Discussion Week 1

Ruchit Ujjawal Desai (2213345)

University Canada West

HRMT 622-59: Talent Management

Kiran Thakur

October 1, 2023

Organizational behavior courses are not only useful for people in management careers.

They offer valuable skills like communication, conflict resolution, leadership, and problem-

solving that benefit individuals in various job roles and industries. Understanding human

behavior in organizations enhances job performance and career advancement opportunities for

employees at all levels.

The statement "People are our most important assets" highlights the crucial role of

employees in an organization's success. Organizational behavior theories and practices help

improve organizational effectiveness by fostering employee engagement, effective leadership,

teamwork, communication, diversity and inclusion, employee development, and well-being.

These efforts collectively enhance the organization's performance and competitiveness, aligning

with the belief that people are the most valuable resource.

Cost leadership, differentiation, and focus are three crucial business tactics Canadian

companies use that impact their HR departments. Cost Leadership is a strategy focused on
lowering production costs to give the company a competitive edge over rivals. It seeks to

increase the productivity of the manufacturing process and use cost-cutting techniques to reduce

overheads to turn a profit. Walmart is an accurate market illustration of this strategy since it

concentrates on low prices with thin margins but high sales volumes (Edwards, 2014).

Differentiation is a strategy businesses use to set their goods apart from those identical to them in

a crowded market and to obtain a competitive edge via the distinctiveness of the goods they

create and sell. How a product maintains its quality, distinctive design elements or marketing

tactics, customer services, brand recognition, etc., all affect its uniqueness. FedEx, Nike, and

Windsor are a few companies that have used this tactic in the Canadian market (Edwards, 2014).

Focus is a strategy that concentrates on the marketing tactic of market segmentation, which

targets a particular set of clients and offers a specific product to meet their demands. These needs

may include cost-effectiveness or distinctive products. Due to this method, the outcome will

range from high pricing to low demand. Examples of companies using this tactic include Claire’s

and Papa Murphy (Edwards, 2014).

Four significant trends in the Canadian labor market affecting HR managers are the aging

workforce, remote work, skills shortages, and diversity and inclusion. An aging workforce

demands succession planning and knowledge transfer, impacting talent management

(Government of Canada, 2022). The prevalence of remote work necessitates flexible policies and

technology support, affecting employee engagement and communication. Skills shortages

require upskilling and reskilling programs, altering talent acquisition and development strategies.

The emphasis on diversity and inclusion requires inclusive hiring practices and diversity training,

affecting recruitment and employee relations. HR managers must adapt to these trends by
adjusting various HR functions, from talent management to employee engagement, to effectively

navigate the evolving labor market.

References

Edwards, J. (2014). Focused Cost Leadership and Focused Differentiation. Pressbooks.nscc.ca.

https://pressbooks.nscc.ca/strategicmanagement/chapter/focused-cost-leadership-and-

focused-differentiation/

Government of Canada, S. C. (2022, November 30). The Daily — Jobs in Canada: Navigating

changing local labour markets. Www150.Statcan.gc.ca.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221130/dq221130b-eng.htm