Human Resource Management Case Study: Maple Leaf Shoes Ltd Analysis

This assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of a case study involving Maple Leaf Shoes Ltd and its human resource management practices. The analysis begins with an examination of the company's recruitment strategy for an HR Manager, highlighting both its strengths, such as leveraging existing networks, and weaknesses, such as a lack of clearly defined job roles and candidate qualifications. The study then evaluates the company's job advertisement, identifying its strengths, such as providing information about the company and candidate requirements, and its weaknesses, such as a lack of details about specific job responsibilities and selection criteria. The assignment further includes a sample job advertisement and a screening form, offering insights into the company's hiring process. The document emphasizes the importance of clear job descriptions, effective recruitment strategies, and comprehensive candidate evaluation for successful human resource management. The analysis aims to provide recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the recruitment process and ensuring the selection of the most suitable candidate for the HR Manager position.

Running head: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CASE STUDY OF
“MAPLE LEAF SHOES LTD”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Answer 1
As stated by Bratton and Gold (2017), the corporations are required to take the help of an
effective recruitment strategy since it directly affects the ability or for that matter the capability
of the corporations to get skilled as well as professionally qualified workers which in turn would
help in the adequate completion of the work of the corporation. DeCenzo, Robbins and Verhulst
(2016) are of the viewpoint that the use of effective recruitment strategy becomes especially
important from the perspective of the contemporary business corporations because of the labor
issues faced by them, the frequently changing trends within the employability sector, the issues
created by the unions and others. More importantly, with the extensive usage of the process of
automation and others the workforce requirements of the corporations had reduced substantially
yet at the same time it is seen that more than ever the corporations need to take the help of
effective recruitment strategy because of its need to get highly qualified as well as skilled
workers who would be able to handle the different equipment as well as the process of
automation within the corporation (Marchington et al., 2016). These in turn are some of the most
important reasons because of which the corporations are required to have an effective
recruitment strategy.
Robert Clark of Maple Leaf Shoes Limited has decided to hire a Human Resource
Manager for the concerned corporation who would be entrusted with the work of managing the
different human resource operations or the processes related to human resource management
within the corporation. In this relation, it needs to be said that Clark had placed an advertisement
regarding the job vacancy in the Maple Leaf Shoes Limited in the local newspaper hoping that
just like his previous HR Manager he would be able to get a new HR Manager now by posting

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the advertisement regarding the vacancy in the same newspaper. In addition to these, keeping the
urgency of the situation into perspective he also decides to contact his old friend Joy Flemming
who had been supplying clerical and office staff to the different corporations on a temporary
basis. Thus, Clark is hoping to use her network for the purpose of recruiting a skilled as well as
professionally qualified HR Manager who would be able to handle the critical situation within
the corporation. This as a matter of fact is the most important strength point of the recruitment
strategy which is being used by Maple Leaf Shoes Limited for the recruitment of its HR
Manager. However, at the same time it needs to be said that there are various weaknesses of the
recruitment strategy which is being used by the corporation under discussion here for the
recruitment of its HR Manager. For instance, Clark does not have a clear idea regarding the
qualifications, skill sets, expertise level and other important attributes which he is looking for in
the HR Manager that he wishes to hire. As a matter of fact, it is seen that the primary focus of
Clark is the resolution of the current situation that the corporation is presently facing and it is
because of this aspect that Clark is urgently looking for the HR Manager.
In addition to these, it is also seen that there is no clear job role for an HR Manager
within the corporation under discussion here and after the last HR Manager left the corporation
this particular job role within the corporation had been managed by two management level
employees of the corporation. These in short are some of the most important limitations or for
that matter the shortcomings of the recruitment strategy which is being used by Maple Leaf
Shoes Limited for the recruitment of its HR Manager. These weaknesses of the recruitment
strategy which is presently being followed by Maple Leaf Shoes Limited for the recruitment of
its Human Resource Manager has important implications for the concerned corporation since in
order to enhance the effectiveness or for that matter the efficacy of the same the corporation need

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to take make changes to its recruitment strategy on the basis of these weaknesses. For instance,
Clark has the opportunity to clearly define the job roles that the HR Manager of the corporation
would have to perform and also decide upon the kind of candidate who would be able to handle
the situation while being able to help the corporation under discussion here to achieve its
organizational goals and objectives. Furthermore, Clark also needs to decide upon the skill sets,
qualifications and also the expertise that the desired candidate should have since it would offer
the required clarity to Clark and also the corporation which in turn would facilitate the
recruitment of the candidate who would be ideal for the concerned corporation. These in short
are some of the most important measures through the usage of which Clark has the opportunity
to enhance the effectiveness of the recruitment strategy which is presently being used by Maple
Leaf Shoes Limited for the recruitment of the Human Resource Manager.

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Answer 2
Sparrow, Brewster and Chung (2016) are of the viewpoint that the primary objective of
the different corporations behind the usage of the job advertisements is to offer the required
employment vacancy related information to the potential candidates so that they would be able to
apply for the same. Adding to this, Berman et al. (2019) have noted that the corporations are thus
required to ensure the fact that the recruitment advertisements used are brief, to the point and
offer the required information like job description, the qualifications or the expertise required for
the same, the selection criteria, working hours, remuneration and other important details.
However, it had been seen that the recruitment advertisements used by the majority of the
corporations fail to highlight these aspects or for that matter fulfill these criteria within the
recruitment advertisements used by them which in turn contributes towards the ineffectiveness of
the same (Bailey et al. 2018). More importantly, this also substantially reduces the number of
respondents or candidates who respond to the recruitment advertisements posed by the
corporations which in turn hinders the chances of the corporations for filling in the vacancy for
which they posted the recruitment advertisement in the first place (Brewster et al., 2016).
In the particular context of the recruitment advertisement posted by j Maple Leaf Shoes
Limited, it needs to be said that certain strength points and also certain weaknesses of the same.
For instance, an important strength point of the recruitment advertisement is the fact that it
adequately offers the required information to the potential candidates regarding the corporation,
the experience that the candidates need to have, the remuneration that they would be getting and
others. In addition to these, the recruitment advertisement also makes the stance of the
corporation under discussion here on gender equality very clear and also the expansion intends of

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the corporation as well. These aspects are important since they would help the candidates to get a
clear idea regarding the kind of corporation that they are about to join. However, at the same
time it needs to be said that the recruitment advertisement under discussion here does not say
anything about the precise job role that the selected candidate would be required to perform
within the corporation apart from the fact that he or she would be “responsible for overseeing all
human resource operations”. Furthermore, the recruitment advertisement also fails to offer any
effective information regarding the working hours, shift timings, the selection criteria which
would be followed for the selection of the candidates, the manner in which the candidates who
have submitted their application would be selected and other important details. These in short are
some of the most important weaknesses of the recruitment advertisement under discussion here
which in turn had substantially enhanced the ineffectiveness of the same. Thus, for the
improvement of the effectiveness of the recruitment advertisement which is being used by Maple
Leaf Shoes Limited for the recruitment of its Human Resource Manager the concerned
corporation would have to modify its recruitment advertisement by taking the above mentioned
weaknesses into consideration.

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Answer 3
Maple Leaf Shoes Limited
REQUIRES
A HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Maple Leaf Shoes Limited, a manufacturer of high quality and fashionable footwear is presently
looking for a Human Resource Manager who would be responsible for managing the more than
65 workers of the corporation. More importantly, the HR Manager while being able to handle the
different human resource management processes of the corporation should also be able to
manage the job design, compensation and remuneration, analyzing the labor needs of the
corporation, undertaking recruitment and selection and others for the corporation. Furthermore,
the corporation intends to expand its business in the near future and thus the candidate should
also be prepared to work as per the changing needs of the corporation.
The HR Manager would be a part of the management team of the corporation and would directly
report to the President of the corporation. More importantly, the HR Manager would also be
required to manage the diversity, gender equality and other policies which the corporation follow
and also improve the same so as to help the corporation make its workplace a better one for its
workers wherein they would be able to perform as per the maximum potential.
The screening process would be undertaken by the Senior Operations Manager of the corporation
and the shortlisted candidates would have to undergo a final round of interview within the
President of the corporation himself. We are looking for a candidate with atleast 15 years of
experience as an HR executive or some relevant work experience who has an in-depth

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knowledge of the different HR process, about recruitment and selection, management of human
resources and others. Remuneration is not a bar for the ideal candidates and remuneration would
be offered to the candidate on the basis of their qualifications, expertise level and also the value
that they bring to the corporation.
Lastly, the selected candidate would have to join the corporation within a span of 15 days post
the successful completion of the documentation process. The shifting timing that the candidate
would be required to follow is from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm however after the completion of the
three month probationary period the candidate will be given flexible shift timing.
Interested candidates are required to drop in their application letter along with their resume and
all the supporting documents to the reception desk of the corporation latest by 10th April, 2020.
We welcome women, individuals from different minority groups and others.
Apply in confidence to:
Office of the President
Maple Leaf Shoes Limited
1, Crown Royal Lane, Maple Leaf Town
Wilmington, Ontario.

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Answer 4
Maple Leaf Shoes Limited
This form had been sent to you in response to the interest that you have shown towards our
advertisement related to the vacancy for Human Resource Manager. This is a screening form
which we request you to fill in which will enable us to understand your expertise level and
determine your compatibility level to work as an HR Manager within our corporation. Thus, we
request you to take this form very seriously and thereby fill it honesty since it will directly affect
your chances of getting recruited as an HR Manager for Maple Leaf Shoes Limited.
General Information
Name:
Past Experiences:
Qualifications:
Residential Address:
Contact Details:
Screening Questions
How would be define your style as an HR Managers?
______________________________________________________________________________
What are the most important skill sets and also expertise that you are going to bring to Maple
Leaf Shoes Limited if you get selected?

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_____________________________________________________________________________
How would be able to drive results and also help Maple Leaf Shoes Limited to achieve its
organizational goals and objectives?
_____________________________________________________________________________
What according to you is an ideal workplace environment?
_____________________________________________________________________________
How would you approach human resource management within a corporation which is shifting
towards automation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
What according to you are your most important strengths and weaknesses as an HR Manager?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for taking the time to fill in this form.

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References
Bailey, C., Mankin, D., Kelliher, C., & Garavan, T. (2018). Strategic human resource
management. Oxford University Press.
Berman, E. M., Bowman, J. S., West, J. P., & Van Wart, M. R. (2019). Human resource
management in public service: Paradoxes, processes, and problems. CQ Press.
Bratton, J., & Gold, J. (2017). Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave.
Brewster, C., Vernon, G., Sparrow, P., & Houldsworth, E. (2016). International human resource
management. Kogan Page Publishers.
DeCenzo, D. A., Robbins, S. P., & Verhulst, S. L. (2016). Fundamentals of human resource
management. John Wiley & Sons.
Marchington, M., Kynighou, A., Wilkinson, A., & Donnelly, R. (2016). Human resource
management at work. Kogan Page Publishers.
Sparrow, P., Brewster, C., & Chung, C. (2016). Globalizing human resource management.
Routledge.