HRM Report: Chocola Fantastica - Functions, Selection, and Strategy

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within Chocola Fantastica, a company specializing in chocolate-based products. The report begins with an introduction to HRM and the company, followed by an examination of core HR functions, including recruitment and selection methods, along with their strengths and weaknesses. It proposes improvements to the selection process, considering the challenges of attracting skilled candidates. The report also includes a person specification for a receptionist role and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of Chocola Fantastica's current recruitment methods, including internal sources and referrals. Furthermore, it explores the benefits of training and internships, flexible working arrangements, and work motivation strategies. The report concludes with a discussion of employee engagement and relevant legislation, offering key approaches to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity within the organization. References are provided to support the analysis.

Human Resource
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
SECTION 1......................................................................................................................................1
(A)Functions and Importance of HR......................................................................................1
(B)Strength and Drawbacks of Selection method..................................................................2
(C)Improvements to increase selection process.....................................................................4
SECTION 2......................................................................................................................................4
a) Person specification for Receptionist Role:.......................................................................4
b) Advantages and disadvantages of current methods of advertising job:.............................6
c) Modes of Job adverts:........................................................................................................8
SECTION 3......................................................................................................................................8
(A)Benefits to trainee and organization by providing training and internships ....................8
(B) Flexible working arrangements........................................................................................9
(C) Work Motivation by providing Job Roles......................................................................10
SECTION 4....................................................................................................................................11
(a) Employee Engagement:..................................................................................................11
(b) Key Approaches in engaging workers...........................................................................12
(c) Employee Legislation:....................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Human Resource Management is a system to maintain all people at work place. This
system includes all major functions of organization like recruitment, selections, strategies
planning, hiring, firing etc. It is an important system of each and every organization.
Chocola Fantastica is fast growing organization based in South Wales. The company
design chocolate-based products like chocolate greeting cards, presents etc. In United Kingdom.
The another company is Microsoft's. It is an American company which design technical
instruments like computer, personal computers and mobile etc. The company also design
software programs like MS-Word, MS-excel, MS- power point etc. Microsoft was established on
4 April, 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. This study includes HR functions, purpose and
strength or weakness of selections methods. This concludes company scholarship and internships
programs and their benefits for employee, motivation in employees by Maslow's Need Hierarchy
theory. Employee engagement suctions and their importance in company, also explaining how
employee engagement can improve in company. This study also explain advantages and
disadvantage of internal and external methods of recruitment, also conclude recommendations
for improve recruitment in firm.
SECTION 1
(A)Functions and Importance of HR
HR department is considered as the heart of the organization as it is involved in dealing
with major typical issues when it comes to employing staff. HR is much wide field where the
department is responsible for performing varied types of activities across core functions of
organizations. Although engaged in plethora of tasks, the main purpose of HR department of
Chocola Fantastica is hiring and selecting the candidates as the prime challenge faced by the
company is increased labour turnover. Hiring the skilled and knowledgeable candidate is what
becomes important for the company due to its operations in the country of great employment.
Chocola Fantastica is recently suffering from a dispute of retaining the skills and
qualified staff therefore another salient function of its HR department revolves around
maintaining the employees for long term by intervening constantly to look out for the reasons of
leaving.
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Importance of functions for organization
Following are the purpose and importance of various functions:
Recruitment
The importance of recruitment process is that it generates a large talent pool for the
organizations from which the companies can choose the most potential candidate. On the other
hand, major purpose of this process is to find the the right and quality candidates at much less
cost and attract them for the employment. Chocola Fantastica is facing the issue of recruiting the
right kind of applicants as the owner lack the required experience for hiring and being based in
high unemployment area, it is generally becoming difficult to attract the skilled candidates thus
the main goal of this company would be to attract as much applicants as possible and select the
most proficient and skilled candidates.
Selection
Selection is generally the method through which an organization shortlists and selects the
most competent candidates who rightfully matches the job requirements. The importance of
selection process lies in the aspect that it aids an organization in choosing the highly experience
and capable candidate from the large talent pool. Besides this, the primary purpose of this
process is to intensively asses the knowledge and abilities within an applicant which would help
them to perform their tasks efficiently. Although, Chocola Fantastica have designed varied
assessment test which helps them to analyse the skills of applicants, but the main problem lies in
the biasness among the tests where the candidates mostly have complaints regarding the fairness
in the questions and the overall tests.
(B)Strength and Drawbacks of Selection method
Selection is basically the methodology of shortlisting the skilled and right candidate having the
required qualifications as well as skills in order to fill up the vacant position. Selection is
followed by the recruitment process where the organizations are engaged in attracting the
potential candidates whereas in selection, the candidates from the talent pool created from the
recruitment process are eventually shortlisted.
In order to attract the right type of applicants, Chocola Fantastica recently utilizes
assessment tests and interview for selecting the candidates.
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 Assessment tests
The company has designed its own English apprehension and maths test which the
candidates are required to give either online or offline. Use of this vigorous tests will enable the
company to recognize the best talent who can perform the job task effectively.
Strength
The main strength of this method is that it measures the mental, verbal and
comprehensive capabilities within the candidate. These tests help the company to detect the level
of problem solving ability as well as reasoning ability of candidate. Besides this, These assess
the candidate's general intelligence and their potential to take quick decision.
Weakness
The major weakness which dominates the selection process is that these tests might not
accurately estimate the applicant's potential and skills to perform specified job. Besides this,
another weakness of these tests is the test anxiety where the candidates often become anxious
while confronting it and does not perform well.
 Interview
Selection is the process whereby the organizations choose the most appropriate and best
candidate which suits the job requirements. After successfully clearing the assessment test, The
selected applicants are called on for the final round of interview taken by the recruiter of Chocola
Fantastica where the interviewer assesses the applicant through a 15-minute informal chat.
Strength
The major strength of this interview process is that it aids the recruiter in gathering
enough information about the applicant which eventually help them in choosing correct
candidate and therefore conducting their better analysis(Berman and et.al., 2019). Another
advantage is that within the time period of 15 Min or more, recruiter are able to build a healthy
relationship between them by providing enough information about Chocola Fantastica and helps
the candidate to become aware of the company.
Weakness
The main weakness which has influenced the interview process of Chocola Fantastica is
that the interview is conducted on paper due to which entire data gathered is entered manually
which eventually increases the overall cost of selection process as the separate personnel is hired
for data entry. Another drawback is that the process is although reliable but it does not always
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ensure the gathering of in depth and important information about candidate thus sometimes, due
to the carelessness of interviewer as well as applicant, essential information is missed out.
(C)Improvements to increase selection process
Despite the great soundness of its selection process, Chocola is still facing the challenge
of recruiting experienced and skilled candidates which becomes a major pitfall in their future
growth strategy(Bratton and Gold., 2017). Thus, it needs some major refinement in its selection
process in order to expand and flourish its businesses. In order to attract the great pool of
candidates An important improvement which Chocola Fantastica can apply within its selection
process is use of advanced and high value technology and follow up. Being based in high
unemployment country, company can utilize the social media to post their vacancy on large
platform. While some candidates find it difficult to travel to the company location on the given
date and time, social media enables the company to have an interview process on real time
technology like Skype. Thus, Chocola Fantastica can make use of high tech software to conduct
the interview even online. Besides this, Follow up also becomes important where the company,
after the interview process, can solicit feedback regarding the consistency of interview and
suggestions on improvement(Brewster, Mayrhofer and Morley., 2016).
SECTION 2
a) Person specification for Receptionist Role:
Company Chocola Fantastica
Post Receptionist
Location South Wales
Report to Head Administrator
Qualification Graduates
Responsibilities For IT facilities, Answering phones, Ordering
refreshments, Provides stationery etc.
Title of the job Receptionist
Date: 24, August 2019
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Qualification
required
Essential Desirable Met
Graduates from
any Stream
Yes Yes
Need of Experience
1-2 Years(In
same field)
Yes Yes
Personal
characteristics &
conduct
Positive
Attitude and
Behavior,
Technical
skills,
Good listening
skills,
Effective
communication
skills,
Organizational
knowledge,
Consistent.
yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
YES
Roles and
Responsibilities
Confirmation
of meetings,
Yes
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Greeting
Clients,
Arrangements
for Couriers,
Answer phone
calls and
forward the,
Maintain
reception area
neat,
Completing
paper works,
Classification
and distributing
post,
Support the
customers,
Maintain
stationery
stock.
YES
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Selection process for Receptionist in Chochola- Fantastica:
 Receiving Application: First of all organization receive appropriate application for
receptionist post. In this application potential employees gives details about their bio
data, education etc.
 Screening: In this step management of Chochola Fantastica screening all the receiving
job application of candidate's and select few one which are capable for the job role of
receptionist.
 Employment interviewer: In this step company all of those candidates who are shortlisted
for the interview round ant take the interview of these people.
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 Selection and offer later: This is the final step of selection process in this step head
administrator of company select a particular person for job role who's all qualities are
fulfilled the requirements. Then give them joining later of the company.
b) Advantages and disadvantages of current methods of advertising job:
Chocola Fantastica is using two types of methods for recruiting candidates in their
company. They use internal sources like staff family and friends or notice boards method for
recruiting. But some times this sources are also have some good and bad impact on
organization(Brewster and et.al., 2016).
Internal Sources: Internal sources are those sources in which recruitment is conducted
internally in organization. (Buckley and et.al., 2019). Recruiting provides an opportunities to
their existing employees in company. Chocola Fantastica also use this method in their company,
because they are well known with every employees performance and also it is easiest and
inexpensive way of recruiting.
 Friends and family Recruitment method: The Chocola Fantastica using this method of
recruiting(Cascio., 2015). When there are any vacancy in an organization, company
management provides that information to their friends and family. Employees of the
company are well known with organization work culture, environment etc. or if they find
suitable candidates in their friends and family can suggest their interest to industry
management.
Advantages: Friends and family referrals methods is best way of recruiting. Its cost and time
effective methods. By using this method Chocola Fantastica company can easily hire new
candidate for specific job. Also, this techniques of recruitment give an opportunity to their
existing employee. They can earn rewards and other advantages for successful hiring.
Disadvantages: The disadvantages of this techniques is that its create conflict or issues among
the employees which may affects the performance of Chocola Fantastica employees. Employees
always feels dis-satisfactory about their works and feel partial in an organization. Some time this
techniques can be risky for company because employees may suggest wrong candidate for their
personal or wrong reasons.
 Notice Board Recruitment: Its is direct method of recruiting new employees in company.
This method is also known as factory gate recruitment. Chocola Fantastica using this
methods for hiring their production team candidates. Here, firm put notice regarding
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available job on notice board so, interested applicants directly apply. This technique is
especially use for hiring unskilled and daily wages workers.
Advantages: The main advantage of this techniques is that Chocola Fantastica company can
easily hire unskilled and daily wages workers for better production. It is cost effective and time
saving method of recruiting.
Disadvantages: The major disadvantage of this method is that, sometimes employees or person
are avoid notice board information's. So, massages of requirements are not circulate among
peoples. The another adverse effect for Chocola Fantastica company, notice board information
generally destroy by the public. So, it is slow process of recruiting(Morgeson, Brannick and
Levine, 2019).
c) Modes of Job adverts:
Chocola Fantastica company can use different job methods for hiring Receptionist in
their company. New techniques for hiring candidate is more effective and efficient. Company
can use this techniques i.e.:
Online Job Portal: Online job portals are also known as job sites, job boards, job websites etc. It
is deals with specific careers and employments. Chocola Fantastica can use this techniques for
publish information about the receptionist profile. Company can select specific job portal like
Monster. com, Glassdoor. com, for publish job vacancy of receptionist in their organization. By
this method company can have large number of candidates for particular job role. Management
of firm can hire suitable candidate for organization(DeCenzo, Robbins and Verhulst., 2016).
Online job portals are also beneficial for Chocola Fantastica company. By using this portal
company can get daily updates about job profile, company can know how much peoples are
interested for this job role. Job portals are user friendly that means every person of organization
can easily use them. This kinds of portals also maintain confidentiality of each candidates and
company details.
SECTION 3
(A)Benefits to trainee and organization by providing training and internships
Scholarship programs & internships provides various benefits to both organisation and
employees who are employed under these schemes, It not only facilitates organization to obtain
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young ideas and thinking but also nurture employees (under these schemes) by giving them
proper platform to showcase their talent and learn from the organisation and seniors(Guest.,
2017). Microsoft tends to offer a variety of programs such as scholarships, internships along with
full-time opportunities which are specifically designed for empowering employees and get
benefits out of it.
Benefits to employees under Training
It provides interns with an opportunity to jump-start their careers & they can also get pre
placement offer based on their performance during internship, they work in one of the biggest
organization and can learn a lot from the culture of the organisation.
 Interns receives various opportunities by working on real projects and teams rely on skills
and insights of interns to deliver those projects to market.
 Microsoft treats its employees and interns very well it provides subsidized house during
the period of internship, Microsoft pays water and cable bills of the interns, provides
interns with funds for cleaning services for their house, membership of health club,
parties along with various special events are conducted, and interns area also provided
with reimbursements and discounts on Microsoft softwares etc.
Benefits to employees under internship-
 Interns receive opportunity to get their hands on number of programming languages and
tools and raise their experience levels. Working with senior managers and mentors
interns learn to evaluate estimate costs of projects, able to create and implement features
and services of Microsoft(John and Taylor., 2016). During the internship interns
experience many core tech disciplines.
Benefits to Microsoft by providing these programs to interns:
Benefit under training
 Get new ideas from young minds and enhance organisation culture which Microsoft
follows i.e. growth and diversity oriented with philanthropic mindset.
 Saving cost by not directly hiring full time employees but hiring interns & analysing their
performance.
Benefit under internship
 Hiring interns from all over the world to nurture interns with potential and calibre will
enhance the performance of the organisation.
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(B) Flexible working arrangements
With flexibility in work schedules, employees get various benefits. It helps in getting flexible for
fulfilling family needs, employees get time to meet family obligations, attain functions and
opportunity to maintain work life balance. Flexible work timings allows employee to do work
when feel fresh and active. Microsoft offers flexible working arrangements like working from
home and flexibility in working time to staff which benefits both organisation and employees.
(Huemann, Keegan and Turner., 2018).
Benefits to employees:
 Employees can get more control on their time schedule along with working environment.
 Employees has opportunity to work during the hours and can schedule their work for
times like quieter hours which fit their energy cycles for enhanced productivity and
healthy mindset for more accomplishment.
 Employees can have control on their time and has opportunity to find a work-life balance
which allows employees to maintain and follow their priorities which are outside the job
while successfully getting work completed before deadlines.
 Employees can access their office desktop environment & work on different projects in a
secured environment using their personal mobiles or computers from any location they do
not have to carry big machines with them.
 Employees can get rid of waking up early in the morning and then commuting in high
time with heavy traffic, this wastes their time. This will make them feel more refreshed &
energized along with that fuel, motor maintenance or public transport cost is reduced.
 Workplace flexibility helps in reducing psychological distress, work-life conflict is
declined and also reduces emotional exhaustion resulting contribution for better night
sleep and increased energy levels.
Benefits to Microsoft:
 Microsoft can recruit and hold the staff which have good quality of work priority and a
balance in work life, rather than just the job salary because many employees are choosing
or switching jobs based on flexible working environment.
 Microsoft can have access the talent pool because management of organization is not
limited, and they can find out talent anywhere in the world.
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