Woolworths People & Organisation: HRM, Issues, and Strategic Solutions

This report provides an executive summary of people and organization management within Woolworths, a major Australian retailer. It evaluates the company's strengths and weaknesses from a Human Resources perspective, highlighting its market leadership versus poor people management strategies. The report reviews the influence of employees on organizational performance and culture, noting issues like high turnover rates and strikes stemming from job insecurity and payment dissatisfaction. It discusses contemporary organizational behavior issues such as the impact of employee performance and negative behavior on company operations, referencing real-world examples of strikes and lockouts. The report proposes practical solutions for managing people, emphasizing the importance of communication, conflict management (particularly collaboration), and strategic planning to address employee concerns and improve job security. Ultimately, the report advocates for strategic solutions that align with the company's needs while addressing employee requirements, aiming to improve employee retention, satisfaction, and overall organizational performance.

People and Organisation
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Executive Summary
People in an organization are one of the essential and important factors who is effectively
assisting the organization to carry out all its functions and activities in the best possible
manner. It is very necessary for the organization to sustain and to retain its position in the
competitive world. The employees or the manpower helps in meeting the organisation all its
needs and requirements.
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Evaluation and Examination of Strength and weaknesses of an organisation...........................5
Review of the influence of employees.......................................................................................6
Contemporary organisationalbehaviour issues and practices....................................................7
Practical solutions for managing people in organisations..........................................................8
Plan, communicate and advocate strategic solutions...............................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
There are several issues and problems which are related to the employees and people
management in the company (Bush and Middlewood, 2013). Woolworth is one of the largest
supermarkets in the nation, which is effectively and appropriately operating in the Australian
retail market. Though all the operations and activities are getting performed in an effective
way the problem regarding management of the people working in the firm is not going well.
The employees are switching the organisation and putting efforts to attain better market
options for their growth and development. The HRM frame work will be considered where
the issues which is been faced by the company. The strengths and weaknesses are there on
which the company need to do more focus.
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Evaluation and Examination of Strength and weaknesses of an organisation
The organisation has been selected for the assessment of internal strengths and weaknesses.
The organisation which is well known is Woolworth that is a supermarket and a retailer
company of Australia. The overall assessment of strengths and weakness has been made
keeping a single perspective i.e. Human Resource Frame.
Strength
The strength of the Woolworth Company is that, it is having the market leadership in the
Australian retail market. The firm has its own position in the nation which is helping it to get
grow and top attain and attract more and more customers towards its offerings and services.
The organisation is competing effectively in the competitive world as of its strong brand
image in the retail sector which has helped it to get attain the top position.
Weakness
Whereas the weakness of the company is its poor people management and handling
strategies. The policies for the HRM practices are not effective which is affecting the
business to carry out in a smooth and appropriate manner. The human resources of the
organisation are leaving the job at a very high-rate.
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Review of the influence of employees
The employees in an organisationare having high expectation of several things which they
will have for the company. Woolworth Company is carrying out the work in the groceries
where the role of employees is very high as the sales and selling of the products and services
is getting done by them only. The employees are having a great impact on them because of
the organisational values and culture. It is very important for the organisation to create and
form effective and supportive strategies and policies so that the working culture can be able
to get managed and handled in the required way (Robertson and Barling, 2013). The
employees are having the influenceon the organisation’s performance level and its working
culture as there are many situations where the employee's unwillingly faced issues and
problems.
The way an individual take in part is having a great contribution to the development as well
as the destruction of an organisation. The effective performance of the employees will help
organisation to perform well in a competitive market at the same time if employees are not
contributing and taking part in the required manner then chances to face negative impact will
also get arise which is not a favourable situation for the company. Therefore, the employees
are having a direct and great influence on the development and growth of the business
operations and also the set organisation’s goals could be able to get obtained in the most
desired and required manner. It is highly needed that the organisation must focus on and plan
effectively for the management and organisation of the employees which is very important
(Chinomona and Chinomona, 2013).
The employees are to be well managed to make them contribute positively to the attainment
of the company’s growth and development. The employee’s efforts and hard work
aredepended upon the organisation’s environment which makes the employee do the work in
a positive and enthusiastic manner. Also, the poor performance of the employee is also
depended upon the working environment (Reizer, 2015).
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Contemporary organisationalbehaviour issues and practices
The company is critically getting affected by the employee’s performance and the negative
behaviour of the manpower towards the company’s operations. The organisation is facing
problem that employees are leaving the company, the turnover rate of the employees is very
high in the company and also the lockouts and strikes are taking place in the company as the
employees are unsatisfied with the working and the security issues are also been faced by the
employees (Hoefling, 2012).
The Woolworth Company in the year 2017 faced lots of issues like strikes and lockouts. The
company is not availing a good working culture to the employees, along with this the firm
will be able to meet the needs of the employees will help in attaining positive results from
them. But as the market situation is not as effective as it has to be, therefore the expelling of
the employees is taking place in the company which is taking away the living of the people.
This is affecting the employees as they are not having secured jobs which are not in the
favour of the employees, as well as the employees are also be getting the growth
opportunities in the company (Spillan and Ling, 2015).
Real example-
The Woolworth Company is facing the waves of strikes as well as the lockouts, because of
the payment structure and security of the job. 2000 workforce of the company went for
strikes as they are not satisfied with the pay scale and the security issues in the jobs are also
very high. The workforce of the company is moving to other better places so as to attain job
security and hikes paid amounts. The work is full time based and the pay is 2$ every hour in
which an increased rate from the current working condition is.
The fair work commission has also been applied to the companies by the NationalUnion of
the workers. The employees who are unsatisfied with the working are highly involved in
strikes and leaving the jobs. The team working in the organisation is also getting affected by
the improper management of the policies and plan of the company (Schneiders, 2017). The
numberof employees are decreasing in the company which is affecting all the operations and
activities of the company. This is leading to poor performance of the company which is
making the firm get de-positioned in the market.
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Practical solutions for managing people in organisations
The problems which the organisation is facing as well as the employees are confronting are to
be effectively managed and handle. The management of the firm needs to develop an
effective solution for the problems which all are facing as this is not making the company get
reach to its set standards and aims. The problems are very critical and complex in nature
which is affecting the business to sustain and retain its competitive position in the market. It
is very important for the management of Woolworth Company to make appropriate strategies
and plans which will lead the organisation to meet its set standards and to make sure the
employees are putting their level best in the assigned task with their own will and consent
(Williams, 2014).
The issues have to be resolved by the company then only it can serve the people of the
society in the best possible manner, along with this the company can be able to attain the
competitive benefits as well. The employee’s turnover and the security issue of the jobs are to
be managed by the company by using the best possible strategies and tactics. Unless this will
more and directly impact the business operations of the company which is not a right thing to
get faced by the company. The company needs to develop strategies with the appropriate use
of management theories and models.
There are several things which both the management as well as the employee need to do so
that they both and cooperatively manage the work and can attain the required goals and
standards. The Chaos theory is one of the best management approaches which can be used by
the organisation to ma age the possible changes and issues which is taking place in the
organisation. As the change is a constant aspect, it is very necessary to understand that the
changes in the working place are very important. The employees face several problems,
which is major because of the improper communication which is taking place in the
company. It is very important to sit and have face to face conversation through which the
problems and interest of both employees and management can be able to get understood
(Moran, 2018). It is helping in managing the things more effectively and smoothly. The
changes which are taking place in the internal, as well as external environment need to be
conveyed appropriately to the employees as per the need and on time. This will make the
employees know what actually needs to be done and the conflicting situation will not get
arise.
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The job security issue can be getting resolved with the help of making and setting some
standards and goals by both management and employees. It is very important for the
organisation to understand that the job is providing one to live in the crucial and critical
market situation; if there is no such security aspect in the job then the employees will not put
their level best in the work. Henceforth the communication has to be very strong from both
the ends. The employees also need to make up their minds that the fittest will be surviving in
the market. Hence the best performer will be getting growth opportunity and the worst will
have to leave the job (Shockley-Zalabak, 2014). Making union and trade is not a solution, as
any company will not pay unnecessary to anyone without any benefits and advantages.
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Plan, communicate and advocate strategic solutions
The strategic solution for the faced issue has to be very effective and appropriate to meet the
changes and requirements of the company as well as the employees. Conflict management is
one of the best tools that have to be well implemented by the organisation as with the help of
this the company can be able to handle the problems and issues of the employees and the
company. There are different ways through which the arising conflict can be managed. It is
very important for the Woolworth Company to use the best conflict management tool which
will aid in resolving the problems of the company (Sharif, et. al., 2014). The employees are
leaving as there is insecurity and pay problem. It is the best time when the conflict
management technique can be used.
As with the help of the technique, employees can be availed with the best possible solution to
the problem rather taking any steps without communication. Collaborating is one of the best
conflict management styles which are helping the organisation to manage the conflicting
situation and to handle the worse situation between them and the employees. Collaborating
basically is helping in solving the problems. The company is very appropriately using the
methods of managing the problems which are been faced by the employees. The strikes and
lockout situations will also get managed as the root cause for the problems will get
recognized by communicating and the issues will get resolved in the most desired manner
(Chan, et. al., 2014).
Negotiation is also another policy which can be used by the management of the firm to
manage the problems. The management can negotiate apart and same the employees can
negotiate for their demands in an equal proportion which will help the organisation to meet
the management and employees. This will balance the situation from both the end which is
helping in managing the problems and issues in the most desired manner (Römer, et. al.,
2012). The policies needed to be changed by the management of the Woolworth Company so
that the negotiation can be get done in more appropriate and required manner.
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Conclusion
From the discussion, it has been understood that the employees in an organisationare having a
vital and essential role. They are highly responsible for attaining the growthand development
of the company in the competitive world. Woolworth Company is facing several issues
related to the employee’s management. It has been understood that the employees of
Woolworth Company are not satisfied and are doing strikes which are affecting the business
to get grow and develop effectively in the competitive world. The company has to plan and
make different stratifies and plans through which it can be able to get develop and can retain
the employees. The policies are planned by the company which will assist the employees to
get a positive response to their efforts and work. The employees are the effectively be
managed and from them, the required work can be get attained but the things are that
management of the company needs to develop and manage the working culture and also, they
need to think more about the employee’s interest.
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References
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