Human Resource Management in Practice: A Comparative Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, focusing on their implementation within Microsoft and Say it with Chocolate. The report begins by exploring the functions of HRM, including workforce planning, resourcing, and the roles and responsibilities of HR officers, particularly within the context of Say it with Chocolate. It then delves into the strengths and weaknesses of different recruitment approaches, evaluating the benefits and constraints of current selection measures and suggesting scopes for improvement. The report further examines the benefits of HRM practices for both employees and employers, including person specifications for job roles and justification for advertisement mediums. Finally, it assesses the effectiveness of HRM strategies in enhancing productivity and profitability, analyzing the benefits and constraints of previous advertising strategies employed by Say it with Chocolate. The report aims to provide a detailed overview of HRM's impact on business sustainability and operational efficiency.

UNIT 3
HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................3
Task1: LO1 .............................................................................................................................................3
Task2: LO2.............................................................................................................................................6
Task3: LO3.............................................................................................................................................9
Task4: LO4...........................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................17
References...........................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX 1..........................................................................................................................................21

Introduction
Human resource management has evolved as an effective function of achieving
business sustainability in the modern era. The theme of the report lies in projecting a
distinctive overview on the aspects of human resource management concerning their
implementation in the nominated organisations. An assessment of the utilities with a
fragmentation of the operational credentials in Microsoft and Say it with chocolate has been
considered as an integral aspect of the report. The development of the contemporary
functions of operation along with a critical apprehension of the implications on employer and
employee has been considered as a tentative bias of regulating the influences of HRM in
contemporary business activity.
Task1: LO1
P1: Functions of HRM applicable to workforce planning and resourcing
a)Purpose of HR function, current problems and future plans
Say it with chocolate is said to be immensely enhancing organisation which is located
in North Yorkshire. It is mainly deal with chocolate based greeting cards across the united
kingdom. They are dealing with chocolate manufacturing team, finance and marketing team
and distribution division of the company. For every type of organization, the human
resources act as one of the most crucial assets that they contain that help to carry out an
effective management. With emphasis laid on the important roles carried out by the HR of a
given company, the company is able to meet their long term success. This acts as one of the
important initiation methods that lead to carry out an effective degree of coordination thereby
collaborating with each department effectively. The HRM carries out various functions that
help the organization develop further thereby meeting the main requirements of the
employees with focus on carrying out an effective employee satisfaction management.
Further focus is laid by them upon maintain a suitable development of the workplace
environment thereby fulfilling the needs of the company that would help them to meet their
targets duly. Further focus is laid on incorporating the various available human resources
that seek to widen the company’s assets further thereby enhancing the organizational entity
within the industrial sector (Marchington et al. 2016).
Taking the example of the company named “Say it with Chocolate”, it is evident that
they are a rapidly expanding organization placed in North Yorkshire an tends to focus on

improving their operational, information technology, finance and marketing team greatly
thereby emphasising on an effective packaging and distribution. The organization’s
management structure tends to focus on an increasing on their roles thereby empathising on
an ever increasing working force. By implementing the assessment test, they have greatly
been beneficial to deal with the various issues and operations individually by placing
responsibilities for each duly. The main purpose of HRM is to identifying company goals and
matches with competencies of workers which are required to reach with desired goals and
targets. It will help in developing link between human resource management and whole
strategic plan of an organisation.
In current time period, company workforce is expanding and it is complex for
company owner is to manage and control the enhancement in the number of workers. In
addition to this, customers said that “Say it with chocolate” are complaining about reduction
in quality of firm goods and services.
b) Roles and responsibilities of HRO
Various roles are allocated to the HR of the organization thereby seeking to develop
an effective management within. They have further emphasis on an effective completion of
the job roles thereby carrying out an effective and significant financial success with emphasis
on their financial entity. Some of the important job roles that are allocated to the human
resource officer of the company include an effective completion of the entire selection and
recruitment process followed by deliver y of an effective worker motivation (Banfield et al.
2018). They further seek to adopt various strategic human resource management thereby
emphasising on the roles of the human resource officers greatly. They further are responsible
to carry out an effective coordination amongst the employees working within thereby
developing the communication and cooperation process within, further focus is laid on
carrying out an effective management within thereby seeking to widen their magnitude relate
to the organizational productivity. With emphasis laid on widening the magnitude of
organisational performance, the company tends to fulfil their main aspects that pertain to the
development of a suitable commitment within. The HR officers are further responsible to
carry out an effective task management capacity within thereby emphasising on development
of an effective conflict mitigation which seeks to widen the effectiveness of the roles of the
human resource officers further.

In the context of Say it with chocolate , the HR manager officer is conduct training
and development programmes in the firm which assist in improving their employees skills
and knowledge. Such training sessions will be arranged as per the requirement and need of
company customers. The main responsibility of HR officer is to ensure that all the workers
are working their own work for gaining desired goals. This is required for human resource
manager is to make positive relation with their employees that assist in maintaining trust
within an organisation. Along with this, it will help company in retaining their buyers by
providing them attractive and unique products with quality based.
P2: Strengths, Weaknesses in different approaches of recruitment
a)Benefits and constraints of current selection measures and other approaches
“Say it with chocolate” has adopted an effective assessment test within the company
thereby carrying out an effective interview process and managing the entire recruitment
process further. By adapting to various methods, the organization is able to focus on carrying
out an effective reviewing of their prevailing financial entity thereby widening their share of
strengths and weakness greatly. With emphasis laid on the important features, focus is laid on
developing the organizational functioning thereby emphasising on carrying out a greater
improvement within their overall company. This has added onto the company’s competency
level and increased capacities thereby seeking to improve the sustainability within, in a
uniform manner (Nasriyah et al. 2016).
A major disadvantage that has been noted on their selection process includes it is time
consuming and expensive in nature. With emphasis on the various aspects relating to their
unreliability, focus is laid determining their skills level. The fear of exposure is further
prevalent thereby displaying their process, which acts as a major disadvantage for “say it with
chocolate’. Various complaints have been faced within the company in terms of their
selection methods. The company has greatly been able to widen their reliability, which
further adds onto their benefit followed by the assessment tests that they carry out.
Current selection
methods
Advantages Disadvantages
Testing This will help in analysing skills
and communication level of the
people.
There are certain numerical
information and data which
are creating complexities
while choosing appropriate
candidates.

Work sample It gives unbiased results so
worker does not in close
observation.
It is mainly interrupted with
any specific time without
directly effect on possible
outcomes.
Structure interview A respondents example is much
required and its results can be
used while making statements.
Representatives are mainly
focused on selecting best
option solution to
questioner.
b)Scopes and approaches for improvisation
With emphasis laid on the weakness that the company currently experiences, there has
been an improvement in the understanding of the major areas that have entitled them to
improve each section thereby adding onto their advantage (Bratton and Gold, 2017). By
adapting to an effective and intricate method of interviewing, the company is able to focus on
their major developments. With emphasis upon their interview method, which lasts a short
duration of around 15 minutes, a questioning method is carried out followed by an informal
chat. This has become a disadvantage to their part. “Say it with chocolate” has therefore
focused on carrying out a detailed interview thereby focusing on each valuable asset to widen
their possible chances of development further. By carrying out an assessment test, they have
further put focus on conducing of a fair interview thereby completing the tests suitably
thereby choosing the most efficient applicants (Sharma and Goyal, 2015). The incapable
applicants get a much low chance in this case, where the selection is solely carried out with
the key aim of carrying out a thorough initiation of the details within the interview. With
focus laid on a much detailed and open ended interview process The company is able to
locate a detailed insight based on the behavioural trends thereby emphasising on the
applicants that come for the interview by incorporating all the potential human resources
effectively within.
Task2: LO2
P3: Benefits of HRM practices to employee and employers
a)Person Specification for job role
Aspects Desired elements
Professional Skills  Effective skills of Communication

 Effective Skills of hearing
 Fostering Team development
 Abilities of lucrative presentation
 Accountable approach
Knowledge and Learning  Financial knowledge
 Identifying consumer perceptions
 Framework of benefits
 Guest identification
 Nomination of the operational
creativity
Work Experience  Two years of experience
 Worked as a trainee in super hotels
 Identification of core complacencies
Behaviour and Attitude  Open mind-set
 Accumulating perception of team
members
 Recognising contribution of team
members
 Sensitive
 Quick learner
b)Justifying suitable medium of advertisement
Say it with chocolate is required to identify various types of alternatives for this
specific post because they does not determine the right pool of talent without using effective
medium o advertisement. It has been indicated that Say it with chocolate has utilised online
measures for conducting tests on recruitment. It has comprehensively ignored the utility of
social media in business expansion, which can be recognised as a threat to its sustainability.
The provision of a comprehensive approach relating to the diversification of business
standards and scopes of operation can be recognised as a typical alternative of realistic
operation. The company require to appoint liable person for the vacancy who has ability and
skill, HR manager of the organisation has post advertisement on newspapers along with
social media sites. After that, they are calling for maximum people to the interview.

Social networking and developing websites can be recommended as a cost-effective
module of business promotion (Beer et al. 2015). The benefits acquired from the cost curtails
in business promotion can be directly distributed among the internal and external
stakeholders through remuneration and discounts respectively. The liability of the business
functions along with a peculiar acknowledgement of the differential interfaces can be
acquired through the consideration of a social media as a tool of business promotion. An
expansion of the market and a rapid acknowledgement of the consumers on the brand can be
represented as an advantage and rationale for selecting it as a media of advertisement.
P4: Effectiveness of HRM strategies in productivity and profitability
c)Benefits and constraints of previous advertising strategies
The following can be considered as the advantages of the previous module of
advertisement as utilised by Say it with chocolate.
 The usage of direct marketing lies on the consideration as it is tangible reflection on
the promotional approaches of the business entity.
 The identification of the quality based complacence of an operational style is
distinguished with the help of temporary mechanisms of the liability annotations
(Garavan et. al., 2016).
The following can be considered as the disadvantages of the previous module of
advertisement as utilised by Say it with chocolate.
 Social networking can be considered as a cost-effective module of advertisement and
promotion. A defined acceleration of the consumer typologies along with a
recognition on the liability interfaces can be considered as a basic ingredient of
acknowledging sustainable outcomes. An expansive reach in the market along with a
typical derivation of the functional approaches can be entangled through a
discrimination of the components, which expands the potentials of a lucrative market
research.
 Social media has evolved as an effective medium of communication, which can be
rationalised through the reduced time required. The nomination of the lucrative
aspects of operational development may be utilised for projecting a comprehensive
clarification of the organisational approaches to its consumers. The feasibility of

social media to the end-user accessibility concerning their location has arrived as a
boost to the collection of the operational mechanisms.
d)Interview questions for receptionist
The following can be reflected as a question set for an interview under the designation
of a receptionist in Say it with chocolate.
 Tell me about yourself ?
 What are your previous work experiences as a receptionist?
 Why do you think the role of a receptionist is important in our company?
 What are strategies or plans in handling consumers if irritated with our services?
 How will you distinguish about your contribution to our organisation?
 How would you like to see your career progress in a span of five years?
 What are your queries on Say it with chocolate?
Task3: LO3
P5:Importance of employee relations in HRM decision-making
a)Benefits of graduate training schemes to employee and organisation
The differentiation of the business achievement can be reflected as a suitable
framework being adapted for the training and performance development mechanisms in
Microsoft. The following can be identified as the benefits of the graduate training schemes to
organisations and its employees.
 A selective representation of the performance guidelines for the employees may
diminish potential scopes of error (Ehnert et al. 2016). Thus, a reduction in
performance errors may optimise the performance projection by the employees.
 An effective demonstration of the scopes in performance development can be
considered as a distinctive utility for the organisation. It may foster employee
engagement and relationship, which is desired by Microsoft for the achievement of
sustainability in the global market.

 The graduate training mechanism for the employees may aid in a precise
representation of a business simulation and projection of the employees within the
same. Thus, it may enhance the decision-making skills of the employees within
stipulated period, which is an aspect of effective performance mechanism.
 An acquisition of market information and competitive approaches of the major
players in the software and hardware industry is essential for a young aspirant
operating as an internal stakeholder for Microsoft. Thus, the graduate training
mechanism may enhance the acquaintance of the employees to the industry, which
may reflect potential benefits in longer tenure of operation.
b)Developmental opportunities in a permanent job role
The achievement of a permanent job role within an organisation definitely expands
the job security for an employee. A distinctive development of opportunities can be reflected
through the following agendas as benefits of a permanent job role in Microsoft. Microsoft is
providing more preference to their workers as they one who are doing work to achieving
desired goals and objectives of the firm. There are certain practices which are adopted by
Microsoft that are described as under:
Job security: The reflection of the employee liabilities by an organisation can be considered
as typical determinants of a sustainable work approach. Job security can be critical influence
to the employees’ intents of escalating regular work performances. A selective approach
monitoring comparative outcomes can be defined as a liability of a business entity.
Intent of improvising regular contributions: A secured employment contracts improves the
intent of the employees in demonstrating effective performance outcomes. As opined by
Donate et al. (2016), in a secured domain of operation an employee attempts to explore their
innovative and creative approaches within a defined procedure of regular operation.
Microsoft has been a consistent supporter of innovative of work approaches.
Applicant for effective performance rewards: It can be indicated that a temporary job role
often confines the eligibility of the employees to performance rewards and incentive
schemes. These are accessible to the permanent employees. Thus, a permanent employment
contract with Microsoft aides the employees in acquiring financial benefits for the employees
through emphasize on performance mechanisms.

Tendency of long-term association: A continuous association between the employees and
organisations definitely fosters their coordination. It expands the interpretation of the
comprehensive functions, which represents a differential accessibility of resource
development.
Compensation and benefits – In this, an organisation offer various advantages to their
employees by providing them incentives on the basis of performance. Such incentives
contributes in satisfying their monetary requirements of employees.
Training and development – The company offer various training and development
programs to their existing and new employees who are permanent in the company. Such
training sessions are categorised such as training for new workers which describes them
about organisation culture, customised training to company managers that can increasing
their skills, promoting opportunities etc.
P6: Key elements of employee legislation and impact on HRM decisions
c)Benefits of flexible working practices
The following can be projected as benefits of flexible practices.
Increase in employee engagement and morale: The flexible working practices for the
employees’ aides in a clarified projection of organisational approaches to their employees. It
projects a critical overview on the trust that Microsoft puts on its employees. A comparative
reflection on the eruptive approaches can be distinguished as a function of promoting
employee morale and enhancing employee engagement.
Increasing abilities of employee recruitments: The preference of the organisation among the
employees promotes its scopes of recruitment. The development of a selective approach for
managing sustainable outcomes can be differentiated through a critical appreciation of the
recruitment procedures.
Diminished employee turnover: Flexible working approaches aides in the development of a
consistent bridge of communication among the employees and employer. A selective
demonstration of the organisational liabilities in contributing to workforce development can
be considered as a critical determinant of sustainable work approaches (Kaufman, 2015). The
reduction in the employee turnovers and intent of developing long-term association can be
promoted as a lucrative function of employee engagement. The reflection on the comparative

aspects of operation can be acknowledged through a distinguished appreciation of the
managerial approaches. The diversification of the business approaches has been adapted
through a precise demonstration of the lucrative aspects that can be annotated as an adverse
of integrating managerial opportunities.
Develops an image of employer choice: Microsoft can be presented as a lucrative scope of
employment for the aspirants in the software and hardware industry. The development of a
comparative approach of management along with a lucrative association of the business
participants distinguishes Microsoft as an employer choice.
Flexible working in Microsoft and its importance-In today's era the effective
working is more important then the amount of time spend on the work. In Microsoft the
workers want to work on their condition that they does their work according to the flexibility
of time which suited them. Microsoft is providing flexibility of time according to the comfort
level of the individual employee. As in the comfort zone the the effectiveness of the
performance of the individual is increased at higher level. This helps in keeping mind fresh of
worker and they can make innovative and creative ideas with the fresh mind.
d)Workforce motivation through job design and performance rewarding
Motivation system adopted by Microsoft- Microsoft applies different theories to
motivate their employees at different. Microsoft mainly gives importance to the process of
communication between the employee and the manager at different level ,as in the Mayo's
motivation theory is based upon the communication totally. In addition the company has also
marked the herzberg's theory in which different benefits are given to the worker regarding the
health, safety and security issue. By having benefits of this the individual feels relaxed and
the image of trust is build in the mind of the worker and due to which the one will try to put
their best efforts in each and every task. It helps in boosting the performance person. For
example a talented but lazy person is working in the organisation but due to lack of
motivation the performance of the person in not up to the mark so by giving him the
motivation through bonus or incentive there are more chances to make that employee work
harder without laziness. But for all the employee same technique of motivating does works
the same, if the senior employee needs to be motivated then in place of bonus and incentive
the promotion would work as the motivation factor. Hence at last motivation is the key factor
of the overall organisation which helps it in growing faster and in a effective manner.