Reference no: EM133136804

New to International Human Resources Management - written by Sandra Slopinski

Praveen Ponuro was so excited to have landed the Human Resources Consultant job at a top well known Global company! The interview process had been rigorous and took four rounds of interviews and testing to finally have the offer of employment from the Futuristic Films Inc. division in Vancouver! The head office was located in Hollywood, California and they had locations in Texas, and New York, as well as Japan, and Australia. This new job would transition Praveen from Domestic Human Resources Management, from which he had four years of experience, into International Human Resources Management. He knew this job would be far more complex and challenging working in a multinational context.

Praveen reported to work at the head office extra early before 8:00 am to ensure he was not late on his first day. He had taken the public transportation earlier last week to make sure he knew how to get to the office building in Vancouver. He was looking very forward to meeting his colleagues and getting to know everyone. He had done his research about the business online before his interviews started and knew some of the key public things about Futuristic Films Inc. which is a movie production company specializing in animation films.

Two months later Praveen was run off his feet with the workload and all of the learning at a new company. Another project just landed on his desk that involved hiring production assistants who would work in Paris at MOVE Animation. Futuristic Films had just signed an International Joint Venture with MOVE Animation. Futuristic Films was really expanding and had just acquired a movie company in Scotland called BRAW Films in Glasgow as well. He needed to hire three new assistants for Paris and five for Scotland. He knew of about two employees at the Vancouver location that would be really interested in getting a global assignment. Perhaps some staff members would want the opportunity for a promotion to production assistant as well.

Praveen went to get a coffee in the staff lounge and his colleague Bisi could see he was looking a bit stressed. "What is going on?", Bisi asked.

Praveen explained the situation with the new human resources projects.

"I think Carolyn would be great for the Paris production assistant job! She has that same job here already and does such good work." Bisi said, supporting Carolyn for this international assignment.

"Right, I know Carolyn," Praveen said nodding, "her kids go to school with my daughter and I know her husband who manages my favorite restaurant here in Vancouver!"

"I will have to contact Carolyn." Praveen thanked Bisi for his help and walked back to his desk and felt slightly better with some ideas for international staffing brewing in his mind. He sat down and took a sip of his coffee and looked out the window. At least he had a window in his office, he thought. Having a window and an office was a big improvement over his last job working in a dull grey cubicle in a noisy office.

Praveen was required to have "boots on the ground", the new production assistants in place and on site by May 1st. That meant he had two months to get going on this project, and in the middle of an ongoing pandemic in British Columbia and the world. Although things seemed to be settling down and more normalized again.

He had a lot to think about and refresh his mind on IHRM and international staffing, recruitment, and selection. He knew that sometimes the expatriate assignments fail and leave the employee and the company in a rough spot that can get expensive.

Praveen remembered a memo from the Vice President about the need to have more women in the production positions as well. He had also heard that there was a shortage of qualified animation production assistants in Scotland when the news of the acquisition was shared with him which was well after the start of the acquisition process. Right now, BRAW Films focused on television, documentaries, and feature films.

He wondered how to staff for those roles after the acquisition of that company. He wondered what approach to staffing he should take and what types of international assignments should be used. He knew that he had to avoid the expatriate staffing failures as he was still new to this job himself and needed to be successful. He knew he had to prove himself to his new boss as well.

Praveen needed to come up with a plan, and fast.

Questions

Explain what Praveen should do between now and the end of May to make sure everything runs smoothly for himself, the company, and the eight new production assistants. Include what Praveen will need to ensure he does for International Human Resources Management and International Staffing and Selection. Explain what selection criteria and staffing methods Praveen should use. Also include some of the disadvantage and issues he will want to be aware of and ensure that they are avoided so he can be successful on this project.