Understanding Organisations and the Role of Human Resources - Coursework Example

Learning outcome 1

Assessment Criteria 1.1

It may be particularly important to identify the purpose and goals of TeverBlast. Speaking of the former, one should not that the company in question strives to popularize metal music and increase the awareness of the people of the young bands that are created by the local musicians. In order to do so, TeverBlast set a number of goals. They are: creation of a framework where songs can be shared and purchased; effective promotion of local bands; cultural exchange between different parts of the country; establishment of a platform that will be number one choice for young musicians.

Assessment Criteria 1.2

TeverBlast is a company that provides a young range of services for young metal musicians. First of all, it has a digital store that the bands can upload their albums to and sell it legally. Secondly, it carries out the promotion of a band, organizing concerts all over the country and providing adequate media coverage. TeverBlast can also help musicians to record an album so that it will sound professional. In other words, the company offers numerous services that will be extremely helpful for young bands that are willing to promote their music. Speaking of the major customers, one should mention three categories. The first and the most obvious one include the young musicians. It is obvious that they will be the most interested party in this case. However, there are other customers. For example, there are various organisations that are looking for young bands and TeverBlast can facilitate interaction between them. Finally, there are ordinary people who may be interested in exploring the local metal scene and listen to songs that were created by yet unknown bands.

Assessment criteria 1.3

Political factors

If one takes a close look at the political factors that influence the company, one will be able to see that there are numerous norms and regulations that must be adhered to. For example, it is essential that TeverBlast legally sells the recordings; otherwise, it will be charged with copyright infringement. Another point that should be mentioned is that the interaction between the organisation and the band should be based on a contrast in order to avoid any misunderstandings. Finally, TeverBlast must pay taxes to the government.

Economic factors

Nowadays, the digital dimension of music industry has developed very well. That is why one might identify certain objective standards that should be adhered to. So, if TeverBlast charges $10 for a song nobody will buy it since it is possible to buy many songs using iTunes for that money. As a result, the organisation in question should think about the ongoing competition and set the prices accordingly. Another point that should be mentioned is today people are more willing to buy music online; so, it may not be logical for young bands to issue CDs which makes service provided by TeverBlast quite appealing.

Social factors

It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that music has been following the humanity since the dawn of times. That is why today it is an irreplaceable part of culture. What is even more important is that some elements of metal music have been incorporated into the mainstream culture, making this form of art widely acceptable. As a result, it is quite possible to become popular while playing this genre of music. Therefore, there is a large number of young talented people who are expressing their creative energy in this way and may be interesting in capitalising on it.

Technological factors

It is easier to record an album these days than ever before. TeverBlast possesses all the needed equipment that provides a band with an opportunity to record an album the quality of which will be extremely high. In addition to that, the popularity of social media gave a rise to a platform that attracts the attention of the people and allows local bands to be widely known. That is why it is obvious that TeverBlast can not only record an album effectively but distribute and promote it as well.

Learning Outcome 2

Assessment Criteria 2.1

If one examines the structure of the organisation in question, one will be able to see that it features flat structure. Indeed, there is one CEO, John Constantine. There are several heads of departments who report to him directly. The departments are Information Technology, Human Resource, Sales, Marketing, and Recording. The heads of departments, in their turn, have managers that report to them. The following functions are performed by the different organisational departments. Thus, IT department is in charge of equipment that is used and enables the company to use technology properly. HR department focuses on management of the personnel, making sure that every person who is employed by the company is treated adequately. In addition to that HR is also in charge of disciplinary issues, and serves as a platform where arguments that emerge between the employees or between the employer and the employees are resolved. Sales department primarily focuses on selling records, concert videos, and contact information with the help of TeverStore. It is involved in every deal and negotiation, making sure that the organisation is able to make the most out of interaction with other companies. The marketing department is responsible for designing plans that would promote the bands, their songs and negotiates their concerts. It creates and assigns a certain image to every band and reinforces it through a series of well thought through actions. Finally, there is recording department that is responsible for recording the instruments, mixing and issuing records. The employees engaged in this department interact with the bands directly and give advice regarding the quality of their sound.

Assessment Criteria 2.2

Needless to say that the functions work together effectively in order to optimise the performance of the organisation in question. For example, IT and Marketing are aligned together so that the latter are aware of all the possibilities that technology provides people these days. In other words, IT outlines the available opportunities and Marketing figures out how they can be used. There is also close cooperation between IT and Sales. Thus, the former created TeverStore that is used by the latter as the major platform to sell the products and services. HR actively cooperates with all other functions and makes sure that the organisation employs the people who have the right set of skills and abilities to achieve what is needed. In addition to that, it is also responsible for hiring new people that will bring new ideas and practices into every department, making sure that they utilise up-to-date approaches. Finally, Recording, Marketing, and Sales interact effectively in order to create the appealing product and sell it. Moreover, the young bands have to be attracted to the organisation which is the major responsibility of Marketing with Recording providing free sessions that would ignite the interest of the musicians.

Assessment Criteria 2.3

Organisational culture is something that is considered to be extremely important in the contemporary business world. Thus, Schein (2010) argues that this concept is made up of three elements: artefacts, espoused values, and underlying assumptions. Speaking of artefacts that can be identified in TeverBlast, one should mention the following: there is a logo, the official colour of the organisation (black), and a slogan: "Making the world metal, one thing at a time". The espoused values include responsibility, commitment, and professionalism. The underlying assumptions are integrity and true appreciation of metal talent. The culture affects the operations in two major ways. First of all, it recognises the hard work of the employees and rewards them accordingly. For example, if the people in the recording department are responsible for recording a particularly successful album, their work will be appreciated and they will enjoy bonuses. That is why every person in the organisation knows that if one does one's work well, one will be able to enjoy different rewards. As a result, people try to do their best, knowing that the CEO will appreciate it. Secondly, one should also point out that the culture encourages the employee to work on their personal growth. Indeed, given the fact that good performance is rewarded, the employees are constantly trying to expand their set of skills and learning something new. That is why professional, as well as personal growth, has become an irreplaceable part of culture. Indeed, this may surprise the newcomers, but the veterans now that TeverBlast encourages the employee to be all they can be and achieve something that they even did not expect they could.

Learning outcome 3

Assessment Criteria 3.1

It may be particularly important to examine the alignment between activities performed by Human Resource department as well as the strategy that guided the actions of the organisation. First of all, one should point out that HR is responsible for understanding the needs of the employees and aligning them with the organisational objectives. Indeed, it is often suggested that employees are the most valuable asset of an organisation (Hickman 2005). That is why it is logical to make sure that their needs are satisfied and that they are able to express their potential. The second point that should be mentioned is that HR is responsible for recruiting people that have the right skills. In other words, it supplies the best professionals that will later be employed by the organisation. Needless to say, that many of the activities that are vital for the strategy cannot be carried out unless there is a professional in charge of them. That is why HR literally provides the building blocks that are used to create the structure of the company and make sure that the latter has the right people. Finally, one should also keep in mind that HR is largely responsible for managing the morale of the workforce. It is rather obvious that the employees who are not motivated to achieve something will never the successful in this endeavor. As a result, it is crucial to make sure that the workforce is motivated properly and it is a direct responsibility of HR to do so. All this leads to the understanding that the activities of this department have a significant influence on the manner in which organisational strategy is achieved.

Assessment Criteria 3.2

HR professionals can support line managers and their staff in numerous ways. To begin with, it is important to state that this department oversees the recruitment process and makes sure that every person is treated properly even though one has not formally become an employee. In other words, HR is responsible for keeping the recruitment process within the acceptable boundaries. This means that the staff will enjoy the available opportunities to their fullest and the managers will not be able to have any influence on the process when they are not supposed to. Moreover, the same applies to the promotions. Secondly, one would make no mistake, pointing out that HR professionals are largely responsible for managing distribution of pay and benefits. It is quite obvious that no matter how much people may love what they do, they are always interested in earning money for living. That is why the issue of compensation is the one that should be addressed properly. Another pint that should be mentioned is that the employer provides various benefits that the employees are able to enjoy. As a result, HR should make sure that the latter has the full access to the benefits that they are entitled to. Finally, one should also examine the issue of disciplinary charges and grievances. It is quite obvious that sometimes there may be a conflict between employees or with the employer and it is essential that this situation is handled properly. HR offers its services as a platform that allows the two parties to come to a consensus that will mutually agreeable. In addition to that, this department makes sure that the concerns that are voiced by the staff or the managers are properly examined and the organisational attention is brought to it.