Human resource management Assignment

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. EXERCISE 1.1: AN INTERVIEW WITH AN HRM SPECIALIST

manager who has significant HR responsibilities.

Form 1.1.1 should be used as a format for

conducting the interview and recording

responses.

Part B: Group Discussions Step 1. Students should assemble in class in groups of

about six and review each individual report. The

group should then identify common problems

identified by the HR professionals. The

characteristics of the organization also should be

considered in the context of the problems. For

example, are there any clear differences in

problems confronting HRM professionals from

service versus manufacturing organizations, or

public- versus private-sector organizations?

Students should have a clear understanding of the

HRM professional’s position and reporting

relationships within the organization. The group

also should attempt to identify the HRM activities

discussed in Chapter 1 that are most related to the

problems discussed. The problems should be

assessed in the context of the trends discussed in

Chapter 1. The group also should discuss the

professional’s views of how line management

views the personnel function (e.g., cooperative,

adversarial).

Step 2. A spokesperson should be designated to report

each group’s findings. After all spokespersons

have presented their list of activities and

difficulties, the class should suggest HRM

strategies and programs that could address the

problems raised. Trends related to the

relationship between line management and HRM

professionals also should be discussed.

Overview Chapter 1 presents an overview of the major activities of

HR professionals today. As noted, HRM practitioners serve

a variety of roles in organizations and are often classified

as personnel directors, personnel managers, or HRM staff

members. Individuals specializing in specific HRM job ac-

tivities may be working in departments of training, labor

relations, equal employment opportunity/affirmative action,

compensation, or personnel research.

Learning Objectives After completing this exercise, you should be able to

1. Describe the major HRM responsibilities and

activities of HRM professionals.

2. Explain some contemporary problems or difficulties

encountered in HRM work.

3. Derive a list of major job activities useful for

understanding the HRM domains.

Procedure

Part A: Individual Interviews Step 1. Read Chapter 1, paying particular attention to the

discussion of HRM activities.

Step 2. Identify a practicing HRM or personnel

professional or a line manager charged with HR

activities and conduct a short interview to gather

information about the person’s job, his or her

background, the organization, and the major job-

related problems confronting the individual. An

attempt should be made to interview a senior-

level HR employee of the organization (e.g., the

vice president of human resources or personnel

director) either by phone or in person or a line

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Interviewer’s Name Interview Date

Interviewee’s Name Company

FORM 1.1.1 INTERVIEW FORMAT FOR HRM PROFESSIONALS 1. How would you describe your organization? (e.g., public versus private, size, service/manufacturing,

union/nonunion, major competitors, international business, growing, stagnant, downsizing).

2. What is your position title?

3. a. How many months/years have you occupied this position?

b. How many months/years have you been employed by this company?

4. a. Briefly, describe your background (education, previous experience).

b. Which aspects of your background are most directly related to your current job duties?

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FORM 1.1.1 (Continued)

Name

5. a. How many employees do you directly supervise?

b. To whom do you report? What is his or her job title?

6. Describe the organization’s human resource or personnel department. How many employees are in the

department? What are their main job duties if different from yours?

7. What do you regard as your three most significant job responsibilities? Be as specific as possible.

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FORM 1.1.1 (Continued)

Name

8. What do you regard as the three most significant and specific HR challenges or difficulties you face in your

current job responsibilities? For each, briefly describe the steps you have taken (or are planning to take) to deal

with each of the problems.

Challenges Action Strategies

9. Describe your relationship with line management, or if you are in line management, describe your relationship

with HR. In general, how would you characterize the relationship (supportive, adversarial, cooperative)? Explain

your answer. Give an example of where your interaction with either line management or HR was not favorable.

Describe these circumstances in detail. How was the problem resolved? Give an example of a favorable

interaction. Describe these circumstances in detail.

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