Human Resource Management Report: Chocola Fantastica Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of human resource management (HRM) practices, focusing on the companies Chocola Fantastica and Microsoft. The report begins with an introduction to HRM, emphasizing its role in organizational success, particularly in areas such as recruitment, training, and employee engagement. Task 1 explores the purpose and functions of HRM, including recruitment and selection processes, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of different recruitment and selection approaches, such as internal and external methods, along with assessment and interview techniques. Task 2 delves into the creation of a personal specification for a receptionist role at Chocola Fantastica, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of current job advertisement methods and recommending improvements. Task 3 examines Microsoft's training schemes and flexible working arrangements. Task 4 focuses on employee engagement, exploring approaches for engaging workers and elements of employment legislation. The report concludes by summarizing key findings and providing references. The report highlights the importance of HRM in enhancing employee performance and achieving strategic organizational objectives.

Human Resource
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
A: Purpose and function of HRM...........................................................................................3
B: Strength and weakness of different recruitment and selection approaches.......................4
C: Potential improvement.......................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
A: Personal specification........................................................................................................6
B: Advantage and disadvantage of current job advertisement method..................................7
C: Recommend job advert for Receptionist vacancy.............................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
A: Microsoft training scheme and internship.........................................................................8
B: Flexible working arrangement for staff.............................................................................9
C: Ways company motivate and design the job roles...........................................................10
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
A: Employment engagement................................................................................................10
B: Approaches for engaging workers...................................................................................11
C: Elements of employment legislation...............................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is an essential part of an organisation that emphasize on the
practices like recruitment, training and management of the internal activities of business. The
main element of HRM is to emphasize on the workforce which is an asset of company and help
to attain the objective of an organisation. The role of the HR executive is to provide direction as
well as guidance to the staff so that they can generate positive working environment (Anderson,
2013). This, reports carries a description of the Chocola Fantastica and Microsoft company. The
Chocola Fantastica is based on South Wales which create and provide the innovative greeting
cards to the people across UK. On other side, Microsoft is the multinational technology company
of America whose headquarter is in Washington. The company develop and sell the computer
software, electronics as well as services related to the personal computer. This report cover
topics like purpose and scope of HRM to fulfil the business objective. Evaluate the effectiveness
of an HRM within an organisation. Analyse internal as well as external factors that can affect the
HRM decision making. Further, application of suitable human resource practices within work
related context are covered in this report.
TASK 1
A: Purpose and function of HRM
Human resource management is an effective system that help the organisation to enhance
the performance of an employees and gain the strategic objective effectively. This department is
responsible to manage the workforce and direct them in right direction to accomplish the
objective effectively. In terms of Chocola Fantastica is expanding its operations across the UK
but still the turnover rate is high. So to overcome this issue the manager need to develop the
effective interpersonal relations that retain the employee satisfaction. Thus, some of the HRM
functions and purpose are stated below:
Recruitment and Selection: This function is the foundation of an organisation as the
whole process helps to identify the vacant job, determine requirement for vacant position and
hire the right individual for right position by advertising the position effectively (Armstrong and
Taylor, 2014). The HR of Chocola Fantastica functions by deeply focuses on whole recruitment
cycle because they are more likely to work with the employee with whom they can build

effective relations and cope up with the problem of increase absenteeism rate for future growth
and development.
Training and development: Personal growth and development of an individual is not
only significant for the organisation but for the employee as well. This generate the competitive
feeling where existing skills of the employed gets enhanced on the regular basis and they become
the essential part for an organisation. Herein, Chocola Fantastica arrange the seminar and run
the conferences for their employee so that they feel privilege working in the particular
organisation and can function effectively. The main importance of this method is that it helps the
firm to overcome the problem of lack of productivity due to high absenteeism rate.
B: Strength and weakness of different recruitment and selection approaches
Recruitment: It is the initial process which is different from selection. The nature of this
process is positive as this will includes the invitation of the large umber of candidates for
different kind of jobs available within the organization. There are two different methods of
recruitment internal external.
Internal method: This will includes recruitment of the person from sources present
within the organization either the promotion of existing one or selection of the candidate referred
by the existing employee of the organization. In the internal recruitment process promotion
method is used by the organization to fill the vacant posts.
Advantages:
 It is cost saving in nature.
 It help to easily fill the vacant position in fast manner.
Disadvantages:
 Not able to recruitment new talented staff
 Sometimes results in arose internal conflicts in between the employees
External method: This method of recruitment includes the approach where candidates
are selected from outside of the organization. The method which is used in this regard by the
organization is related to assistance of recruitment agency.
Advantages:
 It help in selection of best suitable candidate for job
 It help to improve the strength the workforce
Disadvantages:

 Highly costly in nature
 Requires large amount of time to recruit suitable candidate
Selection: It is the most important part of an organisation where the manager conducts
various evaluation rounds on the basis of which they hire the most suitable candidate for an
organisation. In comparison to the recruitment method this is a negative approach where the
unsuitable candidate are weed out from the organisation. Thus, Chocola Fantastica uses different
type of selection method like they conduct assessment test on Mathematical and English
comprehension and interview test that is discussed below:
Assessment test: This test is organised by the above mentioned company to check the
current knowledge of an employee. It helps to identify the intellectual and IQ of the candidate on
Mathematical and English comprehension for which the candidate need to achieve at-least 50%
as a fixed passing marks.
Advantage Disadvantage
It depict whether the candidate have adequate
knowledge to handle the functioning of an
organisation suitably (Cascio, 2015).
Judging the knowledge of the candidate is not
always considered as a feasible exercise for the
organisation to perform.
Assessment test is considered as an effective
exercise because the large pool of candidate
finishes the test within specific time duration
due to which even it becomes easier for HR to
select the candidate for next round based on set
criteria.
Text anxiety whose symptoms are shortness of
breath, dizziness and increase in hearth rate has
a psychological effect that can negatively affect
the candidates performance.
Interview method: After assessment test Chocola Fantastica company conduct the
interview as an informal chat for approximately 15 minutes where the interaction takes place
between the interviewer as well as interviewee. This help to increase the understanding between
the parties.
Advantage Disadvantage

This is the best process to make the decision
regarding hiring of suitable candidate.
Time constraint is the major limitation of this
process.
It help to reach out to the unbiased or fair
decision.
After making the huge investment on the whole
evaluation process the new recruiter can even
fail in their probationary period which leads to
lack of security.
C: Potential improvement
 In order to enhance selection process the HR manager of Chocola Fantastica should put
more emphasis in the interview method where rather than just conducting informal chats
the interviewer can keep whole round more specific by focusing that the discussion
should be about vacant post. This will help the company to get potential candidates and
reduce the chances of complaints from new recruiter.
 Along with this the interviewer should increase the time duration of whole interview
process so that they get enough time to understand and select the suitable candidate while
weeding out unsuitable ones. Further, adequate allocation of time can help the manager to
utilise the resources effectively.
TASK 2
A: Person specification
Person specification reflect the skill and capability of an individual which can be used to
perform the particular job significantly. Thus, the profile of receptionist the personal
specification in Chocola Fantastica is demonstrated below:
Person Specification
Position: Receptionist
Department: Front office
Reporting to: Manager of Front office department
Attributes Essential Desirable

Qualification & Experience The candidate need to have
graduation degree and must
get 60% marks throughout
their career. Along with that
the aspirant should have an
experience of at-least 1 year
working in the same field.
Even the post graduate
aspirant who have the
experience working as a
receptionist in reputed firm
are invited to apply for the
vacancy.
Skills or Knowledge Applicant need to have
proficient communication
skill and listening skill by
which they can handle the
customer significantly.
Adequate knowledge of the
computer or IT skills are
appreciated as the company
uses innovative technology or
centralised database to record
all the data.
B: Advantage and disadvantage of current job advertisement method
Chocola Fantastica uses different sources of advertisement method to spread the
awareness of the vacancy and fulfil the vacant with right personal within stipulated time period.
Herein, respected company is apparently based upon the internal method that include publication
of vacancy in notice board which is placed on the external wall of entrance site and circulation of
job vacancy within the organisation. This help in the circulation of news amongst the internal
staff due to which they remain keen to perform their task effectively (Chelladurai and Kerwin,
2018). Thus, the advantage and disadvantage of using notice board as an internal sources is
defined below:
Types of advertising Advantages Disadvantages
Notice board  This is cost effective
method as it communicate
all the vital informations
rapidly in the whole
 This method leads to
resentment among the
candidates which generate
the feeling of competition

organisation. This
relatively motivate the staff
to enhances their
productivity with the
motive to gain better
position.
 Moreover, it helps to
generate the sense of
belongingness as on the
basis of internal
advertisement method
posted on the notice board
increase the contribution of
existing staff to gain
preferable position
successfully.
and everyone remain less
concern for the welfare of
their colleagues.
 The information posted on
the notice board are at-
times ignored by the
internal staff as they
remain so occupied in
their monotony routine
which makes the whole
method bit ineffective.
Circulation of job
vacancies within the
organisation
 It helps to provide detailed
information of vacant
position to all the staff
members so that they can
apply for the same if they
are willing to change the
department.
 One of the major
disadvantage of this
method of advertising is
that it keeps the outsider's
unaware of the job
opportunities.
C: Recommend job advert for Receptionist vacancy
To fill the vacant position of Receptionist within Chocola Fantastica company presently
uses internal source of recruitment which help to retain the trusts of employee and influence
them to be the part of the current organisation for long duration. Although this is an effective
method but all jobs cannot be filled via internal job adverts. So the company can go for external
method of advertisement as receptionist are the main face of company who has to directly deal
with the customer due to which they need be better enough to handle the queries of customer

effectively. It include methods like updating of vacancy on the website of company,
approaching potential applicant through email method and uses print advertisement that gather
the interest of local resident. Thus, significant post of the vacancy in different external platform
can assist the company to get the wide pool of candidate amongst which company can take the
viable decision. This method can help the company in future to get the fresh talent that can
involve in making affirmative decision because of their wide experiences (Crawford, 2014).
Hence, application of this method can help the firm by leading to less internal politics that create
healthy competition to successfully enhance the productivity of firm.
TASK 3
A: Microsoft training scheme and internship
Training and internship scheme is an opportunity that help the potential employee to
enhance their performance and existing knowledge within the fixed time period (DeCenzo,
Robbins, and Verhulst, 2016). There are several training programme offered by the various
organisations in order to make their workforce competitive and handle the challenging situation
effectively. Microsoft being one of the large reputed company concentrate on the training
programme so that they can groom the skills of their employees on the regular basis. It offer the
different internship opportunity for the diverse students that is Commercial Intern Program and
Engineering Internship which is explained below:
Commercial Intern Program: This is basically 12 months program under which the
intern gets the opportunity to enhance their existing skills and knowledge (About the Intern
Program. 2019). Here, the training takes place in such a manner the intern grasp 70% of the day
to day learning from their respective jobs, 20% of the learning they gain from their mentors,
colleagues and manager. Whereas, 10% learning is experienced via structured courses. This
method makes an individual eligible enough to experience better knowledge to gain full time
education.
The Engineering Internship: This is summer programme run by the Microsoft for 12
weeks under which the intern gets the opportunity to function and become the part of real
project. This also assist the intern to participate in the event organised by the company
throughout the summer. Additionally, the intern gets the benefit of allowances and perks which
is accompanied by the company along with desirable salary or stipend.

Aspire: It is a training method which is used by Microsoft to make sure that the new and
existing staff members gets trained by experienced individuals so that they can contribute in
organisational development.
Thus, some of the benefit associated with training programme for both organisation and
employer is explained below:
Internship and training
programme
Benefit to organisation Benefit to employee
Commercial Intern Program Organisation gets the fresh
talent to whom they can
provide the platform to work
and on return they gets the
team of enthusiastic intern that
work for the company by
exploring different areas of the
project.
The employee who are the part
of Commercial Intern training
programme along with the
regular classes can access the
facility of on-site gym as well
as other fitness classes. This is
a kind of recreational activity
that help the intern to get the
quality time for themselves
irrespective of busy schedule.
The Engineering Internship The organisation offer the
placement opportunity to the
eligible candidate that can help
Microsoft to remain
competitive by handling the
roles and responsibility
effectively.
The salaries of the employees
are relatively competitive as
they get various allowances
like relocation allowance. Also
the organisation make sure
they provide the greatest
experience to their employee.
Aspire With the help of it Microsoft
can provide professional
training to employees so that
they can help to reach long
term business goals.
Training programs such as
Aspire helps employees to
Microsoft to develop their
skills to meet requirements of
their job role.

B: Flexible working arrangement for staff
HRM practices Employee Employer
Work from home The employees of the
Microsoft gets the privilege to
work from their comfort zone
which can be from their home,
restaurant or internet cafe.
This is beneficial for employee
as it save their travelling cost
and this reduces the stress
amongst the workforce for
sickness leaves.
The employer need not to
closely supervise the
performance of employee as
they perform the respective
task from their places which
saves the time and effort of
employer (Hendry, 2012).
Flexible working hour Microsoft organisation
believes in flexible working
condition as it help the
employee to enhance their
productivity as they get
adequate working conditions
on the basis of which they
remain committed towards the
organisation.
The employer gets the
advantage of employee
engagement as it decreases the
absenteeism rate due to which
the functioning of the
organisation take place in
smooth basis (Microsoft
believes workers in the UK
need to work more flexibly.
2015).
C: Ways company motivate and design the job roles
Microsoft believes in retaining the existing talent of an organisation on whom they can
invested a lot by providing them suitable training and enriching their skills. So the manager of
company design the job roles by motivating the workforce in various ways. Like, by providing
them the suitable working environment, offer fair remuneration, paid leaves, maternity leaves,
health insurance of their staff and so on. Other than salary these are the different benefits that the

company get by working in the Microsoft due to which even they remain encouraged to be the
part of an organisation for longer duration. The explanation of different ways are defined below:
Offer fair remuneration: In order to motivate the staff members the company can
provide them fair remuneration for their services. It will help to enhance their moral and
engagement in the roles which are allocated to them.
Increase in participation of female: Due to the uniformity in salary structure and
designing special leaves for the female worker like maternity leaves has encouraged the
participation of women. This has offered the platform on the basis of which manager design the
job role and help the internal member to remain motivated.
TASK 4
A: Employment engagement
Employee engagement refer to the commitment, trust and integrity of the employees
towards the organisation that leads to increase in contribution of the workforce in the success of
business (Morgeson, Brannick and Levine, 2019). Thus, to sustain the employee engagement
Microsoft empower their employees so that they can shape their capabilities as per the job and
conduct effective communication to reinforce their staff.
Role of employee engagement to maintain employee relation
 As employee engagement is all about maintaining the positive behaviour to enhance the
positive outcome of business and generate the feeling of pride. This motivate the
employee to participate in the group discussion where they share their idea and opinion
and help the employer to draw up effective conclusion. Hence, constructive interaction
amongst the workforce help the Microsoft company to establish the sound relationship
between the employer and employee.
 Moreover, as the workforce remain dedicated towards their work then instead of
indulging into any unethical practices or conflict that can lose their productivity. They
will remain more concern to mange the employer and employee relations by looking at
the different and effective ways by which the whole workforce can function effectively.