People Management HR: Challenges and Choices - Essay Example

 Briefing Topic People Management HR: Challenges and Choices (Developing high performance working) Briefing Paper: Critically examine the challenges and choices HR Managers now face in regard to “Developing high performance working” Table of contents: 1. Abstract Page 3 2. Background to the briefing paper Page 4 3. What the assignment is asking me to do Page 5 4. What I know about the subject already Page 5 5. What I think my focus might be Page 5 6. What arguments I think I might want to make Page 6 7. What specific information I might need to construct my arguments Page 6 8. Which journals and books will I use Page 6 9. The structure of the final paper Page 6 10. The preliminary introduction Page 7 11. Summary of the briefing paper Page 7 12. ACTION PLAN, in table format, for the whole Assessment of the module. Page 8 13. References Page 9 Page 3 Abstract (overview of the briefing paper): This briefing paper is an aid for the information and the matter which I am going to provide in my detailed essay. The paper tells the method and the mode of approach which I am going to adopt for the final essay. My final essay paper will critically examine the challenges and choices which the human resource managers are now facing in regard to ‘Developing high performance working’. A good background to the briefing paper along with the knowledge I have developed about the topic will also be introduced. Apart from this I will also include all the arguments with focus centered on ‘Developing high performance working’. I will also include all the arguments which I am able to construct with regard to specific information which I will be collecting when presenting my final essay. I will also mention the resources which I will be using for this as well as the final essay. Page 4 Background to the briefing paper. The importance of the briefing paper: The importance of this briefing paper is to provide me with the basic idea as to how I should go about in writing my final essay. It will tell me the flow of my work and the topics that I will have to cover in completing the essay. The areas to be taken into consideration in arriving at a conclusion. What are the problems which I should address? How should I analyze the problems? My chosen topic is: Today’s organizations face a range of people management challenges. Critically examine the challenges and choices HR Managers now face in regard to; Developing high performance working. In this topic I will be covering: Criticisms that have been leveled at studies of high performance working practices and high performance work organizations, both at the theoretical and empirical levels. When it comes to theoretical level, the main thrust of the criticisms is that the theory is confused. At the risk of some oversimplification, we can (Guest, D.E, 1997) identify three major differences in current approaches. The first argues that there is one best fit of HPWPs to company strategy. (Youndt et al, 1996) found that in a sample of manufacturing plants there is a link between the use of high performance working practices (HPWPs) and a quality strategy. Others, such as (MacDuffie, 1995) could not find such a link in the automobile industry. A second approach is to argue that there is one best internal fit in that the more practices a company has, the higher the level of performance, as indicated by labor turnover, productivity and financial performance. Page 5 The third theoretical attack presumes that there can not be any one best fit, but rather a succession of bundles of practices that bring in improvements in different facets of organizational performance. The pragmatic job is then to recognize the exact nature of these bundles and their ingredients and then to institute how they create the preferred contact on the different indices of performance. What the assignment is asking me to do? The assignment will be covering all the aspects of the different current approaches and strategies in developing high performance working as a challenge to human resource managers. What I know about the subject already: I have already argued that High Performance Working Organizations (HPWOs) are key factors of an organization because they offer more professional ways of organizing human labor and at the same time the prospect of learning opportunities are extended to all their employees. The proposition that they also deliver higher levels of productivity and profitability is also examined. What I think my focus might be: My focus will be to examine two or more organizations which are high performance oriented. I will also be questioning myself as to whether the high performance oriented organizations have their productions and profits also on the higher side. Page 6 What arguments I think I might want to make: I will lay down the pros and cons of the topic chosen by me. The topic will be analyzed from all possible angles in such a way so as to bring out all the possible elements of the topic. I will analyze the topic with some examples which I will look for from the nets. Some organizations which have made some development with regard to their high performance will be examined. It will give me an inroad to approach the problems which the selected organization may have with regard to their performance. What specific information I might need to construct my arguments I will be consulting many latest corporate journals and books written by various authors. Also the different web sites will form a part of my reference from which I will be taking some information to construct my final essay. Which journals and books will I use? Most of the latest corporate journals and books by the following authors but not restricted to: Wood, S.; with de Menezes, L.; Lasaosa, A, Youndt, M.; Snell, S.A.; Dean, J.W. Lepak, D.P, MacDuffie, J.P and any other books which helps me in constructing my final essay, will be used by me. The structure of the final paper: The structure of the final paper will contain the following: Abstract; Introduction; Discussion; Critical analysis, Case studies and all other possible arguments for and against the topic will be covered in this essay. Page 7 The preliminary introduction: Workplace learning has become progressively crucial during the last decade. There are a plethora of different types of workplace learning, but I am specifically interested in that which takes place in high performance work organizations (HPWOs). These organizations contain some new phenomena, which have cropped up in a large part as a result of the process of globalization. I will be exploring the characteristics of these organizations in some detail. Summary of the briefing paper: I will conclude the paper with my own findings and put forward some recommendations which I will discover when I am doing my final essay. Page 8 Action plan, in table format, for the whole assessment of the module. Developing high performance working. Description Background • the importance of briefing paper • chosen title for individual paper • the structure of briefing paper (ie the areas going to cover). Findings What the assignment is asking me to do. What I know about the subject already. What I think my focus might be? What specific information I need to construct my arguments Which journals and books I will use to find that information. The structure of the final paper. The preliminary introduction of the final paper. Summary Findings and analysis References Different journals and books. Page 9 Reference: 1. Guest, D.E. (1997): Human resource management and performance: A review and research agenda, in International Journal of Human Resource Management, 8(3), pp. 263-290. 2. Youndt, M.; Snell, S.A.; Dean, J.W. Lepak, D.P. (1996): Human resource management, manufacturing strategy, and firm performance, in Academy of Management Journal, 39(4), pp. 836-866. 3. MacDuffie, J.P. (1995): Human resource bundles and manufacturing performance: Organizational logic and flexible production systems in the world auto industry, in Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 48, pp. 197-221. 4. Guest, D.E. (1997): Human resource management and performance: A review and research agenda, in International Journal of Human Resource Management, 8(3), pp. 263-290. 5. Wood, S.; with de Menezes, L.; Lasaosa, A. (2001): High involvement management and performance, paper delivered at CLMS, University of Leicester, May 2001. 6. Guest, D.E.; Hoque, K. (1994): The good, the bad and the ugly: Human resource management in new non-union establishments, in Human Resource Management Journal, 5(1), pp. 1-14. Read More