HRM Report: Unit 3 - Microsoft and Chocola Fantastica

This report provides a detailed analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, focusing on Microsoft and Chocola Fantastica. It begins by outlining the purpose and importance of HRM functions, including staffing, compensation, and law compliance, while also exploring the recruitment and selection processes, with their respective advantages and disadvantages. The report then identifies improvements needed in the selection process, followed by a person specification for a receptionist and a discussion of the pros and cons of job advertising methods. Recommendations for job advertisements are provided, with a focus on the use of social media. The report also evaluates the benefits of HRM practices for both the organization and the employee, and assesses the effectiveness of HRM practices in increasing organizational profit. Furthermore, it examines how Microsoft motivates its workers and delves into the concepts of employee engagement, key engagement approaches, and UK employment legislation. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and recommendations for improved HRM practices.

Unit 3
Human resource management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................2
SECTION 1......................................................................................................................................2
Purpose as well as importance of HR functions.....................................................................2
selection methods with its advantages and disadvantages....................................................4
Improvements required in selection process of the organization...........................................5
SECTION 2......................................................................................................................................5
Person specification of receptionist........................................................................................5
Discuss the Porns and corns of advertising jobs in organisation...........................................6
Recommendation for job advert.............................................................................................7
SECTION 3......................................................................................................................................8
Evaluating benefits of both the organisation and employee...................................................8
Evaluating the effectiveness of HRM practices for rising organisation profit.......................8
Evaluate how Microsoft motivates its workers......................................................................9
SECTION 4....................................................................................................................................10
What is employee engagement and why it is important for effective employee relation.. . .10
Critically evaluate key approaches of engaging workers.....................................................10
Identifying UK employment legislation..............................................................................11
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
Human resource management (HRM) can be defined as a formal scheme devised for the
purpose of managing people in the organization. There are several functions which are being
performed by HRM which includes strategic management, workforce planning and employment,
policy formation, risk management and reward management (Banfield, Kay and Royles, 2018).
Present report is based on Microsoft and Chocola Fantastica. This study involves purposes of
human resource functions with its importance to the organization. Further this report consists of
an evaluation of effectiveness of HRM's key elements in an organization. This report also
involves an analysis the internal as well as external factors affecting decision making in HRM.
Lastly this study comprises application of HRM practices in a work related context.
SECTION 1
Purpose as well as importance of HR functions
There are several purposes and importance of human resource functions to Chocola
Fantastica which is essential to be understand by the company in order to execute an effective
HRM.
Purpose of HR functions
 Staffing needs: The major responsibility which is being executed by HR department is
recruitment and selection of employees (Baum, 2016). Chocola Fantastica has to
understand that if the recruitment and selection of employees is being done effectively,
then the company can achieve its objectives in a more efficient manner. HR department
determines the staffing requirements from other departments and recruits the employees
as per the specified requirements and skills.
 Compensation: HR department is having a responsibility of providing fair payment to
the employees of the company and bring necessary changes in the pay structure with
researching trending compensation trends, with the aim of providing required pay to the
employees of Chocola Fantastica. Bonus and incentives with the salaries is being
provided by HR department which encourages the employees to work more effectively.
 Law Compliance: This essential for the HR department of Chocola Fantastica to
determine that employees are being provided with safety and equitable treatments
according to the rules and regulations which are being formed for protecting employees
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in various areas. HR department of Chocola Fantastica ensures that laws formed by the
government are being followed by the company for providing a safe and secure work
environment.
Functions of HRM
 Recruitment: It can be described as a process of creating a talent pool of the
candidates for selecting the best candidate for the organization. This helps in finding
the most appropriate candidate for the job vacancy in the organization which can help
in executing the work in a more effective manner, if the required skills and
qualifications of the candidates are being determined significantly, it will help Chocola
Fantastica in operating and developing its future operations more fluently. Chocola
Fantastic is facing the problem in recruitment where they are recruiting the persons
from the references which leads to less number of desired candidate recruitment, this
has to be overcomes by the company for growing in the future. (Brewster, Mayrhofer
and Farndale, 2018).
 Selection: It can be determined as a process of short-listing the candidates and selecting
the most appropriate candidate with required skills and qualifications for a vacancy in
the organization. It is very important process for Chocola Fantastica because, hiring of
good resources can help in increasing overall performance of organization. If Chocola
Fantastica selects is the most suitable candidate who can meet all the requirements of
the job, the needs of the company can be achieved by executing operations in a more
effective manner. The selection process is facing the issue of wrong subjects of test
which is being conducted for selection, this has to be changed in order to become more
effective and grow in the future.
 Training and development: This the process in which training is being provided to the
candidates who have been selected by the organization, which helps in developing
knowledge and skills of the employees in execution of work. Training and development
is important for Chocola Fantastica as the employees who are being provided with
effective training, they are able to perform more effectively which significantly reduces
the cost of production and increases productivity of the company. The selected
candidates are not provided any significant training that leads to less effective work that
prevents the company in future growth (Brewster and et.al., 2016).
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selection methods with its advantages and disadvantages.
There are two methods which are being used by Chocola Fantastica in order to select
candidates for the appropriate vacancies. These methods are interview and written test.
Interview method
It is a method of selecting appropriate candidates for the vacancy in which face to face or
voice to voice interaction takes place between an interviewer and interviewee.
Strengths:
These are much accurate methods for analysing the skills and qualifications of candidates
as it allows interacting with the interviewee and determine that they are eligible for the vacancy
or not in a more significant manner. It allows in determining the clear perspective and opinion of
candidates by framing questions at the same time.
Weaknesses:
It is a cost as well as time consuming process which includes more expenses than other
methods of selection (Cascio, 2015). Interviewee may become disappointed if other questions are
being asked which are not related to the field. Biases of the interviewer can lead to selecting the
undeserved candidate for the job rather than a desired candidate.
Selection Test Method
It is a method of selection in which skills and qualifications of the candidates are being
determined through conducting a test.
Strengths:
This process eliminates biases in the selection processes which helps Chocola Fantastica
in selecting the desirable candidates (Chelladurai and Kerwin, 2018). This test helps in assessing
skills, abilities and knowledge of the employees which can help in determining that candidate
can work for the job role or not.
Weaknesses:
The questions that are being involved in test are not relevant for determining the
appropriate skills, knowledges and abilities, then the company can face an issue of selecting the
suitable candidate. Written test doesn't allow in determining practical knowledge in the required
field.
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Improvements required in selection process of the organization
There are majorly to improvements which are to be executed by Chocola Fantastica in
order to perform functions of HRM in more effective manner for the purpose of achieving
organizational objectives. Firstly, the selection test consists of general English and maths which
doesn't help in assessing abilities and skills required in Chocola Fantastica for the specific job
role. The subjects are to be relevant to the job role. Another improvement which is to made by
Chocola Fantastica is to execute a formal interview rather than an informal chat, and also
eliminate bias in selection of candidates by preventing checking of references. This helps in
selection of appropriate talent for the job role in Chocola Fantastica.
SECTION 2
Person specification of receptionist.
Job Tittle Receptionist
Date:
Qualification required Essential Desirable Met
Higher diploma
Computer knowledge like good
typing ability.
Yes
Yes
Experience required
Minimum 2 year experience in
same filed
Experience as an computer
operator
Yes
Yes
Skills and characteristics
required
Fluency in communication skills
Professional and welcome
Yes
Yes
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experience for client
Answering and forwarding
phone calls
Better completing administrative
paperwork.
Yes
Yes
Discuss the Porns and corns of advertising jobs in organisation.
Advertisement of job is very important and effective for Microsoft for fulfiling the vacant
position in organisation in a proper manner. Chocola Fantastica follows Noticeboard
advertisement and internally to existing staff or their friends/family within the company.
Physical vacancy noticeboard
Noticeboard advertisement is included in the external recruitment process. Displaying ads
on outside office and nearby areas (Collings, Wood and Szamosi, 2018). That can be more useful
for marketing goals. There are Advantages as well as disadvantages of noticeboard
advertisement are as follows:
Advantages
 This advertisement is visual which is use eye catching imagery to get audience
attention towards company.
 This helps to build awareness in people to know about the company have a vacant
post in company.
 This provide the greatest opportunity for a fresh outlook on the industry.
Disadvantages
 It can be easily neglect by people.
 This not create awareness in people in other area.
 Its effectiveness depends upon the reader curiosity.
 This only seen by some people who are near of office place.
 It take longer time and cost more than hiring from within the company.
Existing staff and their family or friends
This method is included in the internal recruitment process in order to fulfil vacant post
in an organisation (DeCenzo, Robbins and Verhulst, 2016). The Chocola Fantastica has followed
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this process for hiring new candidates. Advantages and disadvantages of this methods are
underpinning:
Advantages
 Internal recruitment process is increase morale and retention of employee because other
employee sees there is room for rewards for a job well done.
 This is beneficial because in this process have less paper work.
 Hiring family members and friends of existing employees, this rise loyalty of employees. It help to minimise the time of interview process.
Disadvantages
 Limited talent can be part of organisation.
 It increases the competition between employee which is not good for team as whole in
the organisation.
Recommendation for job advert.
Job advertisement is very important in order to hire new candidate for company. Chocola
Fantastica is following the external noticeboard ads and internal reference from existing
employees. Both are best at their place, but for more effectiveness here recommended for
company to use social media ads (Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes, 2015). The social
media app creating large level platform for hiring’s. Social media platforms as talent database or
for advertising opening and position. This is important and beneficial for business in the
following manner:
 The reason to select social media ads in order to build company online reputation.
 This increase a job visibility for candidates.
 This helps to reduce hiring cost.
 Better screening of candidates.
 Through, that employer is able to hire international candidates by posting online
advertisement of receptionist post in organisation.
Online social media apps are effective and best for hiring new employees for vacant post. For
example: if employer post details about vacant post on apps like Facebook then candidates seen
this and make call in company because nowadays people get updates about jobs from social
media.
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SECTION 3
Evaluating benefits of both the organisation and employee.
Human resource practices are beneficial for organisation and employee. This provide
direction for people who work in the organisation. Microsoft organisation offers graduate
training schemes and internships program to employee. Those are beneficial for organisation and
employees (Nankervis and et.al., 2016). Those benefits are as follows:
Graduate training schemes
Graduate training schemes are the perfect way to kick off employee career and improve
organisation performance. This is beneficial for both organisation and employee. It is beneficial
for employees because this provide the better training opportunity to employee. A good level of
support at the time of starting a career. This helps to employees for continued professional
development. This is also beneficial for organisation because it helps to improve and enhance
productivity of Microsoft company in a positive manner through providing proper guidance
about work.
Internships
An internship is an opportunity which is offered by an employer to employees, to work at
firm for a fixed period. This HRM practice is highly beneficial for employer and employee of
Microsoft company. For employee, internship program allow employee to test out their interest
and develop their long range career plans. This help to develop overall maturity by
strengthening, skills of problem solving, self-confidence as well as sense of responsibility
towards company. For organisation, through the internship Microsoft company get the fresh
perspective from outside of industry (Atkinson and Storey, 2016). This program is reducing
overall employee workload and manage practice for senior employees.
Evaluating the effectiveness of HRM practices for rising organisation profit.
HRM practices are effective for rising organisational profit and productivity in positive
manner. Flexible working arrangement for staff gives effective working pattern which different
from your existing one. This includes changing from fulltime to part-time and changing part time
hours that work like from weekends to week days. Flexible working arrangement for staff is
effective for Microsoft because this help to increased employee morale, engagement as well as
commitment to the organisation in positive manner.
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Work from home
Work from home is the best arrangement for employee for flexibility working hours. This
create great employee morale towards company and its growth. For example: employee is
injured and not able attend office. In that case employer can provide work from home facility to
them. With this employee is motivated and company work is not suffering. This is the best
practice for employee in terms of rising organisational profits because through that work is
completed on time by employee without any delaying.
Flexible working hours
Flexible working hours are also including in flexibility working arrangement in proper
manner. For example: if employee have any urgent work and want to go outside from office. In
that employer of Microsoft have flexible working hour for employee from office. This is
beneficial for company because through that work do not suffers and also the employee is happy.
This beneficial for employee and employer of Microsoft company. This is beneficial for
organisation because this provide specific division of employee as per skills and as per that
employer allocate work to employees. Other hand, it includes the ability to adjust the days and
hours of being in office and also allows workers to work remotely. This beneficial for employee
because this allows work from home in any urgent situation.
Evaluate how Microsoft motivates its workers.
Motivation is important part of employee life cycle in order to improve their
performance. Company manager is motivating to employees by providing flexible working
arrangement in urgent situation and fair treatment. Other hand, manager uses rewards system
which is divided into 2 parts financial and non-financial reward system. Financial reward system includes the cash price, bonus, incentives etc.
 Non-financial reward system includes gifts, apperception and special comment in front of
whole staff members (Sparrow, Brewster and Chung, 2016).
Microsoft provide both reward system in order to motivate employee. Through, that employees
are motivated and able to give their hard contribution for growth.
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SECTION 4
What is employee engagement and why it is important for effective employee relation.
Employee engagement is extended to that employee feel passionate about the job,
committed to the organisation. It is not same as employee satisfaction. This helps to increasing
employees will be establishing the positive emotional connection with the organisation and other
staff members. This helps to creates a positive working environment in Microsoft. It is very
important and effective for effective employee relation in Microsoft. It is important that
employee share healthy relation with each other at workplace. Importance of employee
engagement are underpinning:
 It is important because it helps to reduce workforce conflicts and boost staff morale in
positive manner (Stewart and Brown, 2019). There are several issues in organisation
which is impossible to manage by individual. In this, individual requires a proper
guidance and advice to take decision in correct manner. Through, that individual does not
waste their time in meaningless conflicts, they directly contact with senior about
discouraging conflicts in Microsoft.
 A healthy as well as strong employee relation reduces the problem of absenteeism at the
workplace. Healthy and positive relation creates happy environment at office which is
help to encourage employee for coming office on daily basis (Employee-engagement-
summit, 2018). Through, that they do not take leaves and start enjoying their work.
As per above discussion, employee’s engagement is highly important for effective employee
relation in Microsoft for reducing conflicts and encouraging employee.
Critically evaluate key approaches of engaging workers.
Employee engagement at work place is very important and effective part of company.
This helps to reduce conflicts, encourage employees, creating positive working environment in
Microsoft in positive manner. This is highly beneficial for business and its growth factor in
proper manner. Here, are some strategies for employee engagement are as follows:
Provide training and coaching
It also communicates that the organisation values its employees and believing in their
potential. Through, that employees feel that company is investing in their future in order to
improving skills. By this, employees are highly engaged with Microsoft and create effective
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relations between employees. This will give negative and positive impact on improving
communication at workplace (Wilton, 2016). For example: providing training and coaching
section to employee for improving their skills where they asked questions and get right way to
develop skills. This helps to improve communication at workplace because employee is engaged
and free to communicate with all people in positive manner. Other hand, this give negative
impact to communication when senior is busy with work and not able to give proper way.
Employee engagement is help to improve communication at workplace in positive manner.
Identifying UK employment legislation.
Employment law regulate the relationship between employers and employees. This will
be effective and valuable for running a business. Legislations influence HR decision making
process like recruitment, training and development or rewards system. Key elements of
employment legislation are as follows:
Workers compensation act 1923
Workers compensation act is establishing liability of employers for injuries to workers
while on the job or illnesses due to the employment and insurance to protect workers. This act
also impacts HR decision making process. For example: if employee is injured at the time of
work. In that case employer of Microsoft have provide fair compensation to employee against of
their injuries. Employer do not give compensation to employee then they have right to take
action against company (Banfield, Kay and Royles, 2018). This law impact to HR practices
because HR department have to provide compensation to employee if they not give, then
employee can take cation against of company. For that employer have to provide compensation
as per this law. This influence decision making process of HR like recruitment process because
the term workers compensation is clear in the recruitment process of employees. Through that
employees are know about their compensation process if it is not fulfil and not provide
information about it than it affect recruitment process.
Equal employment opportunity act 1972
Equal opportunity act gives the equal employment opportunities commission authority to
sue in federal court. For example: if employees are performing same and achieve same score in
Microsoft than employer of company have to pay equal employment against of equal
performance (Baum, 2016). This can influence to HR decision-making process like reward
system because same records and same performance of employee is desirable for fair reward
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