Implicit Human Resource Management Theory - Case Study Example

RМ By: name Course Lecturer Institution City Date Abstract The human resource management has the duty of maintaining standards as well as, making sure that continuity of the institution is guaranteed. Moreover, the human resource conducts most of their policies online in order to ensure that the flexibility and efficiency are observed to the ever busy working force that basically turns to education, in order to improve what they already have, or better still, add knowledge to assist them run their business ventures. Kaplan has been at the forefront in providing education to the native citizens, as well as people across the globe through the online programs. The online form of education has brought with it benefits like cheaper and flexible education, while on the other hand, it has increased chances of cheating. Several human resource theories have been used to explore the situation at Kaplan University. Recommendations have also been provided to determine sustainability in education. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 2 Introduction 4 Discussion and Analysis 6 Conclusion 10 Recommendations 11 References 12 Introduction Kaplan is an international institution that offers education to students across the world with major concentration on the member of the armed forces or people affiliated with this group. This institution has been my choice of study due to its comprehensive and extensive benefits that it provides to people. Education is very important in the life of any human being. It is through learning that we acquire knowledge and skills to venture the world and contribute to the economy of our countries. Moreover, the research conducted stem from the academic institutions leading to discoveries that benefit the entire world. Innovativeness is crucial to the school’s development as they pursue to offer undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The institution is committed to offering what students believe will benefit them in their lives as well as enable them to change into programs that they believe will further their career aspirations in the future. Any person wishing to grow and nurture talent as well as adopt a culture that will shape and mold them should consider joining the fraternity. Their programs are fundamental and benefits people from high school up to professional level. The institution recognizes the importance of education in the lives of people, and therefore, goes beyond the ordinary attempts to make the venture a success. The institution offers both online programs by availing education at the convenience of the learners. Online education carries numerous benefits as learners do not have to travel to the physical location in order to enjoy the benefits of education (Kuther 2013). Applicants simply log into the school’s website as well as their accounts and access the information that they would have enjoyed while at school. This has significantly reduced employment in the country compromising the lecture-student contact that prevails in the physical environment. In addition, it saves on costs for international students who would otherwise have had to travel to the school’s destination where rent and other expenses follow. Convenience is thus portrayed in this program and encourages many people to further their education, which would otherwise have been next to impossible. Moreover, scholarships are the order of the day so as to achieve diversity of the students and also enrich the culture that prevails. The interactions offer them with divergent views about life as well as learn from one another thereby molding all rounded students who can face any obstacle in life. The institution that started as Kaplan Test Prep owes its existence to Stanley H. Kaplan and caters for over 66 thousand students. Some of the programs offered by the institution include Law, Nursing, Education, Information Systems and Technology, Legal Studies, Health Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice and Arts and Sciences. To make learning possible for those with financial crunches, loans are offered to facilitate their learning as well as ensure education is accessible to all. The school is mostly associated with the military since most students have a connection with the forces; they are either active members of force or relatives of the same (Kaplan Higher Education Corporation 2013). Over nine thousand are from the forces. However, other members are also present. On top of academic training, the institution ensures that the students who undertake their courses within the school leave as all rounded persons. The management ensures students’ involvement in leadership as well as extra-curricular activities are observed at all times. According to the alumni of the school, great advancements in their lives and careers have been realized as far as the education pursued is concerned (Kaplan Inc. 2013). Statistics show that 13% have received promotions, 28% have had an increase in their pays while others have been able to change their careers (Kaplan University 46). Discussion and Analysis Over the years, the human resource personnel as well as the management had issues with some members of the public. It has been alleged that the university extorts money from the people who access loans from the institution by having them pay more than is required. An alumnus complains that they kept being billed over a length of time for the money they did not understand (Charity 2006). Attempts to contact the management were fruitless as they kept on giving excuses until the client had no choice. The student claims that the loans they are paying are not genuine, and the matter deserves to be looked into for appropriate action. Moreover, the institution has been criticized for improper recruitment of students. These claims are said to have been uncovered by a group of investigators who posed as applicants to the school. There have been claims that Kaplan University swindled the United States government of more than four billion dollars. This followed after allegations that the university took in students who failed to meet academic standards for entry level and fabricated them in order to camouflage their real grades. All these accusations have in one way, or the other threatened the credibility of the institution and made the public uncertain on whether to believe or not. Other minor issues are related to daily management issues. Alternatively, there is the likelihood that the 2013 financial crisis already affecting some countries could affect the institution. Money plays a significant role in the academic sector. Carrying out research as well as paying up the lectures so as to deliver knowledge is important in order to motivate them into continuing to administer their jobs. If the crisis escalates and becomes global, the institution will be affected as the students will also have hard time raising money to fund their education. Moreover, the various governments will also be unable to fund the students adequately. The result is a decrease in the number of students operating in the school. Consequently, the institution’s affordability to pay all the lectures and other members will be at stake forcing some of them to resign. Those left will in turn be pushed to work longer hours in order to cover up for the time that would have been handled by other members of staff. The result is low quality education that will compromise the standards. Alternatively, those students conducting their studies within the institution might find it hard travelling to study within the school environment. This will weaken the culture that is upheld by the school and thereby weaken the discipline that is regarded highly. Managing people especially in a situation whereby there is no physical contact can be hard. The human resource of Kaplan University is faced with this problem from time to time following the implementation of the online programs. Students simply apply online, and the rest of the communication is through the internet and telephone. Approximately 52% take their courses online (Kaplan Higher Education Corporation 2013). This is not enough in ensuring a complete person with the unique values and norms that are highly held by the institution. Copies of codes of conduct manuals may be sent, but this is not effective enough as practical applications in most cases are not practiced. Moreover, organization culture is crucial for the well being of the institution as well as the world outside. Whenever, someone says that they are students from the university, any person expects them to behave or conduct themselves more or less like all the others who have passed through the institution. However, a student who has been distant from the physical campus or has never interacted with the staff or other students is likely to be off balance as far as ethics related to the school are concerned. They are likely to act in the same manner they have always done in their lives since the only association they have with the school is education. Discipline is very crucial in the overall performance of the students. When in a similar setting, the human resource is able to oversee how students conduct themselves, and therefore, correct them or even give them warnings if the extent of indiscipline is getting out of hand. With the online program, the human resource is cut off from administering the discipline of the students. The military are people who are called at any time to attend to emergencies. This interrupts their learning schedule and the human resource personnel have to constantly adjust their programs in order to fit their work schedules. Massive irregularities are likely to be very high as far as exam cheating is concerned (Simon 3). Students may give other people their accounts as well as their details and pay them to do their exams, as well as assignments. This is because the administration has no method of verifying that the person doing the exam and assignments is actually the person registered with the institution. The little physical contact with the teachers has been a source of indulgence in irregularities as there is no one observing or even controlling them. (Forbes 2013) The birth of the internet has brought many developments like globalization and increased communication. However, computer crimes have been on the rise. For instance, hacking into the school’s website is very likely and stealing of confidential information could compromise the credibility of the school system as well as the graduates they produce. In order to address the issues and concerns faced by the university, several human resources theories and practices have been put into consideration. To begin with, the human resource theory of organization structure holds that contribution of the employees as well as the human capital is very crucial to the welfare of the institution (Bianca 1999-2013). The management should consider delegating duties to other members of the staff so that they can have equal contributions, and as well as a share of responsibility. Being a complex institution, a comprehensive system of association is paramount to ensure proper direction. The billing system, online registration, continuous assessment and upholding of the institution’s dignity require proper planning and implementation of affairs. Alternatively, the human resource theory of needs entails establishment of the requirements that are useful as well as the size. Education is important in the lives of people as well as development in careers. The university has the duty of determining the population that it can actively cater for in order to ensure quality education. This has been well represented as the school offers an extensive program to make sure that all those willing to further their areas of specialization have the opportunity. The online system has offered flexibility as well as a convenience, and this has benefited many people in their future endeavors. The theory of skills demands that qualifications be regarded when deciding on the people to get involved with the institution so that they will turn competes and deliver quality results. However, Kaplan University has compromised this theory as there are allegations that they fabricate grades in order to admit as many people as possible and make massive amounts of money from the venture. Moreover, there are claims that the grades that the students get from the university have little impact on their lives in their job market. This is in contradiction to what the university holds that their programs have enriched many lives of the people who pass through the institution. Attribution theory and implicit theory regard the explanations given by people concerning the events and the world around them as well as the outcome that follows. People tend to act like inexperienced researchers in order to gather information and come up with their conclusions (Gardener and Wright 2009). A good example is the scenario where researchers went out of their way and posed as students in order to determine the quality of education offered to them and finally the gathered that the institution was at the forefront in coming up with fake grades in order to admit students into their system and get money from them. In this regard, there are possibilities that the grades that are obtained are also not the exact and deserved ones but are the makings of the institution. Moreover, implicit theories affect the answer the people being questioned give. Therefore, when conducting a research about the performance of the school, the team overseeing the exercise should put into considerations chances of false profess. When it comes to motivation theory, they are classified into two i.e. content theory and process theory. Content theory states that human beings achieve their needs in order of priority as explained by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. In reference to the case of school, the human resource personnel and management should ensure that the students have a favorable environment so that they can concentrate on their studies and acquire the good grades that will earn the school a good name. Alternatively good management is the answer to the success of the learners. The second theory under motivation is the process theory whereby expectancy is held in regard to achievement of results. People tend to work best when they know that they will get something in return (Maynard 2002). This could be in terms of grades as well as the value for their money. This is a wakeup call to the human resource management to ensure that they award incentives and other related benefits to those who perform extraordinarily well. For instance, students who get excellent grades should be awarded scholarships in order to motivate them to work harder and exploit their talents. In response, other students will follow suit and fight to get the same space, and this will create competition that will see the school go higher in their academic discipline. Conclusion The university is a global education provider with most of its students stemming from the military section. Online education is the order of the day. Though the institution has its weaknesses, there is continued providence of both academic guidance as well as extra-curricular activities to mold the people who pass through the institution into all rounded persons. Recommendations In order to better the welfare of the university, several measures have to be taken. The human resource along with other members of management should have strategic plans as well as a list of comments from the public that they act upon in order to ensure satisfaction. There should be an establishment of physical institutions across the world so that exams can be conducted one on one in the presence of invigilators. The management should consider giving every citizen a fair chance to study in the school and not favor the military and their relatives. Inequality is evident as people allied with the members of the force get more loans to study. Due to the allegations that the school is involved in irregularities, the school should clear their name by allowing investigations to be done. This will send a signal that they are a genuine institution and also that they are committed to fighting any malpractice that could arise References Bianca, A. 1999-2013. About HR Theory and Practices. 5th May, 2013. Charity 2006. Complaint review: Kaplan University – Pinnacle. 5th May, 2013. < http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/kaplan-university-pinnacle/davenport-iowa-/kaplan-university-pinnacle-ripoff-trying-to-scam-money-need-to-contact-a-lawyer-davenport-217325> Forbes 2013. Are They Learning Or Cheating? Online Teaching’s Dilemma. 5th May, 2013. < http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2012/08/16/are-they-learning-or-cheating-online-teachings-dilemma/> Gardener, T.M. and Wright, P.M. 2009. Implicit Human Resource Management Theory: A Potential Threat to the Internal Validity of Human Resource Practice Measures: The International Journal of Human Resource Management Vol. 20 (1). Pp. 57-74. Kaplan Higher Education Corporation 2013. Kaplan Facts and the Annual Report. Viewed: 5th May, 2013. < http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/about/annual-report.aspx> Kaplan Inc. 2013. School of Professional and Continuing Education. 5th May, 2013. < http://kaplanprofessional.com/> Kaplan University 2011-2012. Academic Report; the Year in Review Kuther, T. 2013. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education for Graduate Study. 5th May, 2013 Maynard, T. 2002. Motivation Theory: Motivation Theory in Human Resource Management. 5th May, 2013. http://www.trevormaynard.com/academic/HRMMotivate.htm Simon n.d. Blatant Cheating Detected In An Online Examination. 5th May, 2013. < http://www.newcastle.edu.au/conference/apeic/papers_pdf/simon_edd.pdf> Read More