Reference no: EM133247362

Human Resource Management

Case Study #1

Watson Public Ltd Company is well known for its welfare activities and employee oriented schemes in manufacturing industry from more than ten decade. The company employs more than 800 workers and 150 administrative staff and 80 management level employees. The Top level management views all the employees at same level. This can be clearly understood by seeing the uniform of the company which is Same for all starting from MD to floor level workers. The company have 2 different cafeterias at different places one near the plant for workers and other near the Administration building. Though the place is different the amenities, infrastructure and the food provided are of same quality. In short the company stands by the rule Employee Equality.

The company has one registered trade union and the relationship between the union and the management is very cordial. The company has not lost a single man day due to strike. The company is not a pay master in that industry. The compensation policy of that company, when compared to other similar companies, is very less still the employees don't have many grievances due to the other benefits provided by the company. But the company is facing countable number of problems in supplying the materials in recent past days. Problems like quality issues, mismatch in packing materials (placing material A in box of material B) incorrect labeling of material, not dispatching the material on timeetc...

The management views the case as there are loop holes in the system of various departments and hand over the responsibility to HR department to solve the issue. When the HR manager goes through the issues he realized that the issues are not relating to system but it relates to the employees. When investigated he come to know that the reason behind the casual approach by employees in workis
• The Company hired new employees for higher level post without considering the potential internal candidates.
• The newly hired employees are placed with higher packages than that of existing employees in the same cadre.

Question 1. Narrate the situation with suitable Title for the case. Justify yourTitle.

Question 2. The points rose by the HR manger as reason for the latest issues in the organization is justifiable or not. Support your answer with Human resource relatedconcepts.

Question 3. Help the organization to come out from this critical issue. If you are in the role of HR manager what will be your immediate step to solve this case.

Case Study #2

Satish was a Sales Manager for Industrial Products Company in City branch. A week ago, he was promoted and shifted to Head Office as Deputy Manager - Product Management for a division of products which he was not very familiar with. Three days ago, the company VP - Mr. George, convened a meeting of all Product Managers. Satish's new boss (Product Manager Ketan) was not able to attend due to some other preoccupation. Hence, the Marketing Director, Preet - asked Satish to attend the meeting as this would give him an exposure into his new role.

At the beginning of the meeting, Preet introduced Satish very briefly to the VP. The meeting started with an address from the VP and soon it got into a series of questions from him to every Product Manager. George, of course, was pretty thorough with every single product of the company and he was known to be pushy and a blunt veteran in the field. Most of the Product Managers were very clear of George's ways of working and had thoroughly prepared for the meeting and were giving to the point answers. George then started with Satish. Satish being new to the product, was quite confused and fared miserably.

Preet immediately understood that George had possibly failed to remember that Satish was new to the job. He thought of interrupting George's questioning and giving a discrete reminder that Satish was new. But by that time, George who was pretty upset with the lack of preparation by Satish made a public statement "Gentlemen, you are witnessing here an example of sloppy work and this can't be excused". Now Preet was in two minds - should he interrupt George and tell him that Satish is new in that position OR should he wait till the end of the meeting and tell George privately. Preet choose the second option.

Satish was visibly angry at the treatment meted out by George but he also chose to keep mum. George quickly closed the meeting saying that he found in general, lack of planning in the department and asked Preet to stay back in the room for further discussions. Before Preet could give any explanation on Satish, George asked him "Tell me openly, Preet, was I too rough with that boy?" Preet said "Yes, you were. In fact, I was about to remind you that Satish is new to the job". George explained that the fact that Satish was new to the job didn't quite register with him during the meeting. George admitted that he had made a mistake and asked his secretary to get Satish report to the room immediately.A perplexed and uneasy Satish reported to George's room after few minutes.

George looking Satish straight into his eyes said "I have done something which I should have never even thought of and I want to apologise to you. It is my mistake that I did not recollect that you were new to the job when I was questioning you".Satish was left speechless.

George continued "I would like to state few things clearly to you. Your job is to make sure that people like me and your bosses do not make stupid decisions. We have good confidence in your abilities and that is why we have brought you to the Head Office. For everybody, time is required for learning. I will expect you to know all the nuances of your product in three months' time. Until then you have my complete confidence". George closed the conversation with a big reassuring handshake with Satish.

Question 1. Was it at all necessary for George to apologise to such a junior employee like Satish?

Question 2. If you were in Satish's place, how would you to respond to George's apology?

Question 3. Would you employ George in your company?

Question 4. Did Preet make a mistake by not intervening during the meeting and correct George's misconception about Satish?

Question 5. As an HR man, how would you define the character of George - bullying but later regretting? Does his attitude need to be corrected?

Question 6. Would you be happy to have George/Preet as your boss?