Human Resource Management

Chapter 1 – Introduction to HRM

Case Study Analysis – Amazon as an
Employer
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1
 Case History
• Company Name: Amazon

• Sector: E – Commerce

• Country: USA

• Product and Services: Electronics, Fashion, Home Decors, Furniture's and etc…

• Organizational Structure: Functional Organization Structure

• Strength: Work Environment – 50,000 Employees

• Number of Participants: 3 People

• Article
• Jeff Bezos
• Employees

• Problem Statement:
 Case Hot Points

• Unconventional Office Culture

• Physical Stress @ Amazon Workplace
• Long Working Hours
• Employee Work Overtime
• Mental Stress – Work Harder and Faster until they quit, collapse and terminated
• High in Employee Turnover
• Talented Employee Attraction and Retention
• Top Management – Leadership Skill
• Employee Perks and Benefits
• Employee Aggressive Behaviour
• Workaholic
 HR Functions Practices

Talent Acquisition Process Work life Balance

Amazon
Amazon was rigorous
is using in recruitment
Bell-Curve Method
Gender Inequality
process – Women
for evaluating their employees
ScreeningChild Rearing
process will be done by
Performance Management Company – level review will be done
star in
once performer of the company
a year – managers discuss
System Bosstheir
Criticism – Women Employees
subordinates ranking
Part-time Interviewers are used for
Working Hours – process
recruitment 80 hours in a
Employee Criticism through
Week
Feedback for under performer
Working Contract has been signed
between Work
new Pressure
joiners – 1 year and
Leadership Style Negative comments
relocation expenses with in 2 years
Replacement – Old to New
Amazon was rigorous in recruitment Amazon is using Bell-Curve Method
process for evaluating their employees

Screening process will be done by Company – level review will be done

star performer of the company once in a year – managers discuss
their subordinates ranking
Part-time Interviewers are used for
recruitment process Work life Balance Employee Criticism through
Feedback for under performer
Working Contract has been signed Gender
between new joiners – 1 year and Inequality – Women Negative comments
relocation expenses with in 2 years
Child Rearing

Boss Criticism – Women Employees

Working Hours – 80 hours in a

Week

Work Pressure

Replacement – Old to New

 Problem Statements & Solutions

Problem Statement

Would Amazon demanding corporate culture

Performance Management System Process
continue to lead to innovation?

Leadership Skill Gender Inequality

Employee Perks and Benefits

Work Life Balance

Employee Work Hours Work Pressure Employee Aggressive Behavior

Talent Acquisition Process Employee Criticism

 Solution
:-UNREASONABLY HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATION
THOUGH DEVISED WITH THE INTENTION OF DEVLOPING TOP-TIER TALENT,THE UNREACHABLE EXPECTATION
AND PRESSURE EMPLOYEES FEEL TO MEET THEM CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DISTRESS.
:-OVERLY FORTHRIGHT LEADERSHIP
EAGERNESS TO TELL OTHERS HOW TO BEHAVE ;AN INSTINCT FOR BLUNTNESS BORDERING ON
CONFRONTATION.
 Case Learning Outcomes
IF SOMEONE WOULD HEAR AMAZON AND THINK WOW A BIG COMPANY WANTS ME.THEY COULD STILL OFFER A
STRONG EMPLOYEE VALUE PROPOSITION BECAUSE OF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IT ALREADY
HAS.WORKING FOR AMAZON WOULD BE BIG FOR A KID WHO JUST GOT OUT OF COLLEGE.ALTHOUGH IT WOULD
STILL HAVE THESE PERKS IF THEY DON’T CHANGE THEIR CULTURE THEN THE TURNOVER RATE WOULD STILL
BE THE SAME.MILLENNIALS CARE ABOUT RECOGNITION AND BEING APPRECIATED AND IF AMAZON CANNOT
PROVIDE THAT THEN MANY WILL QUIT.
ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FEMALES IN TOP LEADERSHIP TEAMS MAKES IT SEEMS LIKE SEXISM IS A
THING IN THE WORKPLACE STILL.THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR THE COMPANY.ALSO 80 HOUR WORK WEEKS
ARE EXTREME AND WOULD PUSH EMPLOYEES AWAY.KEEPING EMPLOYEES ON THE EDGE DID NOT ALWAYS
RESULT IN INNOVATION.IT LED TO MORE PEOPLE QUITING BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE OF THE COMPETITION
OF THE OTHER EMPOLYEES AND NOT ENOUGH TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
“Be the change you want to see in the world”

- Mahatma Gandhi