals
by maximizing the production that influences HRM decisions. As result high production
and profits.
 Harrods can think about expanding the business in more area by maintain good relation
among staff that influences decision.
 Moreover, it helps to build good relation with employer and customers that leads to
increase in sale and profit margin.
 Employees relation influences HRM decision such as Harrods can adopt new technology
and challenges that helps to maximize the productivity.
It has been analysed that employees relation is needed in companies that helps to improve
the performance and maintains profitability. With the help of employee relation organisation can
meet with objectives and can gain competitive advantages (Stephens and Dailey, 2015).
P6 Key elements of employment legislation and its impacts
Employment legislations are associated with laws that governed by government for
employees as well as organisation welfare. These laws are related with employments within
workplace with all who works in an organisation. It affects the HRM decision in order to
perform business activities for attaining objectives. It helps Harrods to maintain the relation
among employees and employers to complete target and gain advantages. Harrods follows some
key employment laws along with there impact on HRM decision making are as described:
 Sex discrimination, 1975: This act was established by parliament of UK as to provide
safety to female worker as well as male. This act states that organisation should not
discriminate based on sex ground and marital status. It impacts on HRM decision making
such as it can help to maximize the productivity by achieving goals. In Harrods, HR
decide the goals to increase the sale by 20% by understanding the needs of women
customers. Managers follows such laws and give equal pay to women staff that helsp to
increase the sale and profits within entire industry. Moreover, it provides equal
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opportunity to show their talent and get appraisals and higher position by handling the
situation that affects the HRM decisions positively (Story and others, 2014).
 Occupational Health and safety act, 1970: This legislation is related with employee's
safety that make feel them good by achieving the goals. This act states that employer
should focus on employees health and safety and should provide them facilities that can
be used to be safe while working hazardous work. In Harrods, mangers follows this laws
and provides good health and safety that influences HRM decision making and leads to
sustainable organisation growth by improving production.
 Minimum wages act, 1998: This is very influencing act which impacts on HRM decision
making such as employees get confident and willing to work by earning minimum wages.
This means organisation should pay fixed pay which is decided by government in order
to increase the performance. In Harrods, management pays normal wages to skilled and
unskilled workers that increases their confidence and employees works more well. It
impacts on HRM decision making such as if organisation does not consider this act and
pays different that will be reason of employee turn over and low productivity.
M4 Evaluation of key aspects of employee relation management and legislation
From the above discussion about HRM practices and legislation it is evaluated that
Harrods uses HRM practices in order to make effective business decision. It helps to maintain
the relation among employer and employee in order to work collectively and achieve goals. Such
as health and safety act provides security to their workers and minimum wages act helps to retain
the employees for long period (Thomas, 2015).
TASK 4
P7 Application of HRM practices in work related context
HRM practices help companies to understand the needs and wants of company and apply
different practices in order to improve the business activities. For deciding the objectives of
business organisation, HRM maintain proper communication between employer and employee
that helps to achieve goals (Vasu, Stewart and Garson, 2017).
Application of HRM practices
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Harrods uses different HRM practices for management efficiency and effectiveness in
order to achieve objectives. HRM practices are adopted for the purpose of increasing the
productivity. The Harrods follows different types of HRM practices such as:
Job description: This is a written statement that defines details of particular details of
job profile. It includes job title, designation, working condition, scope and many more.
Job description for branch manager post
Harrods is a multinational company that is looking a candidate for filling the vacancy of branch
manager in this organisation. Interested candidate can mail their resume at this mail id-
[e-mail]. The responsibility which is required to fill that are:
 To manage all business activities by developing brand strategy and planning.
 Able to identify the cost saving opportunities with strategic platform.
 Able to increase the production and profits by selling the products to customers.
 To formulates plans for expanding business activities and executing special
merchandise.
 Able to communicate with customer and employees to adopt challenges and provide
satisfaction to customers.
Job Specification: It consider personal details about skills, knowledge, experience and
qualification of a person who is going to appear in interview process (Yalçındağ and others,
2016).
Job Details
Post: Branch manager
Company: Harrods
Job Purpose: To become world's largest company by selling the products and services in large
number and provide satisfaction to their customers.
Roles and Responsibilities:
 To perform all operational aspects by involving distribution operation, human resource,
administration, customer services and sales.
 To assess the present local market condition and define the current sale opportunities.
 To develop financial objectives, forecast and make business plans.
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