Importance of a Strategic Human Resource Management - Coursework Example

? Strategic Human Resource Management Lecturer: Strategic Human Resource Management Q Training refers to the learning skills and knowledge vital for performing a certain task; thus learning increases skills necessary for the required job. However, development refers to the progress of the labor force in all respect and it is mostly concerned with shaping employees’ attitudes. Moreover, training is concerned with imparting necessary skills to employee to enable them perform certain tasks whereas development in broader terms aim to increase the overall growth of an individual. Training is concerned with improving the current task force performance whereas development aims to build up and it increases competence level of employees for the better future performances. Q. 2 Hiring employees who need training is advantageous when the organisation need to maintain a particular knowledge and skills up to date for competitive purpose. Technology keeps on changing rapidly; thus it becomes beneficial to the company when they hire employees whom they need to train. This is vital because it will enable the business to create significant changes that will enable them to achieve a competitive advantage. However, it becomes advantageous to the company when they hire already trained employees because they already have significant work experience; thus this reduces costs of training, time and other resources of training unskilled employees. They also add knowledge to already existing organisation team and they are less costly to the company since training is costly and time consuming. Q. 3 The organization can determine in case its training is effective through employing effective evaluation criteria. Varied models have been developed in order to determine in case the training is effective; thus performance indicator is one of the models employed in determining the training effectiveness. Another criteria used is the dependent measure for operationalizing the effectiveness of training but there are other new approaches and models that have been proposed by researchers on evaluating the effectiveness of training (Arthur, Bennett, Edens and Bell, 2003). Kirkpatrick’s model is one of the new frameworks that attempt to reveal the effectiveness of training; thus this model takes into consideration four significant steps or criteria for determining the effectiveness of training. One of the steps is reaction criteria, which employs self report measures and another one is learning criteria, which measure the learning outcomes. Behavioral criteria also measure the actual work performance and it identifies the effect of t raining on actual performance. Lastly, results criteria and this determines in case the quality or productivity of the work has been improved. Q. 4 Behavioral methods are designed performance appraisal, which is based on rating the task performance of workforce depending on their behaviors. This is vital because it enables managers to determine the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of working performance for employees. Behavioral method judges the actions of employees by using a rating scale to evaluate or measure their particular behaviors. On the other hand, personnel comparison method is used for measuring and comparing each labor force with others in a certain group. Personnel comparison is considered an effective and reliable method of performance appraisal in situations where only employee need to be promoted; thus it is vital for ranking an employee against others in a group on diverse factors until they find the best employee. Q. 5 The performance appraisal refers to the technique employed by HR managers to assess the task performance of a workforce. It is purpose is to assess the task of workforce in regard to particular standards. It is employed in measuring work performance of employees in order to determine their strength and weaknesses. It is imperative because it helps managers to offer efficient training programs or remunerate workforce according to the task performance appraisal. Lastly, it plays significant role because it enables manager to continue offering and mentoring employees in order to enable them to increase their total output. Q. 6 The performance appraisal system evaluates and judges the performance level of labor force for a given time whereas the strategy of the organization refers to the method or an approach employed in an organisation to achieve their certain objective. For instance, the performance appraisal system can be determined as the strategy that the organisation employs in order to determine the performance of employees. Therefore, the performance appraisal system is an effective strategy employed by a certain organisation to determine the performance of employee; thereby, rewarding and training them depending on their performance appraisal. Q. 7 Motivation is a complex aspect and it is linked with work performance; thus there are diverse ways the human resource managers can motivate employees. In most cases, many managers fail to understand the proper way of motivating employees and think that money is the best ways for motivating labor force. Although money is one of the effective tools for motivating employees, many managers make mistakes of assuming that money can motivate employees. Although it is true in some instances, it is certainly not an effective means of motivating employees. This is because some employees might simply demand more respect, appreciation, personal recognition and better working environment. Other employees might demand to be paid attention or their opinions heard or demand things that motivate them such as getting promotions or given sufficient time to spend with they loved ones. Q. 8 Employee involvement is defined as the method of engaging employees in significant managerial decision making and empowering them to participate in helping top leaders to achieve organizational goals effectively. Employee involvement in the organisation is beneficial because it can enable the company to arise into significant decision making effectively. It also enhances responsibility, increased morale and motivation; thus increases the level of effective organizational performance. The opinions of workforce are heard; thus motivating them to work hard; thus becoming productive. Moreover, employee involvement contributes to increased productivity, encourages team cohesion and increase creativity or innovativeness; thus contributing to effective organizational performance. Q. 9 One can go about increasing involvement in a plant through encouraging and motivating employee to involve in the assembled toys and plant that plucked, as well as, cut chickens. The notion of individual knowledge for employees and human resources are critical sources of production in an organization Therefore, incorporating an organization’s connective capital as the stock for human capital, which employees can access through connection with others, is vital. Workers develop connective capital through involving them in the organization by effective communication links with other labor force with the aim of tapping into the knowledge of their fellow workers; thus participating together in creating effective organizational performance. Q. 10 Many present employees are unfamiliar with benefit plans provided by organisation because they do not understand the benefit plan. They view it as the last resort that satisfies their demanding needs; hence many of them are unfamiliar with the fringe benefits. The benefit plans are important share of employees and they are indirect form of compensation. Therefore, many present employees fail to recognize them because they are received indirectly as a form of compensation. Moreover, employees in the present working environment does not view benefit plan as significant because not all organization offer this benefits ; thus Wagner Act has encouraged labor unions to bargain for benefits, better salaries and good working conditions. Q. 11 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) was passed in 1970 legislation and the reason was to offer workplace safety or protect employees from any poor working environmental conditions. Some of the OSHA provisions included offering employee protection such as disability benefits, providing unlimited medical care, and compulsory medical coverage, as well as, rehabilitation issues. Therefore, failure to meet the requirements of OSHA act could lead or render the corporation to intense fines or it may face the law. Q. 12 It is significant for the organisation to offer vital information about AIDS in order to raise awareness about the risks and also help to prevent HIV infections. Providing AIDS information in the organisation helps in improving the health of not only those affected but also ensuring that people maintains their health; thus reducing other associated costs that might arise in an organisation. HIV education is noteworthy in an organisation because this contributes to better prevention measures for the spread of HIV virus. It also helps to reduce stigmatization and discrimination in the working environment especially to people living with this virus. Some occupations carry high risks of HIV infection; thus providing AIDS information or training employees about the causes, prevention and taking effective measures to prevent the spread of HIV virus is vital. Q. 13 There are significant tips that a manager should take into considerations when implementing a health and safety program that work. One of them is the requirements of safety legislation in order to determine what it talks about health issues in relation to employee health and safety. The manager should take into consideration the reliable and printed documents revealing health and safety control. The manager should take into consideration the health and safety policy existing in the state because this is the integral part for effective organizational performance. Therefore, the policy should address varied aspects such as hazards and risk, as well as, ways of protecting employees from such risks or preventing them from poor working conditions. Q. 14 The health care costs are increasing because of continuing economic security issues of employees and retirees. The issue of health care insurance and high spending power on health care is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. The research study revealed that the state is spending too much on health care, which is increasing because of the high level per capital income, unemployment level and economic crises (United States, 2009). The ministry of health care organisation and the federal government bodies have made significant efforts of transforming the healthcare systems through expanding the healthcare insurance in order to reduce costs of rising healthcare. Measures for reducing such costs have become the central debate in the congress in order to find means of controlling healthcare costs. Q. 15 Having testing policy for HIV virus and drug abuse can enable a company to minimize multifaceted social problems in the work environment. Although this can be a tough issue or contribute to workplace stress, it is vital for employers to have this policy in order to reduce organizational issues. It will enable an employer to offer effective guidance and counseling, as well as, educate employees on the way to reduce substance abuse or take preventive measures to avoid health problems, which might impact work performance. The applicant or employee should be concerned about this test because this will allow employees to intrude into the private life of their workers because employees have the right to privacy. Q.16 Management should not oppose the formation of union because union offers employees a voice and allows them to negotiate with their employers on a fair deal. Although many workplaces resist unions, it is vital to allow employees form peaceful unions, which will enable them to demand for their rights where necessary. The unions are advantageous to the company because they contribute to increased flexibility especially for small business over their competitors because the small business may modify the way they perform their business. The union can also offer employees a common bond vital for working together as a team; thus contributing to increased productivity. However, the disadvantages are the reduction of flexibility in business because small businesses have to restrict their actions and high costs that the business may incur. This is because workers will push or demand for higher wages in order to benefit themselves. References Arthur, W. J., Bennett, W. J., Edens, P. S., & Bell, S. T. (January 01, 2003). Effectiveness of training in organizations: a meta-analysis of design and evaluation features. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 2, 234-45. United States. (2009). The unsustainable cost of health care. Washington, D.C: Social Security Advisory Board. Read More