Jobs and Work at R.R. Donnelley - Essay Example

Most of the employees in the Donnelley firm do not use new machinery and tools, which can increase their productivity. Therefore, the HR team needs to focus attention when a job needs to be redesigned. Training and development are the key issues in HR activities. HR team of R. R. Donnelley used training and development methods to enhance productivity. This HR activity also motivates and inspires the employees of Donnelley to work more and generate more production. Quality control and quality checking are also important for a production firm like Donnelley. Six-Sigma and other quality control process has been largely used in their training method. The HR team also introduces new technologies in making printing plates and films. It changes the job description of the employees of Donnelley. Training and development from the HR team train their employees to adopt new technology. As a result, productivity has increased by 20 percent in the last three years. This increment in production also stops building a new production unit. Therefore, this HR activity is cost-effective for Donnelley and increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the employees (Mathis and Jackson, 160-164; R.R Donnelley, Delivering Value Across the Supply Chain, p.1).

The technology involves almost every part of our lives. However, to the extent that our individual lives have been transformed, the business world has developed almost beyond appreciation in the past few decades. Caterpillar is a renowned infrastructure company in the world. Caterpillar is the biggest constructer of construction and mining equipment. In Caterpillar, the adoption of new technology is very common. In Caterpillar, we resolve the difficult environmental problem with new technology. Caterpillar has a good record as a technology direction. Caterpillar always used new and advanced technologies to meet its customer’s needs. As an infrastructure company, Caterpillar has to use different technologies regarding environmental problems. They adopt many technologies like ACERT, Mining technology, and autonomous robotics. (Innovative Technology, Caterpillar, p.1).

Caterpillar has a strong and dedicated HR team. All the HR rules and policies regarding Caterpillar employees are good. Since its inception, the company’s HR team has regularly examined and changed the HR policies whenever it is required. Different disciplinary policies and employee privacy issues are maintained very strongly by them. Caterpillar has very strong rules and regulations regarding its recruitment, orientation, performance appraisal, and retirement policies. Caterpillar HR policies also include the use of new technologies like the Internet and e-mail. Every employee has to follow the code of conduct of Caterpillar. Quick promotion and professional development are always motivating Caterpillar employees. From these examples, it is understandable that Caterpillar has strong and sound HR and management activities (Human Resources Professional Development Program, Caterpillar, p.1).

Although the total HR activities have developed in Caterpillar, some activities are needed to be improved. Caterpillar sometimes has done outsourcing business either directly or through subsidiaries in foreign countries. In such cases, contract workers and their employment status are known. This type of workplace diversity also creates a negative impact on the company image (Segacor, Good Outsourcing Bad Outsourcing, 24 June 2008, P-1). Harassment of different employees is now a common phenomenon. Caterpillar's HR department needs to be strong about the policies regarding employee harassment (Pirages R. James, Employment Practices Alert, 31 March 2004, P-1). Only committed HR practices can make a company stronger. Read More