Human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human resource management - Essay Example The Rasch Model, in accord with item response theory, is specifically recommended as a means of identifying candidates. Compensation is examined with recommendations for the Belgium operation being the implementation of a bonus system in accord with Maslow’s theory of motivation; with the Netherlands operation a bonus system in accord with Herzberg’s theoretical perspectives is recommended. The report further considers management, communication, and motivation. It argues that a charismatic model be adopted to improve motivation and avoid the challenges posed by employees refusing to work overtime. In addition to these changes, the report explores the notion of organizational culture and thematically argues that Manners Europe must increasingly attenuate itself to European society. Introduction Manner’s Europe in many ways has experienced tremendous success in its expansion processes. In the last two years total sales from the four stores in the Netherlands and th e three stores in Belgium rose from $1.5 million to $10 million. Specifically, the building supplies and home improvement outlets have experienced the greatest expansion success. With the rapid expansion of Manner’s Europe, however, primary challenges have emerged that distinguish the American foundation and organizational culture from its European counterparts. ... Background Manners Europe is the wing of the United States operation. The company has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, expanding from $1.5 million to $10 million in sales. Specifically the building supply and home improvement stores have constituted the largest areas of growth. While the company has been successful, a number of challenges have emerged in recent years. Notably, the stores in Belgium and the Netherlands have faced a variety of human resource and cultural issues. Human Resource Planning Within the context of Manner’s Europe one of the primary considerations is the recognition that human resource planning needs to assume a more central position within the broader spectrum of the organization. While Manner’s Europe recognizes the importance of human resources, as evidenced by challenges posed by the recent employee practices, this report argues that human resource planning must constitute a larger focus within the organization’s strategy . Berry (2011, p. 66) argues that, â€Å"by linking HRD solutions to specific business results, such as revenue- related metrics, senior management will begin to see us as a source of competitive advantage.† This approach has been embraced by a variety of other theorists (Elwood 1996, p. 7; Spector 1985; Breaugh & Starke 2000, p. 305) The underlining argument in these regards is that while organizations have traditionally viewed human resource development as a necessary cost, instead it should be situated as an economic value add (EVA). Within the context of Manner’s Europe, this report recognizes that human resource planning has largely been situated as a cost concern. One considers that

Exploiting Strategy & Information for Competitive Advantage Essay

Exploiting Strategy & Information for Competitive Advantage - Essay Example The Porter’s value chain model can also be aligned with information strategies whereby information could be used in the reorganization of activities to achieve lower costs and at the same time add value to products. Finally we discuss the strategy of thrust by Wiseman which describes defensive and offensive competitive moves which require information to achieve desired strategy. The five force strategy by Porter highlights the 5 major strategies a firm can adopt in order to gain competitive advantages, Porter (1999) highlighted five major factors that models firms in an industry and this include threat of substitutes, buyer power, supplier power, barrier to entry and the degree of rivalry. The first factor in the five force strategy is threat of substitution and according to Pearlson (2006) this threat can be minimized by using information whereby products will be differentiated and also prices should be improved. A firm will collect information in the market regarding new threats and improvise ways in which to meet the consumer needs through product differentiation. Buyer power is also a factor that shapes an industry, according to Pearlson (2006) information could be used in the selection of buyers and also in differentiation of products. Regarding supplier power firms will utilize information in the selection of low cost suppliers and finally the firm will use information to create barriers to entry into an industry. The strength of this strategy is that it aids a firm in the identification of areas to apply information strategies. This can easily be applied whereby it describes locations to use information to gain competitive advantage. Pearlson (2006) states that this strategy also helps in the identification of threats over time, this can e applied whereby the firms have access to competitors cost information. There are weak points of this