Assignment Workload:

• This Assignment comprises of a short Case.
• Assignment is to be submitted by each student individually.

Assignment Purposes/Learning Outcomes:

After completion of Assignment onestudents will be able to understand the following

LO1: To understand the role of human resources within the organization.

LO2: To differentiate between the major functions of Human Resources and their interdependency.

Read the case given and answer the questions:

Fahad and Hamza own SPORTZ, a medium-sized company that manufactures and sells sporting goods and equipment. They are watching a CROSSKATES video about cross-country roller skates in the LOUNGE. Hamza says, "I don't know. This stuff looks dangerous! What do you think? Remember that bungee-jumping thing we tried?"

Fahad responds, "Mysha was out a long time with that knee problem. She sure is a good sport. Badar said we were lucky not to get sued for that. Do you think employees could sue us if they are hurt on product-test assignments?"

"Let's ask Mazen," Hamza suggests. "That guy you hired as what did you call himdirector of human resources?"

Fahad smiles broadly, "Yep. He sure seems to be busy. He's pulled together all that paperwork for insurance and retirement that Mysha used to handle and named her compensation and benefits manager."

"He wants to send Saad and Ahmad to a supervisor's school for work scheduling, job team assignments, and project management," Hamza adds. "He started those picnics by the LAGOON for people to talk about work conditions and issues."

Fahad asks, "Do you think we should let him hire a full-time secretary? I thought Mysha could do that, but Mazen said she has a full plate. Did you tell him to do that employee bulletin board he tacked into the Web site?"

Hamza shakes his head no. "Me neither," Fahad muses. "Wonder why he did that? Guess we'd better talk to him."

Assignment Questions: M.M.15

1. Which of the functional HR processes can be identified in Mazen's area?

2. Identify the environmental influences important to SPORTZ?

3. How do its HR functional areas line up with the overall HR process?

4. Does Mazen need to doanything else to set up a strategic HR function?