High-Performance Work System - Math Problem Example

Part A Question 1 The changing employee relations and increased work place flexibility has made organizations to look towards creating flexible work environment where the employees are able to make changes and adjust according to the changing business environment so that employees can be retained. This has increased the usage of flexible work place as it ensures that productivity for the organization is improved and the business is able to ensure efficiency in their operations. The Fair Works Act, 2009 looks at including the word flexibility so that individual flexibility arrangements based on the employee requirements can be developed where they are able to perform in a better way. This helps to ensure that the employees life is better off when individual flexible arrangements are included in a similar manner as advocated by the international human framework which requires that humans should be provided with the basic amenities like food, clothing, shelter and safety. Having individual flexible arrangements in the employee contract ensures that the employees receive the basic entitlements which they deserve thereby enabling them to be better off as their rights are better protected. Since, individual flexible arrangements ensures that the employee can make certain variations it ensures that employees are better off in comparison to situation when there was no such arrangements. This also falls in line with the international human framework as it ensures that employees are provided the basic entitlements which helps to improve their present condition of living in the society. The Fair Works Act also propagates that the contract between the employer and the employee should have the word flexible included in it else the meaning of flexible as stated in the Fair Works Act will be applicable. This is done solely with the purpose of protecting the employees rights and ensuring that they receive their dues as stated by the international human framework. The Act has further been developed keeping in mind that inserting the word flexible should ensure that the employees are better off in comparison to situation when that would not be the case. This makes it important that the contract between the employer and the employee ensures that both the financial and the non financial activities are looked at so that a framework which helps to provide them to provide the basic rights is provided. This also goes in line with the international human research framework as it ensures that the basic rights of the person is protected and adheres to the international rights of the employees The individual flexible human rights looks towards advocating the five parameters based on which the situation will be looked into as the working hours, penalty, leaves, allowances, and overtime rates. This parameters look towards ensuring that better individual flexible conditions are developed which helps the employees as the management cannot force anything on the employees which they are not willing to undertake. This thereby helps to ensure that rights of the employees are better protected and is according to the international human rights requirements The individual flexibility rights has further ensured that the individual rights of an employee is protected as unobjectionable things and entitlements which goes against the employees requirements cannot be included in the contract. This also contradicts the requirements of the international human framework which thereby looks towards ensuring that the employees are better of in any condition. Despite this there exist a relationship of a slave and a master between the employer and the employee due to the nature of the contract which makes the employee behave in a specific manner. This makes the employer look towards forcing certain things on the employees but the development of individual flexibility arrangements which matches the international human framework has helped to control it. Question 3 Australia has developed their welfare state in such a manner that it looks towards having a balance between opportunities and social justice so that employees development can be looked at proper relations developed. These changes have been witnessed due to changes in the industrial reforms and policies which has been done to improve the state of life for the employer and the employees. This change has thereby helped to improve the present state of the employees and ensured better development of the employees in the future One of the major reforms has been witnessed in the area of dismissal low for employees in companies which have less than 100 employees. Previously, it was important that employer provided solid reasons while dismissing an employee. This further required that employer provides the employees sufficient opportunities to prove their talent and give them an opportunity to perform on the stated standard. This was an aspect which was difficult to maintain previously as determining the standards were difficult. The changes made in this direction has provided help to the employer as it allows them to dismiss employees who are unfit for the organization and while doing so it increases the risk for the employees as job security which is a vital component for an employee is neglected. Changes have also been witnessed in the parameters according to which the employee salary or compensation is determined. The changes have been made in this direction to ensure that no one has an unfair advantage and the performance of the employees is evaluated on correct parameter. This has led towards the development of “No Disadvantage Test” which ensures that the employees are compensated fairly and according to the wage rate instructed by the government. This has helped to ensure increased flexible working hours for the employees in the nature of workplace and has supported the growth and development of employees by ensuring proper welfare and compensation for them. Another change which has been witnessed in the industrial relation act is the development of rules in relation to individual flexibility arrangements by making changes in the Work Fair Act. Having individual flexible arrangements in the employee contract ensures that the employees receive the basic entitlements which they deserve thereby enabling them to be better off as their rights are better protected. Since, individual flexible arrangements ensures that the employee can make certain variations it ensures that employees are better off in comparison to situation when there was no such arrangements. This also falls in line with the international human framework as it ensures that employees are provided the basic entitlements which helps to improve their present condition of living in the society. The individual flexibility rights has further ensured that the individual rights of an employee is protected as unobjectionable things and entitlements which goes against the employees requirements cannot be included in the contract which has helped to ensure that the employees are provided their basic rights and are protected from external influences The overall development in the industrial relation law and development of new and better reforms have ensured that the different parameter which ensures employee welfare is looked at. This has helped in the development of a system through which the relation between the employer and the employee has improved and eyes towards creating an interface which will help in the development of better rules to protect the interest of all the parties. Question 5 High performance work system is a concept which is being increasingly being used by organizations as it is different from the traditional approach which relied on mass production. This process looks towards gaining efficiency so that the overall development in all areas can be made which will help to improve the system so that greater efficiency can be gained. It has been seen that organizations that have developed their high performance work system are able to use the resources in the most efficient manner which has multiplied the use of the resources in the most effective manner. This has been made possible because of the positive relation that exist between the HR bundles and the employee performance which makes the organization look towards building the a work force environment where there is productivity It has been analyzed across various situations that high performance work system increases the role of employees as they are provided with greater autonomy and power which helps to improve the process of decision making and makes the employee contribute towards the growth of the business. This makes the employee and the employer relationship to be developed which helps to ensure that the efforts of the employees are used in a better way and helps in the development of a positive relationship between the employer and the employee. The contribution towards high performance work system is seen when the efforts of the group members are brought together and changes are made so that individual behavior doesn’t influence the entire working of the business. This requires that the human resource department works as a coherent bundle where the different strategies which fit the organization are adopted so that better use of the resources can be made possible for the organization. An example in this direction is OECD where the organization has moved towards removing the hierarchy system to a flatter system so that better growth opportunities can be identified and based on it better understanding and autonomy can be developed which will benefit the organization in building long term relationship. This will help to ensure that better understanding is developed and will transform into changing the entire work culture to one which promotes high performance work system. It has also been seen that certain strategies are identified by the business to fit different organization but the importance of this can only be seen when it fits all organization. Since, there is no universally accepted marketing strategies in the same manner there is no single HR strategy for the organization and require developing individual strategy based on the requirements of the organization requirements. This has ensured that a contingency model is developed which aims at improving the relation between the HR bundles and the employees’ performance so that overall satisfaction and contribution of the employees can be increased. This is further substantiated by the fact that using high performance work system helps to improve the working of the business as using new and better means of achieving the objectives of the business in comparison to the traditional methods helps to improve productivity by 20 to 40%. This thereby translates to the fact that developing a mechanism which ensures positive relations between the employee and the HR bundles results in creating a positive environment where the contribution of high performance work system enhances and results in better achievement of the objectives. Part B 1. MailCo seems to a good place to work as the company has looked towards ensuring flexibility in their working style. The company has looked towards developing a high performance work system for which they have ensured that the employees are provided required training both on and off the job so that they are better prepared to handle the different responsibilities which is entrusted on them. This has made the company to ensure that the employees are compensated in the most fair manner as the standards based on which their performance is measured has been developed keeping the changes the business is encountering. The manner in which the different areas of development has been looked into makes MailCo a good place where people would like to work 2. Some of the specific rules which needs to be addressed with respect to employee relation in the organization is as Provide details regarding the working hours for employees which needs to consider both the fixed and flexible working hours Have clear information with regard to fines and remuneartion of absent rate, overtime rate, leave rate and working rate so that employees know before hand the manner in which they will be compensated. Ensure that the records and agreement which takes place between the employer and the employee is recorded and proof is maintained which can be used when according to the requirements Ensure that the communication process is clear and the formal and informal structure which the employees has to follow is clearly stated so that the employees and employer relationship can be developed 3. I will look towards providing employees with the required training and skills both on and off the job so that the employees are able to deal with requirement of the high performance work system. This will help to deal with the actual scenario in a better way as they are able to develop strategies which will help them to use the different resources in the most efficient manner so that growth in the business is required. I will further look towards facilitating a facility which will ensure that the business is able to deal with the differences that exist in the system in a better way and will help to multiply the value of the entire system and ensure better high performance work system development. 4. Introducing new technology will require that widespread changes in made in the manner in which employee relation within the organization will be maintained and the manner in which coordination has to be achieved so that the organization is able to achieve the objectives of the business. An example in this direction is the usage of JIT in the airline industry which requires that the technology is accepted by the employee and various developments in different areas are developed. This will require that the employees learn the required skills and are provided the necessary training so that the work efforts can be directed towards better coordination and achievement of the goals through use of better technology. 5. One of the issues which MailCo has to deal with is the policy in relation to job rotation. Since, the business looks towards increased job rotation which doesn’t provide the required time to the employees to deal with the changes and acclimatize with the changing environment is a major concern for the business. In addition to it the manner in which the expectations are communicated to the employee is an area which raises concern and needs to be looked at. Efficiency in this aspect can be achieved by ensuring that the involvement of employees improve and will thereby help to contribute towards the growth and potential of the business. This will thereby ensure that the performance parameter will be able to develop better strategy for the business. References Fair Work Regulations. 2012. Fair Work Regulations 2009 Model Flexibility Clause. Retrieved on September 4, 2012 from http://www.fwa.gov.au/documents/legislation/fw_regs/FW_Regs-05.htm#P1622_131618 Industrial Relation. 2005. Money over Humanity: Changes to Industrial Relations in Australia. A Breifing Paper, Social Action Office, CLRIQ Tamkin, P. 2004. High Performance Work Practices. Institute for Employment Studies, UK Thompson, M. 2000. The Competitiveness Challenge: The Bottom Line, Benefits of Strategic Human Resource, International Journal of Management Review, 1 (4), 367 - 413 Read More