Research Korner: Career Development

High Air   Table of Contents                                                                                                             Page Number Executive Summary                                                                                  3 Introduction                                                                                                 4 Contribution of HRM to the Organization                                            5             Strategic Management                                                                   7             Key Roles of Strategic Management that Add Value                8             New Functions of HRM                                                                  9 Recruitment and Selection                                                                      11             Recommendations for Recruiting                                                            13             Recommendations for Selection                                                  15 Work-Life Balance                                                                                     17 Employee Motivation and Retention                                                     18 Increasing Motivation and Retaining Employees                              19        Career Development, Planning and Management                           22             Recommendations: Career Development                                  23 Employment/Labor Relations                                                                 25        Conclusion                                                                                                  27 Bibliography                                                                                                28               Executive Summary         High Air, a successful construction company is at a crossroads. The path that it will choose will define the future of the company. Human Resource Management issues have never been this pronounced. Employees are expressing their desire for new policies and practices that will benefit them and will make working in the company safe, rewarding, enriching and enjoyable. The management is now considering restructuring its policies and practices regarding its people. The management knows that it needs to attract and employ qualified and talented people who will contribute to the success of the company. Employee motivation and retention is also becoming an issue. Employees are bringing career development issued to the attention of the management. The management knows that in order to retain employees, it must design HR practices and policies in a way that will motivate the employee. Reward and compensation must also be considered, as well as performance management. Because of the changes in the labor market such as the increase of dual-earning families, the increase participation of women in the workforce, and the aging of the population, the company needs to address work-life balance issues. Employee relations also is becoming an area of concern.             In order to survive the company’s present dilemma, the management must acknowledge the importance of human resource management and must endeavor to reap the benefits of aligning HRM policies and practices with organizational goals and objectives.   Introduction: High Air             High Air is a successful construction company based in Los Angeles, U.S.A. The company is famous for its innovative and unique designs. Its office is laid out to resemble a sailboat dock with nautical flags and buoys as decorations. The company has a well-designed recruitment and selection system and the compensation packages that it offers are attractive and competitive. High Air has a reputation of work hard and play hard. The company had been successful in winning bids but in the past six months, the company has experienced various problems primarily resulting from its inability to attract bids. The management is starting to review its HR policies and procedures and thinks that in order to achieve the organization’s goals, HR policies and procedures must be aligned with the company goals.             Perhaps one of the root problems is the management’s low commitment to HRM. The top management does not view the HR department as a strategic partner. Another problem is the ineffective recruitment and selection process of the company. The recruitment and selection process of the company was well designed, however, there is a need to update and redesign the process in order to keep pace with the company’s changing goals and objectives. Another problem is about work-life balance. The employees are reporting high level of stress and they are expressing their concerns about the company’s lack of work-life balance programs to accommodate their personal/family responsibilities. Another problem is the declining employee performance which is caused by lack of motivation. There is also an increasing number of employees who leave or express their desire to leave the organization. Employee relations is also an area of concern for the management. These problems and concerns need to be addressed in order to achieve the company’s goals and objectives.   Contribution of HRM to the Organization             Human Resources Management (HRM) refers to the philosophy, policies, procedures, and practices related to the management of an organization’s employees. Human resources management is particularly related with all the activities that contribute to successfully attracting, developing, motivating, and maintaining a high-performing workforce that results in organizational success (Sims 2002, p. 2-3). Human resources management covers the every aspect of the relationship between the individual and firm including recruitment, contractual obligations, individual training and motivation, corporate planning, performance monitoring, grievance handling and general welfare, dismissal and redundancy (Vernon 2002, p.101). Human resources management involves the establishment and execution of policies, programs, and procedures that influence the performance, capabilities, and loyalty of the employees of an organization. Through these policies and procedures, individuals are attracted, retained, motivated, and developed to perform the work of the organization. It is through these policies and procedures that the organization seeks to mold and shape the actions of its employees to operate successfully, comply with various public policies, provide satisfactory quality of employment, and improve its position in the market place through strengthened ability to compete and serve (Clardy 1996, p.1). HRM is increasingly viewed as a source of competitive advantage and its processes and procedures as contributors to the organization’s success. Over the years, HRM has become an integral part of every organization that deals with HR affairs, policies and processes. Now the HR department is being viewed as a partner and works closely with the top management and the employees. HRM contributes to the success of the organization through the following: 1. It provides the right kinds of talent to the organization at the right time. HRM is expected to assure that a supply of qualified labor in a timely fashion (Clardy 1996, p.20). 2. It ensures that the organization is properly staffed. When done effectively, the staffing, recruitment, and selection process provides a flow of qualified individuals for filling open positions within the organization on a timely and efficient basis (Clardy 1996, p. 41). 3. Using appraisals, the employees are assesses and evaluated. Employee appraisals have very profound implications for both the employees and for the future success of the organization (Clardy 1996, p.58). 4. Using effective pay systems, the management can focus employees’ efforts toward desired organizational goals (Clardy 1996, p.79). 5. Ensures that the employees are properly skilled to perform their tasks and supports the organization’s growth through career development. The goal of training as part of the human resources management processes is to create cost-effective programs that build the skills to perform effectively (Clardy 1996, p.103).   Recommendation: Strategic Human Resource Management             Perhaps one of the most beneficial moves that the management can make is acknowledging the importance of the HR department in achieving the goals and objectives of the company. The management must view the HR department as a strategic partner rather than just a department in the organization. This is where Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) comes into play.             Linking HRM with the strategic goals and objectives of the company is the cornerstone of Strategic human resource management (Buyens and de Vos 1991). SHRM has came into view as a primary approach in achieving improvements in the competitive advantage of the organization (Burke and Cooper 2004). In order to reap the benefits of SHRH, the management must align the goals and objectives of HRM with the strategic plans and objectives of the firm. The role of HRM is to determine the human resources needed to support strategic objectives and to ensure that employees are selected, trained, evaluated, and rewarded in ways that further the achievement of business objectives. Strategic HRM is frequently described as a linear, balanced process that begins with the identification of goals that will guide human resource practices. The integration of the HR programs with the goals of the organization will result to the organization’s increased value. The recruitment, compensation, performance appraisal, promotion, training and other functions are designed and managed so that they work towards the strategic objectives of the firm (p.92). Strategic HRM has the purpose of improving the way that human resources are managed within firms. The main objective of strategic HRM is to improve organizational performance as judged by its impact on the organization’s declared corporate strategy (Brewster et al 2004, p. 29).   Key Roles of Strategic Management that add value           According to Ulrich et al (1995), HR has important value-added roles in the organization. These roles must be effectively delivered by the HR because they are essential to the achievement of the organization’s goals. The HR roles according to Ulrich (1997) are: 1. Management of strategic human resources The focus of this role is on the alignment of the HR strategies and practices to the business strategy. The HR professional becomes a strategic partner that creates a concrete HR practices based on the organization’s strategy. 2. Change and transformation management This role is also seen as a source of added value to the organization. The HR professionals must help to identify and implement the change processes all throughout the organization. The HR professionals act as mediums and guards of cultural changes. 3. Employee management This role address issues such as the daily problems, expectations and needs of employees. Identifying and meeting the specific needs of the employees will result to better employee contribution. 4. Management of the administration of the organization The role of HRM is to make sure that the administrative processes like involving hiring, training, evaluation and promotion are designed and delivered efficiently and correctly.   New Functions of HRM             I cannot emphasize enough the importance of viewing HRM as a strategic partner of the organization. The company needs to develop new functions of HRM and to enlist the HR department in the achievement of the company goals and objectives. Over the years, the functions and responsibilities of HRM has changed. The HR department of High Air must serve the following functions: 1. HR as Human Capital Steward – As a Human Capital Steward, HR contributes to strategic capabilities by developing, leveraging, renewing, and nurturing a firm’s stock of knowledge, skills, abilities, interests, and talents. HR is there to help ensure that every individual is able to make value added contributions by identifying and cultivating individual competencies and capabilities. HR delivers people strategy by ensuring that renewal and rejuvenation are on-going activities. HR contributes to organizational success by initiating training and development activities and by creating a culture of continuous learning (Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall 2004). 2. HR as Relationship Builder – The role of Relationship Builder focuses on creating programs and practices that enable employees to encourage, facilitate, nourish, and sustain relationships among fellow employees, customers, suppliers, firms in complementary arenas, and at times, even rivals. HR can deliver people strategy by contributing to a firm’s ability to leverage its resources and develop strategic capabilities and core competencies by helping individuals build a strong web of relationships (Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall 2004). 3. HR as Knowledge Management Facilitator – It is not enough simply to hire employees and put them to work. Strategic capability requires a firm to be able to create and disseminate knowledge among its employees. HR can play a vital role in facilitating organization learning and knowledge sharing between employees, among departments, throughout the organization, and with external co-producers. An important aspect of human capital stewardship is identifying people who want to learn. Employees need to be able to learn and unlearn continuously, to teach and be taught (Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall 2004). 4. HR as Rapid Deployment Specialist – The rapid pace and constantly changing environment that many organizations and industries confront creates another new challenge and new function for HRM: rapid Deployment Specialist. Strategic capability requires competence in rapidly assembling, concentrating, and deploying specific configurations of human capital in order to achieve mission-specific strategic goals. Rapid deployment of human talent requires adaptable employees. Workers need to be adaptable, versatile, and tolerant of uncertainty to operate effectively in the constantly changing global market (Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall 2004).   Recruitment and Selection         The recruitment and selection is one of the problematic areas at High Air. The recruitment and selection process is not aligned with the goals and objectives of the company. The recruitment and selection process fails to provide the company with competitive and qualified employees. The growing dissatisfaction of the employees with the recruitment and selection process must also be considered.             The recruitment and selection process cannot be a success if the job analysis is unclear and not updated. Job analysis is important for recruitment and selection because it is a systematic process for collecting information on the work-related aspects of a job (Gatewood and Field 2001, p. 285). An important part of job analysis according to Sims (2002), is to collect information on the characteristics of a job that differentiate it from other jobs. The categories of information usually obtained in job analysis include work activities, interaction with others, performance standards, financial and budgeting impact, machines and equipment used, working conditions, supervision given and received, and knowledge, skills, and abilities needed (p. 74). Job analysis is the foundation of recruitment and selection and other HR processes. Job analysis can be used in the following: 1. HRM Planning – Job analysis is very important in HRM planning. HRM planning involves the analysis of the organization’s human resource needs. Accurate information about the levels of skills that the organization needs is very significant. Job analysis provides fundamental input to the HRM planning process by helping planners understand exactly what kinds of work must be performed. Job analysis helps define for managers the kinds of general work and specific jobs that the organization will be relying on in the future (Sims 2002). 2. Recruitment – The job analysis specifies the staffing required in completing the job duties. Job analysis can help the HRM specialists generate a higher-quality pool of job applicants by making it easy to describe a job in classified ads in a way that more precisely targets qualified job applicants. Job analysis helps recruiters screen job applicants because it tells them what tasks, duties, and responsibilities the job entails (Sims 2002). 3. Selection - Human resources selection deals with identifying the most qualified applicants for employment. To identify which applicants are more qualified, it is first necessary to determine the tasks that will be performed by the individual hired and the knowledge, skills, and abilities the individuals must have to perform the job effectively. Job analysis information can also be used to choose or develop the appropriate selection devices (Sims 2002).               Recruitment is defined by Sims (2002) as the process in which organizations discover, develop, seek, and attract individuals to fill actual or anticipated job vacancies. Recruitment is concerned with finding applicants, communicating opportunities and information and generating interest. It includes interview screening, and selection of most qualified candidates, filling positions through transfer or promotion, and coordinating temporary employment. The aim of recruitment is to identify a suitable pool of applicants quickly, cost efficiently, and legally. Selection on the other hand is the process of obtaining and using information about job applicants in order to determine who should be hired for short-or long-term positions (Sims 2002).   Recommendations for Recruiting             Recruitment is an important HR process that needs to be prioritized. The employees at High Air complains about the ineffective recruitment process. In order to ensure that the recruitment process is effective and successful the company must: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="circle"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Develop 	a recruitment policy and system that are aligned with the company’s goals 	and objectives.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Conduct 	needs assessment to determine the current and future human resource 	requirements of the organization. </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Identify the potential human resource pool inside and outside the 	organization.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Conduct 	job analysis and job evaluation to identify the individual aspects of each 	job and calculate its relative worth.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Assess 	qualifications profiles drawn from job analysis and job descriptions that 	identify responsibilities and required skills, abilities, knowledge and 	experience.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Document the actual process of recruitment and selection to ensure equity 	and adherence to equal opportunity and other laws.</li> </ul>                 The company needs to employ more methods of recruiting other than the traditional newspaper advertisements and employment agencies the company can also make use of Internet Recruiting. 1. Advertisements – Advertisements in newspapers and related publications are popular methods of recruiting. High Air can still have its job posting in various newspapers and magazines as it allows the organization to cast a wide net, to publicize and demonstrate an effort to reach every sector of the labor market. 2. Employment Agencies – Employment agencies can still be helpful for High Air. Public employment agencies run by local governments have an up-to-date list of unemployed persons. They also provide service for individuals seeking employment and for business organizations seeking employees. Private employment agencies differ considerably in the level of service, costs, policies, and types of applicants they provide (Sims 2002). 3. Internet Recruiting – Using the internet is faster and cheaper than many traditional methods of recruiting. High Air can post jobs on internet sites for lesser amount that in prints, remain there for longer period of time, and are available twenty-four hours a day. Candidates can view detailed information about the job and the organization and then respond electronically. Given the disperse geographic make-up of Los Angeles, internet recruiting has the potential to reach more job applicants.     Recommendations for Selection             At the heart of any effective selection system is an understanding of what characteristics are essential for high performance. In order to help the organization in choosing the best applicant, the information obtained from the job analysis is used in creating a job specification. The job specification sets the criteria or the knowledge, skills and abilities that an applicant must posses in order to fulfill the job successfully. The selection criteria of the company are the following: 1. Education – the educational attainments of the applicants are assessed in order to identify the individuals that posses the right abilities and attitudes. 2. Experience – experience is another criterion that the company uses in the selection process. Experience refers to the amount of time individual spent working, either in a general capacity or in a particular field of study. Experience is presumably an indicator of an individual’s familiarity with work, his or her ability to work, and a surrogate measure of a person’s competencies as an employee. 3. Skills and Abilities – skills and abilities are another set of selection criteria. Skills and abilities relate more precisely than do experience or education to the specific qualifications and capabilities of an individual to perform a specific job. 4. Personal Characteristics – personal characteristics reflect the individual’s personality and may be in certain kinds of job.                         High Air can use different selection tools in order to ensure that the section process is effective and fair.               In addition to the organization’s current selection method, which is job interview several selection methods can be used to add to the effectiveness, reliability and validity of the selection process. 1. Reference and Background Verification             Reference checking, which involves collecting information from applicant’s previous employers provides a potentially useful means of assessment. Reference checks serves two important purposes. One is to verify information provided by applicants to ensure that they have not fabricated their qualifications and past work histories. Reference checks also provide information about applicants that might predict job performances (Sims 2002). 2. Employment or Ability Tests             Employment and ability tests can also be used by the organization in order to make its selection process more effective. An employment test is a device for measuring characteristics of an individual to include factors such as personality, verbal and quantitative skills, intelligence, o aptitude. Such tests are generally administered before the final stage of interviewing. The testing of applicants offers two advantages: test results seem to be objective and free from personal bias, and they are usually expresses numerically so that they lend themselves to statistical analyses and thus can be validated (Sims 2002)             Work-Life Balance         Work-Life balance has never been more important. Different factors led to the growth of work-life balance arrangements. In the case of High Air, geographic restrictions have caused the company to require employees to come earlier to work. On the one hand, this is advantageous but on the other hand, this is also a potential source of stress and dissatisfaction. The company needs to come up with more accommodating arrangements which will allow the employees to balance their responsibilities at work and their responsibilities at home and their persona lives.   Recommendations for Work-Life Balance 1. Flexi-time - Flextime (flexi-time) is a scheduling option that allows workers to select their starting and quitting times within limits established by management. There are generally core hours when all employees must be present. Although starting and quitting times vary, employee are required to work a standard number of hours within a given time period (Avery and Zabel 2001). There are different forms of flexible working that High Air can offer the employees: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="circle"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Formal 	Flextime – Formal flextime programs allow workers to vary their starting and 	ending  times, and in some cases, even the number of hours that they work in 	particular weeks (Messenger 2004). </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Time 	Banking – Time banking or working times accounts involve keeping track of 	hours worked in ‘accounts’ for individual workers. Like some flextime 	programs, time banking permits workers to build up ‘credits’ or accumulate 	‘deficits’ in hours worked, up to a maximum amount; however, the periods 	involved are much longer, ranging from several months to a year or more 	(Messenger 2004). </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Annualized Hours –This approach allows firms to increase hours of work 	during periods with a high volume of work, which can then be offset by 	shorter hours of work at other times when the company’s workload is less. 	The number of hours to be worked in any given week is determined by 	employers based on the needs of the enterprise, typically within a certain 	band of maximum and minimum weekly hours, subject to any additional 	conditions that may exist in collective agreements such as minimum notice 	periods (Messenger 2004).</li> </ul>   Employee Motivation and Retention         In an environment where employees are highly mobile, meaning they can transfer from one job to another, the company needs to come up with strategies to keep their valuable employees and at the same time attract talented and qualified individuals. The management must focus on employee retention strategies particularly those that coincide with motivation. Motivation is an important factor is it affects performance and the desire of the employees to stay or leave the company.             According to Sims (2002), motivation is the process of satisfying internal needs through actions and behaviors. It is concerned with a composite of mental and physical drives, combined with the environment that makes people behave the way they do (p.55). According to Adair (2004), motivation is about something within you impelling you to move forwards, to achieve a goal, to make progress in a task. The ‘something’ is the driving force may be a need, or desire, or an emotion but it leads you to act in a certain way. Signs of motivation in a person are an energy and determination to achieve (p. 58).   Increasing Motivation and Retaining Employees 1. Pay for Performance – Pay for performance refers to any compensation method that ties pay to the quantity or quality of work the person produces. For a Pay for Performance plan to be successful, according to Sims (2002), the manager must: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ensure 	that effort and rewards are directly related. </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Make 	the plan understandable and easily calculable by the employees.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Set 	effective standards that will benefit the organization. </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Guarantee the program. </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Guarantee a base rate. </li> </ul>   2. Spot Awards - A spot award is a financial award given to an employee literally on the spot as soon as the laudable performance is observed. Spot awards have a sound basis in motivation. For example, to the extent that the rewards are both contingent on good performance and awarded immediately, they are certainly consistent with the expectancy approach, and provide the recognition most people desire (Sims 2002). 3. Job Redesign – Job design refers to the number and nature of activities in a job; the basic issue in job design is whether jobs should be more specialized or, at the other extreme, more “enriched” and no routine. Job enrichment means building motivators like opportunities for achievement into the job by making it more interesting and challenging. This is often accomplished by giving employees more autonomy and allowing them to do much of the planning and inspection normally done by their managers (Sims 2002). 4. Employee Empowerment - Empowering employees is a popular approach to work organizations. It means giving employees the authority, tools, and information they need to do their jobs with greater autonomy, as well as the self-confidence required to perform the new jobs effectively. Empowering is inherently a motivational approach. It boosts employees’ feeling of self-efficacy and enables them to more fully their potential, satisfying high-level needs for achievement, recognition, and self-actualization. Empowerment results in changes in employees’ effectiveness. The result is that people take more initiative and persevere in achieving their goals and their leader’s vision even in the face of obstacles. In order to effectively empower the employees, the manager must: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Make 	sure people understand their responsibilities</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Give 	them authority equal to the responsibilities assigned to them</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Set 	standards of excellence that will require employees to strive to do all work 	“right the first time”  </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Provide 	them with training that will enable them to meet the standards</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Give 	them information that they need to do their jobs well</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Trust 	them</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Give 	them permission to fail</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Treat 	them with dignity and respect  </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Provide 	them with feedback on their performance  </li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Recognize them for their achievements  (Sims 2002)</li> </ul>               The recommendations are based on the belief that a motivated employee does not only perform well but also has an intense to stay in the job. In order to retain valuable employees, the company must first seek to motivate them. I believe that pay and monetary rewards are not the only reasons why employees stay in an organization. More than the financial gains that an employee receives, non-monetary rewards are also important in motivating and retaining employees. Another issue that I will be discussing in the next section (which is one of the cited reasons why employee retention is low at High Air) is the lack of clear training and development opportunities or programs at High Air.   Career Development         Gone are the days when employees only demand for fair salaries. The employees of today also value training and development. Employees look for opportunities to further their careers and they are constantly searching for ways to reach the top of the corporate ladder. Career Development is very important not only for the employees but also for the organization as the quickly changing business environment requires organizations to have a flexible workforce.             The employees are complaining about the lack of development programs that will help them advance their careers. The company needs to focus on Career Development Programs.   Career Development, Planning and Management             Career Development is an organized, planned effort comprised of structured activities or processes that result in a mutual career plotting effort between employees and the organization. Within this system, the employee is responsible for career planning and the organization is responsible for career management (Eggland and Giley 1998 p.48). Career Development is primarily the responsibility of the organization. On the other hand, the employee is responsible for planning his or her career. Career Planning is a process of setting up employee career objectives and developing activities that will achieve them. According to Sims (2002), career planning is the process by which an individual formulates career goals and develops a plan for reaching those goals. Career Management refers to specific human resource activities, such as job placement, performance appraisal, counseling, training, and education. According to Adams and Morrison (1991), career management is a set of programs that represent the organization’s requirements (p.34). Career management emphasizes the recognition and response to the changing interests and needs of employees as they grow and mature within the organization. Career management takes the organization’s point of view in putting together job ladders, career paths, rotation programs, and planned learning activities to improve the supply of talent among current employees (Clardy 1996).   Recommendations for Career Development 1. Effective Performance Appraisal – Performance appraisal plays an important part in career development. The effectivity of a performance appraisal starts with the adequate explanatory material about the performance appraisal system and how it works (Rudman 2003). In addition, the organization should employ the developmental approach in performance appraisal. The organization should use this approach is to motivate and direct individual performance as well as career development efforts. The focus should be on future planning; counseling and interaction between the manager and employees. Emphasis should be placed on goal setting as well as review. This appraisal system allows the manager, supervisor and employee to share responsibility. The basis of this approach is future goals and plans for future development. The organization must use a performance appraisal system that will help in the development of a person’s career as well as enhance communications and understanding (Eggland and Gilley 1998). Walker 1980, provided different techniques that can be used by managers and human resource managers. These are: 1. Narrative appraisals – open-ended interaction regarding individual performance 2. Goal setting and review – identification of goals mentally, followed by comparison of performances against those goals 3. Rating scales – performance is measured against predetermined factors 4. Checklists – performance is rated against a list of normative factors 5. Critical incidents – examples of good and bad performance are identified by the appraiser as they occur and maintain until review 6. Ranking – relative performance is completed by the appraiser Any or all of these methods can be utilized by the managers and human resource personnel in the performance appraisal of employees. 2. Career Pathing - Career pathing is a technique that addresses the specifics of progressing from one job to another in the organization (Sims 2002, p. 228). The formalized career paths lead to precise descriptions of chronological work experiences as well as how the different sequences relate to one another. The organization must use career pathing activities that will enhance skills, competencies, and knowledge of employees. Organizations use three existing career paths (Sims 2002). The organization should develop effective career pathing programs that: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Include 	lateral and downward possibilities, as well as upward possibilities</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Are 	provisional and quick to respond to changes in organizational needs</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Are 	flexible enough to take into account the qualities of each employee</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Specifically define each jobs along the paths in terms of acquired skills, 	knowledge, and other detailed qualities (Jackson 1999) </li> </ul> 3. Career Counseling - Career counseling is the activity that integrates the different steps in the career-planning process. Career counseling may be performed by an employee’s immediate manager, a HRM specialist (or a combination of the two), or outside consultants (Sims 2002). The immediate manager must be the one to conduct the counseling with appropriate input from HRM personnel. The career counseling programs that the organization must employ should address a wide variety of career-related issues and are readily accessible to people in the organization.   Task 5: Employment/Labor Relations             Labor Relations according to Sims (2002) is the process of dealing with employees who are represented by a union. A labor union can be defined as an organization of employees that uses collective action to advance its members’ interests in regard to shared job-related goals, including items such as higher pay, shorter working hour, enhanced benefits, and better working conditions. Collective bargaining, a specific aspect of labor relations is the process by which unions seek to manage their working environment. Collective bargaining is the process by which managers and union leaders negotiate acceptable terms and conditions of employment for workers represented by unions.   In order to form positive relations between the company and its employees, the CEO needs to possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="circle"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Knowledge of labor relations principles, practices, procedures, strategies, 	and trends including contract negotiation, interest based bargaining and 	dispute resolution</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of private 	personnel administration as applied to labor relations issues</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Knowledge of laws and regulations and guidelines pertaining to labor 	relations</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Knowledge of the principles, practices and trend in benefits administration</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Knowledge of grievance procedures</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Excellent oral and written communication skills</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Good 	public speaking/presentation skills</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ability 	to develop, interpret and administer contract provisions</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ability 	to represent the organization effectively during bargaining sessions</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ability 	to analyze facts and make sound decisions based on evidence presented and 	applicable laws, rules and precedents</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ability 	to resolve conflict through persuasion, mediation, and negotiation</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ability 	to establish and maintain effective working relationships with company 	officials, employee representatives and regulatory agencies</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Ability 	to plan and to direct the works of others</li> </ul>   Conclusion             The case of High Air presents a bird’s eye view of the different human resource management issues that organization’s face today. Like many organizations today, High Air is experiencing a revolution that I would like to call as the human resource revolution. Human Resource Management has emerge as an important organizational department that has the potential to make or break the organization. Now, HRM is considered as a strategic partner – a partner that can help the organization achieve its goals and objectives. High Air faces many human resource management issues that, if dealt with effectively, will make a milestone for the company. In order to achieve its goals, the company needs to restructure the HR processes within its company. From job analysis to employee relations, the management must make sure that it communicates, through its policies and practices, its commitment to its people.   Bibliography Adair, J. E. (2004). The Concise Adair on Teambuilding and Motivation, (N Tomas ed.) London: Thorogood.   Adams, J. and Morrison, R. (Eds.). (1991). Contemporary Career Development Issues. Hillside NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.   Anatasai, A. (1982). Psychological Testing. New York: Macmillan.   Avery, C. and Zabel, D. (2001). The Flexible Workplace: A Sourcebook of Information and Research. Westport CT: Quorum Books.   Brewster, C., Harris, H., and Sparrow, P. (2004). Globalizing Human Resource Management. New York: Routledge.   Burke, R. and Cooper, C. (Eds.). (2004). Reinventing Human Resources Management: Challenges and New Directions. New York: Routledge.   Buyens, D. and De Vos, A. (1999). The Added Value of the HR Department. In Brewster, C. & Harris, H. (Eds.) International HRM: Contemporary Issues   in Europe (pp.31-47). New York: Routledge.   Clardy, A. (1996). Managing Human Resources: Exercises, Experiments, and  Applications Workbook. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.   Eggland, S. A. and Gilley, J. W.  (1998). Principles of Human Resource Development. Reading MA: Addison Wesley.   Gatewood, R. D. and Field, H. S. (2001). Human Resource Selection. Hinsdale, IL: Dryden.   Jackson, C. (August 1999). Career Path. Hospital & Health Networks, 20.   Lengnick-Hall, M and Lengnick-Hall, C. (2004). The HR Function in the New Economy. In R. Burke and C. Cooper, (Eds.), Reinventing Human Resources Management: Challenges and New Directions (pp. 35-53). New York: Routledge.   Messenger, J. C. (2004). ‘Working Time at the Enterprise Level: Business Objectives, Firms’ Practices and Workers’ Preferences’, in J. C. Messenger (ed), Working Time and Workers' Preferences in Industrialized Countries: Finding the Balance (pp. 147 – 194). New York: Routledge.   Olmstead, B. and Smith, S. (1994). Creating a Flexible Workplace: How to Select and Manage Alternative Work Options. New York: Amacom.   Rudman, R. (2003). Performance Planning and Review: Making Employee Appraisals Work. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin.   Sims, R. (2002). Organizational Success through Effective Human             Resources Management. Westport CT: Quorum Books.   Ulrich, D. (1997). Human Resource Champions: The Next Agenda for Adding Value and Delivery Results. Harvard Business School Press.   Ulrich, D., Brockbank, W., Yeung, A. K. and Lake, D. G. (1995). Human Resource Competencies: An Empirical Assessment. Human Resource Management 34(4), 473-95.   Walker, J. (1994). ‘Integrating the Human Resource Function with the Business’, Human Resource Planning. 17(2), 59+.

Human Resource Management of High Air

High Air Table of Contents ...

CAREER PLANNING         Career planning is a personal decision although family, peers and environment has a strong motivation towards the decision making process but the final decision should come from a person themselves but the good news is its never too early or too late to start today and there is no single formula that can best fit your plan the real secret of career planning is to really decide what you want in your life. It should not come out of necessity or needs but the best way is to really decide what you want? What is your interest? What is your assessment or measurement in your ability and what can you do reach your goal step by step? these are the keys to career planning.              Career planning should start at the earliest age of a child the question of who do you want to be or what do you want to be when you grow up? is the first step in career planning and it should start at home. This question starts the consciousness of a child to develop what they really want to be in life, parents has a very important role to deal in their hobbies and what talents children have, nourished with support and involvement with different activities. This can develop their ability and strengthen their inner self to be more confidence in reaching what they want until it becomes their goal rather than neglecting them on what they want to do that usually ends up into a paradigm shift and confusion in the mind of a child when they usually graduated in high school they usually suffer on taking what course do they like to take. This is like a road that leads to nowhere, but when a child is deep rooted and expose to their goals and interest most likely they grow up in a good path, so it is very important to guide the children in their interest but do not force them.       Write your goal or career plan this can be a guiding map that leads you step by step to what you really like for example write your plan for this week of what are you going to do, writing your short term and long term goal if you are going to college what course would it be? Or if you are already employed would you change your career or would you like to be promoted? And how are you going to do it step by step? The next paragraph should help you decide what to write.         Study or master the course you really like or if you are already employed and want a career shift then you have to learn to study further through engaging in any activities that can even upgrade or update your knowledge. Studying in college usually takes a person to the theoretical learning but in reality there is so much more to learn and it should continue. Universities is just a formal institution so get yourself involved by joining organizations that can harness your growth potential or at least be engage in an organizations that has a related goals. For example if you are a natural inventor then by all means be involved in most science fair in school or in your community or online science club, or if you are an IT you should be updated to the constant upgrades of programs that’s already there. It doesn’t matter what position you are right now if the company or organizations that you have joined have seen your tremendous potential they will gladly put you in the best position that fits your ability.            Mix with the right persons if you really want to learn more or if you are really a passionate person then deal with the persons who have the same goals. Go with the persons who always want to achieve success and it’s not hard if you have the same needs and same vision in life you can easily get along well. Don’t be afraid to ask for valuable advice with the most successful persons in your field of interest such as your professor, your top classmates if you are a student, managers or supervisors if you are employed you will later find out that some of the most successful people are willing to share their success and they will eventually help you on your way up.       Technical reality check, take action to change your status and decide what you want as a career, identify what you need to change even if it is your knowledge or attitude to be promoted or ask someone to assist you such as your supervisor or human resource personnel, most of all always exercise and practice the best performance in your company or organization. You should also provide time, knowledge and effort to deal with the things that you have never done. For example if you are just a data encoder, spent at least an hour to study programming, video or image editing or accounting that is needed in your company with our without pay if you have time and if they allow you, for this will make you to grow. Brian Michael Bañez is just a fifteen year old boy who became a part of the I.T. administration in their church without formal computer education by simply tapping one old unused computer everyday but he was rejected he proved that he has so much to show at his age when he develop amazing shows and videos in their church. You don’t need to boost your knowledge but it will eventually show in your performance. Finally take advantage on each and every opportunity that comes on your way. Again there is no single formula in a career planning you will need to learn to discover it within you.        Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Career Planning

CAREER PLANNING Career planning is a personal decision although family, peers and environment has a strong motivation towards...