Human Resource Management Report: Sport Direct Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within the context of Sport Direct, a UK-based international retail company. The report begins by outlining different HR functions in a contemporary business environment, emphasizing the importance of employment relations, welfare management, policy formulation, and compliance. It then delves into the significance of HR planning, particularly in managing a growing international staff, detailing the steps involved in the planning process, from establishing organizational objectives to developing action plans and implementation. The report further explores the importance of HRM practices from an organizational perspective, highlighting the need for systematic training, adherence to rules and regulations, effective communication, and reward recognition policies, with a focus on ensuring equal treatment. The report also examines the influences of employment legislation on HR practices within Sport Direct, underscoring the need for ethical HRM practices and compliance with UK government regulations. Overall, the report provides a detailed overview of the HRM challenges and strategies relevant to a large, international retail organization.

Introduction to Human
Resource Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK1 ............................................................................................................................................3
Different HR functions in contemporary business environment.................................................3
TASK2.............................................................................................................................................4
Significance of HR planning in order to manage growing international staff needs..................4
TASK3.............................................................................................................................................6
Importance of HRM practises from organisation context...........................................................6
TASK4.............................................................................................................................................8
Influences of Employment legislation on HR practices in organisation.....................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management plays an vital role in the working operations of business.
Further HR manager need to recruit and select the best candidates for the vacant job positions
and responsible for further training and development of employees. In changing dynamic
environment various modification has been made in customer demand, trends and preferences so
it is utmost responsibility of HR team to scan external environment in order to make alteration in
working structure of company so that objectives of organisation can be accomplished within an
specified time period. Although all the functions of management can be done with the team and
support which is possible with the coordination of whole human resource department(Alfes and
et. al. ,2013). Under this assignment the company which is pre-freed i.e. Sport direct which is
UK based retail supermarket operated internationally. It is founded by Mike Ashley in 1982
comprises of 18000 employees and having 780 stores in UK country. Apart from it discuss about
HR functions in contemporary business environment, planning process and influences of
Employment legislation in HR practices.
TASK1
Different HR functions in contemporary business environment
In every organisation Human resource management take active participation in the
different functions performed by organisation in order to achieve all the goals in appropriate
manner. With the latest invention in technology for making the whole process simplify create
burden on all branded organisation to come with new features in their existing goods and
introducing something creative which satisfy the current needs of customers. Although Sport
direct is famous branded sport company that provide wide collection in Men footwear and
clothing after observing the current demand of external market which maintain his position in
business world.
Due to globalisation many MNC were coming in UK external market environment in
order to set their business so, therefore it is mandatory for HR team of Sport direct to organise
systematically all the functions and programs in effective manner so that all workforce conduct
their daily targets in efficient manner. Further organise training development event for all the
new hiring workers in order to under all the selling tactics and how to maintain long term

relations with their daily clients. Some of the important function performed by HR manager of
Sports direct are stated below:- Employment relations:- In every company it is vital for HR manager to maintain good
employment relations with staff members. At the time of establishing strategic policies,
procedures HR manager has to concern about the comfort level of internal employees.
Use the collective bargaining approach under which he or she negotiate with employees
regarding salary issues so that effective working environment can be maintained. Welfare management:- Under this step in order to develop professional attitude among
the workforce it is essential for HR manager to well planned all the activities related to
training development and career advancement of employees which ensure the all over
welfare of employees. For example Sport Direct is the branded organisation enjoy high
market share can be stabilise only with the continuous development of internal people. Policies and regulations:- HR manager require to formulate such policies and procedures
which related to the vision and objective of organisation. Such strategies ensure the
effective communication between manager and their subordinates. Further take an
initiative for active participation of employees which can be possible by organising
different method like group discussion and brain storming techniques so that skills and
abilities are enhance in them(Armstrong and Taylor ,2014) . For example Sport direct
must implement such strategic tactics that help in reducing hesitation level and increase
creativity among workforces.
 Compliance function:- In order to maintain good brand image and goodwill Sport Direct
need to adhere all the legal legislation enforced by UK government. HR manager need to
take professional advice from legal advisor of organisation in order to make sure that all
the compliance related to EU working regulations and laws of fair employment wages are
fulfilled or not. For maintaining decorum in internal environment manager required to
ensure that individuals not facing any difficulties or issues and nobody using any unfair
trade practices which dilute image and create liability of heavy penalty on organisation.

TASK2
Significance of HR planning in order to manage growing international staff needs
At the time when company established their own vision and mission in order to run the
business in effective manner there is need to framed systematic planning procedures for the
purpose of getting the idea about designing the different objective and targets every year.
Different factors and elements that need to concerned at the time of implementing any task in
appropriate manner. Further, at the time of selecting and recruiting employees it must be ensure
that able and skilled employees has been selected so that proper working culture has been
maintained.
All the programmes has been executed properly at the time when better action plans has
been made in working conditions which ensure the possibility of accomplishing targets in good
efficient manner. Sport Direct is a multinational company whose employees are working at
different places, so in order to satisfy their needs proper facilities must be provided to staffs
globally this help in establishing trust and long term relation with working people. At the time
when any individual performing well must be appraised by rewards which motivate him fully.
All these procedures required proper planning which can be possible by the assistance of HR
managers. Following are steps of planning process need to consider in context of Sport direct are
described below:- Establishing organisational objectives:- Under this step First of all whole HR team need
to observe the vision mission and present environment conditions on the basis of which
they require to established certain organisational objective which helps in enhancing
market share and productivity of business. Such goals must be decided by considering all
the risk associated factor and earning company get from the whole operations. Stock list of recent Human resources:- Under this step it is the utmost responsibility of
HR manager to designed proper list of inventory require to manufactured goods and
services during the year. Proper management of stock is possible with proper planning
and this can be implemented by taking the data from production department regarding the
demand of their products on the basis order for inventory can be done. Mismanagement
in this procedures unable company to delivered their goods and services at stated time
period(Bloom and Van Reenen ,2011).

 Predicting demand and supply of Human resource:- Basically forecasting mean
analysing future actions which possibly be coming in organisation. The main objective
behind identifying future demand supply of human resource is all about knowing future
resource in term of workforce needed. Further in this step analysis of both internal and
external factors that affect working culture. It include all the employees, stakeholders,
supplier and pestle observation in order to maintain balance between demand and supply. Determining manpower gaps:- under this step HR manger examine the skills and
capabilities of existing employees with the forecasted workforce needs in order to know
both the qualitative and quantitative distance within staff members. The main criteria
behind it is to understand the demand of individuals which needs to be recruited in order
to satisfy the present gaps. Therefore this is the basis for making HR plans. For example
Sport direct is a very big organisation which need to fill all the gaps in manpower in
order to accomplishing all the targets of company. Developing further action plans:- In this step after balancing demand and supply and
fulfilling the gaps of manpower next thing that need to focused by HR manager is
formulate appropriate action plans which includes all the policies, procedures and
strategies related to employment contracts in which working hours, salary appraisal,
promotion and dismissal policies must be clearly defined so in future no conflicts and
confusion arises in relation to such matters.
 Implementation and controlling:- After formulating basic action plan it is important to
implement it properly and compare the actual plan with standard plan and if any
deviation arises try to control it and lastly take the feedback from internal staff regarding
whole planning procedures in order to know their importance in organisation.
TASK3
Importance of HRM practises from organisation context
Human resource department main objective is to make effective proper HRM practices in
order to run the organisation in effective manner. It is most vital responsibility of functional HR
manger to carry out their functions in such a way that help in maintaining team work and
harmony in corporate culture. Further must consider all the issues and problems faced by
employees in organisation so that effectiveness among them can be enhanced and use HRM

practices in order to create such environment in which superior and subordinate interact
informally in order to remove all the gaps arises between them.
Sport direct is one the top most brand that deals in sports wear, clothing and many other
products in UK market. The USP of organisation is that it provide branded goods at affordable
prices but on the basis of research and recent news it has been found that company has been
accusing for wrong HRM practices and under the close surveillance of government(Boxall and
Purcell ,2011). Their are different issues that coming like using of unethical practices, providing
poor wages to employees and also cases related to harassment and racial discrimination which
diluted the image of company. Therefore it high time for functional HR department to utilise
proper HRM practices which help in career advancement and growth of employees are discussed
below:- Systematic arrangement of training procedures:- Under this step it is important for
functional HR manager to organise proper training and development practices in order to
develop the enhance the working skills of employees. Appoint professional trainer who
give direction to their internal employees about all the current trends and techniques that
must be used in their daily operations which help in enhancing the skill and capability of
employees. Compliances of rules and regulations:- In order to maintain the brand image and
goodwill of organisation HR manager must formulate such strategic policies and
procedures which ensure the adherence of legal laws enforced by UK government. HRM
practices must be ethical I.e. ensure minimum wages to working employees and carrying
such operations which ensure fair trade practices. The main objective behind it is to
protect all the employees from unfair means and provide them the environment of peace. Effective communication:- HRM practices applied by functional HR manager of
organisation ensure that all the working individual interact with their team leader
effectively. At the time of group discussion use single foreign language I.e. English
which must be understand by everyone so that relevant opinion can be obtained. This
allow coordination and cooperation in team work. Rewards recognition policy:- In every organisation employee can perform well only
when they appraised for their good work. HR consultant of Sport Direct must recommend
such programmes and targets that motivate them to put their whole efforts in achieving

daily task of company and at the end of year rewards all those individuals who give
excellent performance in that particular task.
 Equal treatment:- All the employees working in organisation cannot be discriminated on
the basis of caste, creed and racism otherwise it leads to negative impact on employees
performance (Renwick , Redman and Maguire , 2013). Use of such HRM practices that
ensure fair treatment to all workforce for better outcome in future.
Therefore Sports direct management team has to concern on all the above factor in order to
improve their brand image and maintain the sustainability in highly competitive market.
TASK4
Influences of Employment legislation on HR practices in organisation
In every organisation it must be ensure that all the policies and practices execute in daily
practices are relevant and beneficial in relation of providing good returns to company. Further, if
organisation is planning to diversified their business in different countries then in such case they
need to learn about all the policies related to legal procedures must be considered in order to
maintain decorum in organisation.
Sport Direct UK leading sport company facing different issues and problems in relation to legal
regulated related to employment benefits. Company having good financial position even after
they are not provided minimum wages to their workforce(Buller and McEvoy ,2012). Further,
employees are discriminated on the caste, colour and different languages has been used for
communication that create barrier at the decision making. So there are some implication of
employment legislation on recent practices of sport direct are described below:- Salary structure:- Under this point company is not making flexible pay and wages which
create lot of problems and issues. Although organisation earning huge profits from their
goods and services but not providing minimum wages to workforce that demotivate
employee and enforce them to leave the job at any time. Therefore, in order to maintain
whole situation HR manager need to follow all the guidelines given under Minimum
wages act so that no problem arises in near future. Inequality and discrimination:- According to recent report it has concluded that
employees are discriminated on the basis of colour and gender inequality which create
the problem of depression. Further, it also penalising ill staff will leads to strike that also

impact on daily production of business. Therefore its high time for Sport direct to take
corrective measures in their HRM practices in order to solve all the matters which arises
barrier in growth of business. Health safety measures:- In HRM practices rules related to proper arrangement of all
safety measures for the worker who works 24 hours in daily operations of business.
Although employees are free to speak at any languages outside office premises but if use
different languages outside organisation incur risk related to health and safety of
company. The main objective behind it is the use of one language at the time of
discussing any matter related to organisation task which leads to effective communication
and ensure team spirit at the time of mutual objectives.
 Fixed working hour:- Organisation must formulate legal laws related to working hours
that stated in employment contract in which working hours is fixed for each individual so
that no person is exploited through excessive working. This help in maintaining decorum
in whole operations of business (Elliott ,2012).
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the whole assignment that Human resource management
plays essential role in daily operations of business. Further it is duty of functional HR consultant
to take appropriate strategic policies and procedures which help in maintaining the ethical
practices in business practices. Sports Direct is top most organisation of UK dealing in different
brands like Flannels, cruise USC and Van mildert which ensure high market share and
profitability. Apart from it such HRM practices must be used which ensure proper legal
regulations that include proper minimum wages, strict working hour, equal treatment to every
employees which increase the morale and efficiency of employees. Therefore whatever the
issues and problems arises in the working environment of company must be solved if HR
manager apply all the procedures according to the suitability of working staff.

REFRENCES
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Renwick, D. W., Redman, T. and Maguire, S., 2013. Green human resource management: A
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