London School of Science and

Technology

Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National

Diploma in Business

Unit 3: Human Resource Management

Assignment Title: Human Resource Management

Module Leader: Mary E. Owino

Internal Verifier: Dr. George Panagiotou

Issued on: 26th September 2016

21st December 2016
Deadline:

Submitted on:

Student Name:
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Campus:
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Introduction

Human resource management is the process of making plan, developing and administering
the policies and development program of human resources in the organisation (Beardwell,
2004). It is mainly concerned with the effective utilisation of human resources to bring good
outcome. Effective practice of human resource management will benefit both employer and
employees. This assignment explains how human resource management at Kingfisher
enables Kingfisher to achieve organisational goals and objectives. This assignment also
evaluated the effectiveness of the human resource practice stating how it increases profit
and productivity.

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Task 1 – Essay
P1: Explain the purpose and the functions of HRM, applicable to
workforce planning and resourcing in Kingfisher
Human resource management is the process of making plan, developing and administering
the policies and development program of human resources in the organisation (Beardwell,
2004). It is mainly concerned with the effective utilisation of human resources to bring good
outcome. It also takes action maintain good relationship between the employee and
employers as stated by (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014).

Human resource management has some main purposes such as-

 Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the human resources.

 Ensure positive relationship among the employees and employers of organisation.
 Individual development of human resources (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014).

As leading retailer, Kingfisher must ensure effective human resource management at

workplace. Human resource management at Kingfisher aims to increase the efficiency and
effectiveness of the employees. This will enable the company to gain competitive
advantages.

Functions of HRM

Human resource management at Kingfisher should perform the following functions to

achieve the organisational goals and objectives.

HR Planning

HR planning is essential to manage the human resources at the workplace. HR planning

helps the organisation knowledge, skills and abilities required for the operation of the
company (Beardwell, 2004). Kingfisher is a retailer. It needs human resources to operate
the business effectively. Through effective HR planning Kingfisher enables the company to
improve the overall performance of human resources.

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Job Analysis and Work Design

It is the process through which the human resource management identify the job nature and
specify the knowledge, skills and abilities of human resources. Preparation of job
description and person specification is one part of this process. It helps Kingfisher to assess
the duties and responsibilities of employees and recruit and appoint employees effective
skills and knowledge (Mathis and Jackson, 2003).

Recruitment and Selection

Recruitment and selection of employees must be done in a proper ways so that Kingfisher
can appoint proper human resources. Human resource management at Kingfisher performs
the recruitment and selection activities of the company in such ways so that they can hire
effective human resources (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, 2008). HRM at Kingfisher focuses
on this function to increase the employee efficiency and effectiveness.

Training and Development

Training is the process to develop the employees and increase the employee performance
at the workplace. Human resource development is an essential factor to improve the
employee performance. Human resource management at Kingfisher focuses on the
employee development through training. Kingfisher provides training program to increase
the organisational sustainability through employee development (Torrington, Hall and
Taylor, 2008).

Compensation

Employees work at the company to get good amount of compensation. Kingfisher provides
the employees with competitive compensation. HRM at Kingfisher believes that the human
resources will be satisfied when they are provided with effective compensation package.
Thus, the company will be able to improve the performance of employees. This will enable
the company to achieve the organisational goals and objectives (Torrington, Hall and
Taylor, 2008).

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Performance Management

This is the process which is responsible to monitor and review the activities of the
employees at workplace. The management should assess the current performance of the
employees and take action to cope with the deviations (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, 2008).

Employee relations

To improve the performance of the employees at workplace, the human resource

management must ensure the effective employee relations. Human resource management
at Kingfisher focuses on the maintenance of employee relations. If Kingfisher fails to
manage good employee relations, the overall performance of the company will be
deteriorated as stated by Torrington, Hall and Taylor, (2008).

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P2: Explain the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches of
recruitment and selection used by Kingfisher
As a large retailer, Kingfisher needs a large number of human resources to achieve the
organisational goals and objectives. Kingfisher uses both internal source approach and
external source approach for the recruitment and selection of employees.

Internal source approach

Internal source approach recruits the employees from the internally. It means Kingfisher
uses different strategy to recruit. For example, transfer of the employees helps Kingfisher to
fill the vacant post easily. Again, Kingfisher promotes the employees to fill the other vacant
posts. It enables the company get applicants from the existing employees. Sometimes,
Kingfisher uses referrals of existing employees (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, (2008).

Figure: Internal source of recruitment and selection. Source: Torrington, Hall and Taylor, (2008).

Strengths of internal source approach-

 HRM can conduct this recruitment and selection easily within short time.
 It need not deep interview of the employees. As Kingfisher will recruit from the
existing employees, it does not require much time also.
 Employees hired through this approach are much effective.
 No risk of hiring unqualified employees (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, 2008).

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Weakness of internal source approach-

 This approach can demotivate the employees who are not promoted.
 May create discrimination.
 It limits the opportunities of hiring new and innovative employees.

External source approach

This approach recruits the employees from the external sources. This approach attracts the
employees from external sources through advertisement on different media. Although this
recruitment process is time consuming and complex, this process will bring good outcome
for the organisation (Mondy at al., 2005).

Figure: External sources of recruitment. Source: Mondy at al., (2005).

Strengths of External source approach-

 It will enable Kingfisher to recruit and select new, innovative, young and creative
employees.
 Kingfisher will be able to promote brand externally
 Huge pool of applicants available.
 It enables Kingfisher to ensure high productivity (Mondy at al., 2005).

Weakness of External source approach-

 To conduct this approach, HRM at Kingfisher requires high time.

 It also requires high cost.
 This approach has high risk being unfitted employees hired (Mondy at al., 2005).
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Task 2 – Produce a report

To: HR Director, Kingfisher

From: Assistant Human Resource Manager
Subject: Effectiveness of elements in human resource management of Kingfisher
Date: 18.11.2016

Introduction

Effective practice of human resource management will benefit both employer and
employees. This report explains how human resource management at Kingfisher enables
Kingfisher to achieve organisational goals and objectives. This report also evaluated the
effectiveness of the human resource practice stating how it increases profit and
productivity.

P3: Explain the benefits of different HRM practices within Kingfisher for
both the employer and employee

Effective practice of human resource management will benefit both employer and
employees as stated by Mathis and Jackson, (2003). The main aim of HRM at the
organisation to maintain effective human resources at the workplace.

If Kingfisher applies good HRM practice at the workplace, it will be able to increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of the human resources. For this reason, Kingfisher provides
the employee with flexibilities. This flexibility practice of Kingfisher human resource
management satisfies the employees at workplace. This employee satisfaction at the
workplace will help the employees improve the employee performance (Mathis and
Jackson, 2003).

Kingfisher Management Development Scheme (KMDS) provides the employees with

training and other development program to the employees. This management scheme also
focuses on the loyalty and motivation of the employees to improve the employee
performance. The flexibility of the employees at the workplace is also suggested by this
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management scheme. Thus, Kingfisher works for the development of employee morale,
engagement and employee commitment. In this way, human resource management
contribute in the employee development of the organisation (Gilmore and Williams, 2009).

Effective human resource management practice enables the employer to reduce employee
turnover. Employee turnover can hamper the organisational performance. Even, employee
turnover can increase the cost of human resource department (Mathis and Jackson, 2003).
For this reason, Kingfisher should ensure effective human resource management at the
workplace. Otherwise, the employer will not be able to maintain good relationship with
employees. And, this will deteriorate the overall performance of the company (Mathis and
Jackson, 2003).

As a large retailer, Kingfisher HRM practice applies the external sources of recruitment and
selection of employees. If Kingfisher implements this external strategy, it will be able to hire
innovative and creative employees for the organisation (Mathis and Jackson, 2003). Thus,
human resource management at Kingfisher will contribute in the effective brand
development.

P4: Evaluate the effectiveness of different HRM practices in terms of

raising Kingfisher plc. profit and productivity

Human resource management aims to maintain good relationship with the employees at the
workplace. This effective relationship is essential to increase the profit and productivity of
the business (Jeffs, 2008).

Effective human resource management practice enables the employer to reduce employee
turnover. Employee turnover can hamper the organisational performance. Even, employee
turnover can increase the cost of human resource department. Thus, human resource
management at Kingfisher can increase the profits by reducing the employee turnover
(Jeffs, 2008).

Again, reducing turnover also maintains the effective performance of the employees. If the
employees leave the company, Kingfisher will lose an experienced and skilled employee
from the company. Thus, the productivity of the company can be hampered. For this
reasons, Kingfisher provides the employees with flexibility to satisfy the employees. This

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employee satisfaction helps the organisation reduce the employee turnover. Therefore, the
HRM practice at Kingfisher can increase the profits and productivity of the company (Jeffs,
2008).

Conclusion and Recommendation

From above report of Kingfisher HRM practice, it is to state that human resource
management at Kingfisher can increase the profits by reducing the employee turnover. If
Kingfisher implements external recruitment strategy, it will be able to hire innovative and
creative employees for the organisation. Thus, human resource management at Kingfisher
will contribute in the effective brand development.

Sincerely,
Assistant Human Resource Manager

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Task 3 – In house letter

18th November, 2016

To: Chief Executive Officer, Kingfisher
From: Assistant Human Resource Manager

P5. Analyse the importance of employee relations in Kingfisher with

respect to influencing HRM decision-making

Employee Relation

To improve the performance of the employees at workplace, the human resource

management must ensure the effective employee relations. Human resource management
at Kingfisher focuses on the maintenance of employee relations. If Kingfisher fails to
manage good employee relations, the overall performance of the company will be
deteriorated (Polachek and Tatsiramos, 2008).

Kingfisher can adopt following strategies to maintain good employee relations-

 Communication- The employer should provide necessary information to the

employees to keep them updated about the operation of the company. For example,
Kingfisher should give information to the employees about new arrival or products
and features of products to the sales personnel. This will enable Kingfisher
employees to increase the sales by giving the customer information. This will also
help sales personnel maintain good relation with customers. Thus, employees will be
able to perform at a satisfactory level (Guffey and Loewy, 2010).

 Career Development Opportunities- The employees work at the organisation to

build their expected careers. For this reasons, Kingfisher should give the employees
career development opportunities. It should commit that the employees will be
prompted based on the performance. Thus, the employees will motivated and loyal
to the company. Thus, the employee relation will be improved (Jeffs, 2008).

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 Vision- Kingfisher has developed its vision in such way that it stimulates the
employees to give the better performance of the employees. This vision has been
designed aligned with the objectives of the employees (Jeffs, 2008).

 Motivation- Employee should be motivated to maintain good relationships with the

employers. If Kingfisher motivates the employees, they will be more effective to their
performance. For example, it should provide employees rewards, incentives,
promotion and increase the salary of the employees to maintain good employee
relations (Mondy at al., 2005).

 Good health- The employer must ensure the good health of the employees. For
example, Kingfisher provides the employees good work environment, safe
instrument to use as well as give them travel opportunities. These will help the
Kingfisher to maintain good employee relations (Mondy at al., 2005).

Therefore, the employee relations at Kingfisher will help the company to bring good
outcome for the company. The company will contribute in the improvement of the employee
performance of the company.

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P6: Identify the key elements of employment legislation and the impact it
has upon HRM decision-making
Different employment legislations that affect the decision making of human resource
management have been explained here.

Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 is the combination of two UK acts such as Race Relation Act 1976
and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This act states that the organisation must ensure
the equal opportunity for all the people or employees at the organisation (Mullins, 2005).
This act does not allow any discrimination based on the sex, age, race, gender or religion.
Kingfisher should also obey the rules and regulation of this law. Otherwise, the government
can terminate the business operation of Kingfisher when the law finds at the breach of law
(Mullins, 2005).

Employment Protection Act 1978

This act states the organisation should provide a certain structure of salary, working hours,
pension or commencement of job. Kingfisher human resource manager should provide the
employees with effective salary structure. Otherwise, the court can declare the company at
the breach of law (Mullins, 2005).

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The employer must ensure the good health of the employees. For example, Kingfisher
provides the employees good work environment, safe instrument to use as well as give
them travel opportunities. These will help the Kingfisher to maintain good employee
relations (Mullins, 2005).

According to Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Kingfisher should maintain the following
things-

 Kingfisher should ensure effective work environment and operation system.

 It should ensure safe access and exit for the employees.
 It should have primary treatment facility.
 Kingfisher should give the employees training on safety and health management.

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Dismissal and employment Contracts

Both employers and employees can terminate the job. The employers use dismissal and
employees use resignation. But, they both should comply with the legal rules and
regulations. For example, the employees should present a written statement before one
weak. The employers are also obliged to follow the legal rules and regulations of
employment (Mullins, 2005).

Yours Sincerely,
X,
Assistant Human Resource Manager.

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Task 4 – Individual Portfolio folder
P7: Illustrate the application of HRM practices in a work-related context,
using specific examples
A portfolio as Intern in the HR department at Kingfisher for the post of HR Assistant has
been presented here.

Job Specification

Job description describes the knowledge, skills and abilities of the employees to perform
the duties and responsibilities of the employees (Jeffs, 2008). The human resource
management develops the job description to attract and appoint effective human resources
for the company. A job description for the Post of HR Assistant at Kingfisher is as follow-

Job Specification
HR Assistant
Kingfisher PLC.

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Curricula Vitae (CV)

Here, I have prepared a CV for to apply for one of the positions advertised by another
team:-
Resume of X
Address: Postal Address to be included
Email id
Mobile No:

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Interview Selection Criteria

To identify the best employees from the pool of applicants following criteria will be used-
 Level of Education- CGPA, Background etc.
 Experience
 Communication skills
 HR knowledge
 Language skills and mental ability
 Physical appearance
 Age- people with age between 24-32 will be given priority (Mathis and Jackson,
2003).

If the Kingfisher uses these criteria, the human resource management will be able to attract
the effective employees for the job. These criteria will also help to conduct selection
process fast.

Evaluation of Process

This process will be effective for Kingfisher in such way that it will help the company to
attract suitable candidates for the company. The process will also help to reduce the cost of
recruitment and selection. This is because; the process will not allow the ineffective
employees to apply for the job. Thus, Kingfisher HR manager will be able to reduce the time
expensed for the recruitment and selection process (Mathis and Jackson, 2003).

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Conclusion
From above report of Kingfisher HRM practice, it is to state that human resource
management at Kingfisher can increase the profits by reducing the employee turnover. If
Kingfisher implements external recruitment strategy, it will be able to hire innovative and
creative employees for the organisation. Thus, human resource management at Kingfisher
will contribute in the effective brand development. Kingfisher should ensure effective human
resource management at the workplace. Otherwise, the employer will not be able to
maintain good relationship with employees. And, this will deteriorate the overall
performance of the company.

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References
Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S. (2014). Armstrong's handbook of human resource
management practice, 13th edition. 1st ed. London: Kogan Page.

Beardwell, I., (2004) (4th Edition) Human Resource Management a Contemporary

Approach Prentice Hall, Harlow.

Gilmore, S. and Williams, S. (2009). Human resource management. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.

Guffey, M. and Loewy, D. (2010). Essentials of business communication. 1st ed. Mason,
OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

Jeffs, C. (2008). Strategic management. 1st ed. Los Angeles: SAGE.

Mathis, R. and Jackson, J. (2003). Human resource management. 1st ed. Mason, Ohio:
Thomson/South-western.

Mondy, R., Noe, R. and Gowan, M. (2005). Human resource management. 1st ed. Upper
Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Mullins, L (2005) (7th Edition) Management and Organisational Behaviour Prentice Hall,
Pearson Education, Edinburgh

Polachek, S. and Tatsiramos, K. (2008). Work, Earnings and Other Aspects of the
Employment Relation. 1st ed. Bingley: Emerald Group Pub.

Torrington, D., Hall, L. and Taylor, S. (2008). Human resource management. 1st ed.
Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Business Unit 3: Human Resource Management – September, 2016