6.1 Setting HR objectives

Question 1

(HR) department is responsible for:

Answer 1

use of labour within the organisation.

Question 2

What responsibilities would a HR manager have?

Answer 2

• Sourcing and selecting of employees
• Writing and review of policies relating to recruitment
• Training needs
• Pay and appraisal

Question 3

what are HR objectives?

Answer 3

the goals/ targets that a business’s HR department seeks to achieve.

Need to have:
- Specific number
- Timescale 
- Set by the managers responsible for HR in the business
example-> To train 250,000 staff by 2014

Question 4

benefits of setting HR objectives?

Answer 4

• Managers and owners can judge the performance of the business
• Provides targets for managers and employees
• Motivate staff through monitoring employee performance - can be linked to rewards
• Can compare actual performance against objectives - possible to review and assess needs of workforce
• Set standards for employees performance so that quality can be achieved
• Helps build strong brand image through high standards and clear expectations
• Identify issues early and address them

Question 5

Other likely HR objectives:

Answer 5

• Labour productivity
• The number and location of the businesses workforce
• Employee engagement and involvement
• Training
• Talent development
• Diversity
• Alignment of values

Question 6

3 dimensions to employee engagement?

Answer 6

1. Intellectual engagement - thinking hard about the job and how to do it better
2. Affective engagement - feeling positively about doing a good job
3. Social engagement - actively taking opportunities to discuss work related improvement with others at work

Question 7

Employee Involvement (voice)

Answer 7

seeks to enable employees to contribute to the continuous improvement and performance of the business

Achieved by-> Considering employees ideas and opinions

Question 8

Influences on HR objectives and decisions:

Answer 8

Managers or external factors

Question 9

Internal influences on HR objectives and decisions:

Answer 9

• Corporate or overall objectives
• Type of product - is there a need for highly skilled workers
• Attitudes and beliefs of the senior managers / culture within the business
• ‘Hard’ HR approach - treating employees as resource to be used optimally (looking to reduce costs - 0 hour contracts)
• ‘Soft’ HR approach - employees are the most valuable asset in a business and they should develop; and maximise their value
• Other departments in the business
• Funding available

Question 10

external influences:

Answer 10

• political
• economic
• social
• technological
• competitive