Objective 02:

The reasons the selection committee had for choosing only those factors for the selection
process which could not be acquired in a two year training program

Answer 02:
Selection may be expressed as the process of interviewing and evaluating candidates for a
specific job and selecting an individual for employment based on certain criteria. Employee
selection can range from a very simple process to a very complicated process depending on
the firm hiring and the position. Certain employment laws such as anti-discrimination laws
must be obeyed during employee selection.

To plan for the future recruitment needs of an organization, HR managers need to consider
the future, i.e. changes in mission, strategic goals and objectives, organizational demand, new
legislation or economic conditions.

Human Resources and hiring managers can use an organizational strategic plan as an input to
the recruitment needs assessment process. The aim of the recruitment needs assessment is to
ensure that people with the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are hired in the
numbers required by the organization in order to meet organizational goals and objectives.

As in the case of Ovania Chemicals, the selection committee has chosen to neglect the
knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) that may justifiably be deemed to be obtainable during a
maximum of Two-Year Training Period. This was deliberately done to encourage existing
System Analyzers to reapply and existing lower level employees to apply.

The company has had a troubled past with employee discrimination and most probably seen a
high employee turnover as may be expected from a discriminatory employment environment.
Under such conditions, the management seems to be leaning toward creating a fairer and just
employment environment. As such, it is reasonable for them to try and retain the current
employees when it is justifiable.

When faced with the option of hiring new System Analyzers, retaining existing System
Analyzers or promoting lower level employees to the System Analyzer position; the selection
committee in trying to follow the management’s lead of trying to retain existing employees and
creating a more healthy work environment has decided to leave out the KSAs that may be
justifiably expected to be attained within a Two-Year period which is the amount of time left till
the new job responsibilities come into effect.
This ensures a fair chance for the existing employees to be re-hired and/or promoted as the
case may be. The selection committee in effect is expecting the bare minimum from the
recruits or promotees which if not demanded may render the whole selection process
ineffective. This will eventually mean that any existing employee who may be selected for the
position may need to be trained for a period of Two Years or less (depending upon the level of
KSAs the employee possesses).

This does not necessarily mean that “new blood” is being discriminated against as they are also
being evaluated using the same bare minimum KSAs. It should however be noted that this also
encourages some “new blood” to apply for this position and possibly be accepted for the role
who may need a two year training program as well to function properly. This may increase the
costs for the company in training the “new bloods” unnecessarily as they might have been able
to recruit more fit personnel if they had chosen to evaluate them on the full range of KSAs
required to function optimally.

On the positive side, this move by the management may increase employee loyalty and reduce
overall employee turnover which may eventually lead to lower costs in terms of lower
recruitment costs in the future, less training needed due to skilled employees remaining in the
company for longer, etc. Also, this pushes the company toward creating and maintaining a
more healthy work environment.
Objective 03:
Discussing whether the concern for women getting down into the dirty treatment tank should
have been a selection issue and how that might be included in a selection battery.

Answer 03:
The issue is not whether women would be comfortable or willing to get down into dirty
treatment tanks. This issue is whether recruits would be comfortable or willing to get down into
dirty treatment tanks. Phrasing it in terms of women or minorities is simply racism and gender
discrimination.

The existing System Analyzers are all white males, some selection committee members think
women and minorities may not possess the required KSAs, many did not consider women were
fit for holding a prestigious job such as System Analyzer and finally, many thought women
would not get into dirty treatment tanks. The facts when put together into a single sentence
clearly explain Ovania’s unenviable history of employment discrimination charges.

It is fair to say that some women may not want to work in a dirty work environment but it
should also be a concern that some men may not be willing or comfortable to either. The
notion that women can’t work in hostile work environments, dirty work environments or any
other work environment is simply wrong and discriminatory. The issue should be phrased as
“Would the potential recruit be willing and comfortable to get down into the Dirty Treatment
Tanks?”

Since the System Analyzer position is one of the most prestigious non-managerial jobs at
Ovania, it is easy to imagine that a dirty work environment may not be expected by many of the
potential recruits being evaluated and as such, this should be a major concern for the selection
committee. Also the fact that this specific task was not mentioned anywhere in the job
description may be further evidence that the candidates are not expecting such a task.

In conclusion, the selection committee has no valid reason nor legal ground for being worried
about women getting down into the dirty treatment tanks. However, they have every reason to
be worried about their candidates not willing or comfortable getting down into the dirty
treatment tanks. This issue should definitely be addressed.

If I had to include it in the selection battery, I would do it in the following ways:

- I would first and foremost phrase it more appropriately and effectively as “Would the
potential recruit be willing and comfortable to get down into the Dirty Treatment
Tanks?”

- I personally would have preferred including it in the job description from the beginning
but as that has not been done, an amended job description (including this task marked
clearly as newly added) may be presented to all the candidates for their consideration.

- I may ask the candidates individually during a personal interview session regarding their
comfort and willingness regarding the respective task.

- I may opt to include a new step in the selection process where the candidates take a
practical gauge reading in the dirty treatment tanks so as to observe their willingness
and comfort doing the task.
 ANSWER 2 POINTS FOR SLIDES:

- done to encourage existing System Analyzers to reapply

- existing lower level employees to apply
- Fair chance for existing employees
- Fair chance for new employees
- Choosing employees based on the requirements that can not be trained within the time frame
estimated for the new job requirements and skill needed to kick in
- Should be noted that this might pose higher costs for Ovania
- But it may increase employee loyalty
- May decrease overall employee turnover
- May lead to a more healthy employment environment

ANSWER 3 POINTS FOR SLIDES:

- The issue is not just of women getting down into Dirty Treatment Tanks
- Issue of gender discrimination
- May also be an issue of Racism
- Notion that women can’t work in hostile environments is wrong
- Agreed some women might not want to just as some men might have an issue with that
- Should at least be given a fair chance
- Issue should be would the recruit object to getting down into dirty treatment tank
- So, NO on concern for women
- YES on concern for Recruit

- Could have been included in the job description to root out all concerns completely
- May be asked during personal interviews
- Could include a final practical test for checking gauge readings at Tanks