PASS

Well done please see

comments at the end
Research Proposal
1.0

Good: a clear title that

states your research
question

Working Title

The working title for this dissertation exists currently as:

To what extent can a Human Resources Company outsource its Human Resources
Function? A case study of Sun Microsystems.
Preliminary studies indicate that the human resources department at Sun Microsystems structures its
activities to operate as a Human Resources Company. When we compare Guests model of the
Human Resources Company (1987) to that of the activities within the human resources department
Pleased to see that preliminary studies indicate the dissertation
of Sun Microsystems there are arguably many similarities.
Further discussions to establish that the
is feasible using Sun as a case study. We will need to discuss
human resources department of Sun Microsystems exists
as
a Human
Company will be
this further
at ourResources
first meeting.
included in the literature review chapter of the study.
2.0

n.b. no need for initials when referencing

Background

In recent years there has been much debate surrounding the purpose and philosophy of Human
Resources Management, particularly discussions concerning the transition or formation of HRM
from Personnel Management (Guest E 1987; Storey 1992; Sisson K 1994; Legge K 1995; Kennoy T
et al 1990).
This is a poor reference it is a trade
Outsourcing in recent years is a topic that one would traditionallymag.
associate with the Information

Technology industry. Research suggests that an increasing number of private companies and
government agencies are outsourcing the management of their IT operations in an attempt to reduce
internal overheads (Smith S 1997): Outsourcing has now reached a new dimension. All
departments within an organisation outsource in one way or another. As the terms used to define
outsourcing are so broad and vary widely in accordance to the project or activity you are
outsourcing, it is difficult to ascertain what the precise forms of outsourcing are and what the
reasons are for undertaking it. You will need to further academic reading in this area. Again, we must
Not in your references!
discuss.

It might be useful

Research by Johnson (1997) suggests that outsourcing exists in many forms within an organisation.to link this into
He defines outsourcing within a human resources context to be a service that implies a transfer ofthe flexible
an administrative responsibility to an outside organisation, an arrangement that changes both serviceworking debate.
delivery and internal staffing patterns (1997:p5). He goes on further to say that consultants,
independent contractors, temporary workers and institutions that manage activities or functions for
the organisation externally, can also be classed under the outsourcing umbrella.
Johnson stated that there are ten primal reasons for outsourcing, these can be split into two halves;
strategic and tactical (1997:p10). Some of Johnsons strategic reasons for outsourcing are to
increase business focus, access world-class capabilities and to free resources for other purposes
(1997:p11). This identification of the true meaning of outsourcing links into research undertaken by
Carney (1997). He describes the pressures common to human resources departments worldwide as
striving to redefine their role: to attain strategic partner status within their organisations, and in
doing so to deliver clear and measurable results to both employees and shareholders (1997:p15).
Carney discusses the use of outsourcing as a method of overcoming increasing pressures. This
solution is supported by various other authors (Swaak A 1996; Seeley S 1992; Hall L 1995;
Wheatley M 1994).
Not in your references.

The research project intends to examine the use of outsourcing within human resources. The study
will establish what the core functions of the human resources department are, and will also ascertain
the driving philosophy behind the activities of the human resources department (Guest 1987,
Keenoy 1990, Legge 1995, Sisson 1994, Storey 1989, Tichy et all 1982, Tyson 1995). Analysis will
be drawn as to what uses outsourcing has within a human resources department, and to what

All these
references are
towards the
trade end of
the literature.
You need some
academic as
well.

Is this going to be based on the literature or on Sun, this

plan implies Sun? See suggestion on next page.

Suggestion:

1
Establish what HR literature says on outsourcing HRM.
2. Compare this with what is happening at Sun
3. Explain (account for differences)
4. Suggest changes (amendments)to what found out in the HR literature

extent human resources can be outsourced; addressing the issues of how? What? and why? (Carney
1997, Baker 1996, Hall 1995, Jones 1996, Seeley 1992, Spee 1995, Wheatley 1994).
This could be
expressed
more clearlyThrough

comparing theory to the reality of a case study it is possible to generate a hierarchy of

human resources activities that could be outsourced. The intention of the author is to revisit the
case study and apply the hierarchy in order to assess and identify the optimum use of outsourcing
within a human resources contact. The research study will conclude by making suggestions as to
why human resources activities differ in their extent to how effectively they can be outsourced, and
will also review the underlying theory of the hierarchy.
The majority of research undertaken for the study will be collated using two main literature sources.
Namely, books and journal articles. Primary research will be undertaken through, in-depth
interviews (Saunders et al 1997:p212) with human resources professionals within the case study
No need for page no. unless a quote
company.
Detailed below is a short summary of the professional contacts that will be interviewed with a
purpose to gain information for the study.
Have these
people agreed to
be interviewed?
Paul Harrison Human Resources Director N.E. Sun Microsystems Ltd.
To develop understanding of the role the Human Resources function at Sun, and the use of
outsourcing within it.

Mike Dunlop Senior Human Resources Manager, Sun Microsystems Ltd.

To provide personal experience of outsourcing within the HR function, across differing industries;
with specific reference to outsourcing the payroll operation.
Edel Kevile Human Resources Manager, Sun Microsystems Ltd.
To develop understanding of outsourcing the specific function of Carfleet Management; with
specific reference to the computer industry.
Catherine Moody Carfleet Manager, Sun Microsystems Ltd.
To highlight the reasoning, advantages and difficulties of outsourcing the Carfleet Management at
Sun Microsystems ltd.
In addition the author will also interview the contact shown below with a mind to gaining
information set in a wider context.
This is clearly
thought

Hilda Barrett Human Resources Director, East Asia, Microsoft Ltd.

through well
done.
To develop my understanding of the role Human Resources and outsourcing plays within the
computer industry.
The bibliography given at the end of this report lists the texts and titles that will be used to research
many aspects of this study. The research completed to date has been of a general nature, focusing
widely in three main dimensions: outsourcing, human resource management, and outsourcing and
human resource management as a combined topic.
3.0

This needs to be expressed

more clearly there are two
objectives within this.

Research Objectives

The study wishes to achieve the following objectives:

1.
2.
3.
4.

From literature identify what constitutes HR at Sun in comparison with theory.

From literature identify what constitutes outsourcing.
From literature evaluate the reasons for outsourcing, highlighting the positive and negative
issues of the outsourcing method.
Establish what aspect of the HR department at Sun is already outsourced.

5.
6.
7.

Develop a hierarchy to ascertain what aspects of HR can be outsourced, in order to draw

comparisons between theory and the case study.
Suggest as to why human resources activities differ in their extent to how effectively they can
be outsourced.
Review the underlying theory of the hierarchy.

4.0

Approach

As discussed in section 2.0 objectives will be completed through collating research using both
primary and secondary methods. Primary data will be gathered using in-depth interviews (Saunders
et al 1997:p212). The interviews will be conducted through interviewing human resources contacts
within my case study company at Sun Microsystems.

This method has been chosen because as Saunders et al explained unstructured interviews are
informal, and can be used to explore in-depth a general area (1997:p212), namely outsourcing
within a human resources context. There will be no pre-determined list of questions (Saunders et
al 1997:p212) to work from, however, the interviewer will have set out a clear plan of the topics she
wishes to cover before the interview takes place. The study will form a discursive and evaluative
nature using qualitative research to explore and support arguments, rather than presenting
quantitative data as the main focus of the study.

Secondary information will be gathered using a variety of texts. These will largely consist of
academic, professional and trade periodicals, and a selection of books.

The case study method has been chosen as the main focus for the study as the author has first hand
knowledge and understanding of outsourcing in intends to draw conclusions that will enable her to
develop a hierarchy as explained in sections 2.0 and 3.0operation within Sun Microsystems (the
case study company). Using this method the author.

Further dimensions to this study could be to apply the hierarchy to other case study organisations of
a similar or perhaps contrasting type.

I doubt you will have time for this . Just concentrate on Sun

5.0

Time scales

Target Date

Month

Task to be achieved

I was please to
1 linked
Start thinking about dissertation ideas and reading
see this
to your
the literature
objectives
2
Objectives of literature defined, with reference to

Start June
September
October
End November
End December

3
4
5

End January

End February
End March
Beginning May

7
8
9

literature
Submit formal proposal
Literature read
Literature review drafted
Interview schedule designed
Secondary & primary data collect and analysed
Literature review extended further
Further write up and analysis
Draft completed including formatting bibliography
Draft revised as necessary
Submit dissertation

Objective
covered

Completed
Completed
Done
1, 2 & 3
4
5
6&7

Remember to leave enough time for format and printing this can take more time than
you think in big documents and problems are to be expected!

6.0

References

This is a far more detailed bibliography than necessary or

expected Well done. It does, however, highlight that you are
using a lot of trade journals. Keep these but supplement them
with academic articles as well

Baker D (Nov 1996) Are you throwing money away by outsourcing? Personnel Journal v75 n11
p105.
Blyton P & Turnbull P (1994) Reassessing Human Resource Management London Sage
Publications.
Carney W (1997) Outsourcing HR and Benefits: Navigating the Right Course: Benefits and
Compensations International March p15-20, 22-23.
Guest D E (1987) Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations Journal of Management
Studies v24 n5 p503-521.
N.b. rest
of references
are not included
in this example
(10-12
references
Guest D E (1987)
Human
Resource Management:
Its implications
for industrial
relations
and trade
would
be fineLondon
in yourRoutledge
Proposal)
unions, in Storey J (ed) New Perspectives in Human Resource
Management
p4155.

This is a good proposal with which you should be well pleased.

I thin you will need to firm up your objectives when we meet and clarify the methodology.
However, there are no serious deficiencies well done.
Now all that remains is to turn it into a good dissertation! It has the potential as you have
clearly shown.
Please dont let yourself (or me!) down.
Well Done.

Either italicise or
underline
n.b. I ve not
corrected
subsequent
references