HR planning

What is HR?

Human resource management plays a huge role in the overall success of a business; HR controls the business in many different ways, sorts out any problems and aim to overcome problems between staff. Mullins suggests that HR is responsible for “Design and implementation and maintenance of strategies to manage people for optimum business performance including the development of policies and processes to support these strategies” (Mullins 2007).
So why do businesses need them?

Each business needs to have an effective HRM as without one the business will not be able to succeed. One main area that HRM benefit businesses is by implementing policies and problem solving strategies, if a problem arises in the business the HRM set out a solution to overcome this problem and ultimately improve the running of the business. Another way the HRM make such a big impact on businesses is their ability to respect employees, know their needs and the stability of their employment, by building up good relationships with employees they will become more motivated to work harder.

As well as this the HRM department will make sure that the business is operating by the correct rules and regulations, they will also impose their own policies to make sure that employees feel safe and secure when at work boosting working relationships and loyalty. As well as this the HRM is normally the first bridge in the hierarchy to come in contact with employees.

Personal specification for a university lecturer

Rodger came up with a 7 point system which looked at Physical makeup, Intelligence, Attainment, Special aptitudes, Interests, Circumstances and Disposition. A
university lecturer would need:

1. Physical makeup – Must be good at communication, verbal, written and body language.

2. Intelligence – Must have a fluent knowledge in the specific area as they will need to pass on this knowledge on to students as well as analysing students questions and answers correctly

3. Attainments – Must have the necessary grades, qualifications, experience and skills

4. Special aptitudes – Must have knowledge in specific areas, as the role will most probably be for a specialised role

5. Interests – May be helpful if the persons interests help to succeed their knowledge somehow such as hobbies any extra activities they have participated in ect, but generally this will not make a huge impact

6. Circumstances – The new lecturer must be reasonably close to the university so will need to know about transport links

7. Disposition – Must be reliable as students and other lectures will become dependent on them
Waitrose in High Wycombe?

If a new Waitrose was considering opening in High Wycombe they would need to look at a number of different questions, to see whether it would be viable to open and if they could make a profit.

One question they would need to look at is the economics of the area surrounding
High Wycombe, is their high unemployment in the area if so it will be very easy for them to hire workers, unlike if they were in a area with low unemployment they would need to pay more as people would need more of an incentive to work for Waitrose rather that their current employer.

Another area they must look at is the current level of competition, High Wycombe already has 4 main supermarkets (Morrison, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer’s) For Waitrose to encourage people to go to their supermarket they will need to spend a lot of time and capital on adverting and promotions.

As well as this they must look at the type of person who lives in High Wycombe. There is a large student community so Waitrose must look at student spending and whether they will have the funds available to buy their products as they may or may not be more expensive than other supermarkets on the high street.

Lastly they must look at travel links can employees and customers get to the shop easily and without high costs?

Without considering these questions as well as others Waitrose will not be able to see if the demand is there for their products, as well as if they will be able to make profit.

References

Mullins, L. (2007) Management and Organisational Behaviour. 8th edition. Essex:
Pearson Education Limited