Application of Problem Based Learning - Food and Beverage Recruitment Officer at Skycity Darwin - Case Study Example

RUNNING HEAD: PROBLEM BASED LEARNING EXERCISE 1: TAKING AN HRM JOB Problem Based Learning Exercise 1: Taking an HRM Job Name: Course: Institution: GSBS6040 Date: Problem Based Learning Exercise 1: Taking an HRM Job (Food and Beverage Recruitment Officer at Skycity Darwin) Job Description The HRM job advertised is for a food and beverage recruitment officer at Skycity, a Darwin-based 5 star beachfront resort which features 120 luxury rooms. From the advertisement, Skycity is planning to unveil a new resort development in 2012 which will feature 34 additional guestrooms and villa (Skycity 2012). Consequently, a new position has been created for a food and beverage recruitment officer to accommodate this new development. Application of Problem Based Learning (PBL) There are certain facts or what I know which are gleaned from the advertisement. It clearly outlines several criteria which successful candidates must possess and the expected roles and responsibilities of the successful applicant for this job. From the advertisement, the candidate must have experience in high volume internal recruitment exercises, must be capable and prepared for flexible work hours which includes working on weekends and outside conventional business hours, must have basic food and beverage operating knowledge, must have advanced interpersonal skills and should be able to prioritise and work under pressure. Their responsibilities will include managing the placement of both internal and external job advertisements for the company which includes preparing and designing advertisements, registering, screening and preparing shortlists for incoming applications, interviewing applicants, conducting food and beverage skill training assessments, completing reference checks, preparing employment contracts, scheduling appointments for new starters and completing relevant data entry. Therefore, to be a successful applicant for this job, I must first meet the basic advertised requirements such as demonstrating experience in high volume internal recruitment, basic food and beverage operating knowledge, advanced interpersonal skills, ability to work well under pressure and with minimal supervision and a keen eye for detail which is consistent with the roles and responsibilities in the advertisement. In my application, cover letter and resume, I must also indicate a commitment to working flexible hours. The roles and responsibilities outlined in the advertisement also indicate the expectations and performance indicators for this job and the contribution that the new staff member is expected to make to Skycity. For instance, if I successfully apply for this job, my performance will be measured by my ability to prepare and design advertisements for various food and beverage positions at Skycity which will attract applicants with the requisite skills and experience to fill these positions. In effect, the performance of the food and beverage officer will be measured through the performance of newly recruited staff in the food and beverage department of Skycity as he/she will be expected to identify and recruit the best talent to ensure the company’s profitability and to enhance its image or reputation as Darwin’s only 5 star beachfront resorts. A key expected outcome for any food and beverage recruitment officer is that all newly recruited staff members in the food and beverage departments are adequately skilled to enable the smooth running of food and beverage operations at the new resort development (Wilkins et al 2007). As an example, the chefs or cooks must be able to prepare the resort’s offerings consistent with 5 star gastronomic standards in terms of quality and hygiene which would be reflected in consumer feedback about the quality of the food and their evaluation of the overall dining experience. After establishing the facts about the HRM job, the idea or hypothesis is that I must prepare an application which effectively responds to all the advertised criteria and that indicates my ability to successfully perform the roles and responsibilities outlined in the advertisement. In addition, I must also identify some of the strategic HRM issues and challenges that Skycity is likely to face in the food and beverage department and how I might help the organization with respect to these issues and challenges. However, to identify how I would contribute to the success of Skycity, I need to find out more information about Skycity. This includes answering questions or addressing learning issues such as what kind of organization is Skycity? What is the scope of its operations? This information can be primarily obtained from the company’s website which can be accessed through a simple Google search of Skycity Darwin (action plan). From internet research on Skycity, and the cursory information provided in the advertisement, I have learned from Skycity’s own website and a few travel and tourist websites that Skycity Darwin is the city’s only 5-star beachfront resort, described as “Darwin's premium boutique hotel” located in close proximity to Darwin’s Central Business District (Skycity 2012, tripadvisor.com 2012). Since the advertisement is for a food and beverage recruitment officer, I must also establish what is the range of offerings at the resort such as what cuisine do they serve- local, Indian, Japanese, Italian? This information would be essential for a food and beverage recruitment officer as it would indicate which particular assessments or standards would be required of applicants or what skill profiles are currently needed at Skycity Darwin. For instance, if the restaurant offers Indian or Italian or Japanese cuisine, the job advertisements must be for chefs who have experience in preparing such at 5-star hotels and waiters who are familiar with dining and hygiene protocols on how to serve Indian, Italian or Japanese cuisine, their dining culture and at the very minimum a working knowledge of the dining terminology of these languages to deliver a 5-star dining experience (Wilkins et al 2007). From the internet search, I have learnt that Skycity offers a variety of cuisines from contemporary cuisine at it Evoo Restaurant to Italian and Asian at il Piatto and Dragon Court Restaurants respectively. The resort also has several themed bars such as a swim up bar at the new development and a Sunset Bar. Therefore, another fact that I have identified is this job application requires a candidate with experience in diverse cuisines and cultures as it would not be possible to recruit and assess chefs for Italian and Asian cuisine without basic knowledge of what assessments to conduct. The idea or hypothesis is then that I should demonstrate in the application basic knowledge of Italian, Asian and contemporary cuisine and standards which would enable me to undertake effective interviews and assessments of prospective recruits for Skycity Darwin. From my research on Skycity, another fact that I have uncovered is that Skycity Darwin faces a number of strategic issues and challenges regarding the food and beverage department in the new resort development. Therefore, the hypothesis is that identifying these issues and challenges relevant to the food and beverage department and demonstrating how I might be useful to the organization in terms of helping to resolve some of these challenges would be advantageous in the job application. The learning issue therefore becomes identifying the key strategic issues and challenges and how I might help the organization face them. Strategic issues and challenges From the internet information search, I have learned that Skycity is currently expanding the resort by adding four villas and 32 guestrooms which will feature additional food and beverage offerings such as a swim up bar (Spice News 2012). While conducting the internet search, I also came across several reviews of Skycity Darwin’s restaurants which highlight key issues facing its food and beverage department. From a renowned tourist website tripadvisor.com, it was apparent that many customers of Skycity had complained about two major issues- the slow service at the restaurants and the sub-standard quality of seafood offerings at Skycity. This is a crucial issue for a food and beverage recruitment officer as it implies that recruitment of new staff for the new resort development must focus on ensuring that the food and beverage staff delivers a quality dining experience to customers which would enhance the resort’s reputation. Therefore, as my action plan, I would indicate in my application that as food and beverage manager I would develop and implement a rigorous food and beverage skill training assessment procedure which emphasizes on identifying the most appropriately skilled applicants in delivering a comprehensive and quality all-round dining experience that not only focuses on the food on offer but also the dining etiquette. Another strategic challenge that Skycity Darwin is likely to face with regards to the food and beverage department in the new resort development is maintaining the productivity of its new employees in a volatile global economy without increasing labour costs. This will require organizational flexibility in terms of issues such as developing innovative performance based HRM practices and regulating staff levels in departments such as food and beverage which is necessary for the hotel’s productivity (Nankervis 1993, Knox and Walsh 2005). Therefore, as part of the action plan, I will indicate in the application that I am capable of developing flexible and innovative recruitment and employee contracting programs which factor in issues such as minimizing wage costs during tourist high season which is essential for productivity in 5 star hotels. Appendix 1 SKYCITY is Darwin's only 5 star beachfront resort, featuring 120 luxury rooms. In mid 2012 SKYCITY will unveil its new resort development, boasting 34 additional guestrooms and villa, set amongst a lush tropical paradise. Food and Beverage Recruitment Officer A new and exciting position has been created for an experienced Food and Beverage Recruitment Officer.   The successful candidate will report directly through to the Human Resources Manager and will be responsible for the end to end activities associated with recruitment and selection for the front and back of house food and beverage departments.   Key Attributes   High volume, internal recruitment experience Flexible hours of work; ability to work weekends and outside business hours Basic F&B operational knowledge Advanced interpersonal skills Ability to prioritise and work under pressure  Key responsibilities   Manage the placement of job advertisements, internal and external, including the design and preparation of advertisements Register, screen and shortlist incoming applications Interview, conduct food and beverage skill training assessments, and complete reference checks. Prepare employment contracts, schedule appointment for new starters and complete relevant data entry.  SKYCITY Darwin offers excellent Learning and Development opportunities, free car parking, fully laundered uniform, free meal whilst on duty and many more benefits!   If you meet the above requirements please push APPLY NOW!!! Enquiries: Human Resources 08 8943 8850 skycitydarwin.com.au References Knox, A. & Walsh, J. (2005). Organisational flexibility and HRM in the hotel industry: evidence from Australia. Human Resource Management Journal 15(1):57-75. Nankervis, A. R., (1993). Enhancing Productivity in the Australian Hotel Industry: The Role of Human Resource Management. Research and Practice in Human Resource Management 1(1), 17-39. Skycity Darwin (2012). Retrieved on 24 September, 2012 from < http://www.skycitydarwin.com.au/Hotel/Welcome.html> Spice News (2012). Retrieved on 24 September, 2012 from < http://www.spicenews.com.au/2012/06/25/article/SKYCITY-Darwins-40M-extension- near-complete/PSSZCWGZTV.html > Tripadvisor.com (2012). Retrieved on 24 September, 2012 from < http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g255066-d1817046-r134514660- Il_Piatto_Skycity-Darwin_Top_End_Northern_Territory.html> Wilkins, H., Merrilees, B. & Herington, C. (2007). Towards an understanding of total service quality in hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management 26(4): 840-853. Read More