MMB020: Strategic Human Resource Management YORLAB Project The YORLAB Company Project Brief 1|Pa g e Introduction The purpose of this brief report is to present the key parameters of the business project. It is designed by the York St John Business School (YSJBS) and the YORLAB Company. This is an individual project part of the module MMB020 Strategic Human Resource Management. The module leader will be responsible to manage and coordinate the project providing sufficient academic and business advice. The company's role is to ensure that students have adequate information for its business and HR strategy. 1. Company Overview Yorlab has grown steadily over the last few years; we believe our success has stemmed from our simple approach to business, we manufacture high quality products quickly and efficiently always trying to deliver a quality service to our customers, repeat business is the driving force behind our growth, so we try to look after everyone large or small'. YORLAB is a family owned science glassware company based in York. The company provides glassware solutions to leading companies and innovators across the pharmaceutical, chemical, medical research and environmental sectors. YORLAB is a dynamic nationwide laboratory supplies company offering more than 300,000 products to the scientific industry, including consumables, specialist chemicals and laboratory equipment. The company has a highly experienced team of scientific glass blowers who can design and manufacture glassware to meet a customer's specific requirements. The company's aim is to manufacture high quality glass products quickly and efficiently always trying to deliver a quality service to customers. Repeat business is the driving force behind their growth. YORLAB has experienced steady growth both in the UK and overseas. Currently the Managing Director has made some entrepreneurial links in places such as: China, Libya, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Syria and Nepal. The company has also developed a second arm to the business which is as a distributor of chemicals. This business is currently based in Durham and services the north of England, although the sole supplier of these products wants the company to consider expansion into the South East. As well as the glass manufacturing and chemical distribution business a third business is also growing which complements the manufacturing, providing design, construction and assembly of process engineering units for the pharmaceutical, fine chemicals and petrochemical manufacturing sectors. The company also offers an equipment repair and maintenance service both in house and on site. YORLAB Project 2|Pa g e These innovative and entrepreneurial activities have meant that the company has grown organically over the past few years, retaining its small family structure, values and beliefs. As a result of the un-coordinated growth, driven very much by the Managing Director's entrepreneurial leadership style. Building on this success, the management has just published a white paper with the company's vision for future expansion. Their aim is to strengthen current strong organisational values which will enable them to expand the business into new markets. However, the management recognises that major structural, managerial and operational changes have to be undertaken to support business integration and implementation. In order to facilitate this, a new position of General Manager has been created. Alex the managing director says of this important appointment, 'Her appointment will allow us to further explore business opportunities both at home and abroad. Jane's expertise coupled with her considerable experience will help us take YorLab to the next level. It is a very exciting time for the business as we continue to develop and launch new products and services showcasing the manufacturing excellence of YorLab'. The company currently employs 21 people in a very flat structure with a clear distinction between sales and customer care. The people at YORLAB are knowledgeable and friendly. Customer satisfaction is an essential element of the past and future success. However, the HR structure and organisation has in recent months created several problems within the company. The production manager had a bereavement leaving him with two young children to care for, and the senior glassblower had a heart attack. This left the company in a difficult position over the summer months as work could not be re-allocated due to specific expertise these two employees had, which had not been transferred. References www.oneandother.com/articles/senior-appointment-at-leading-local-laboratory-supplier/ YORLAB Project 3|Pa g e http://intandemcommunications.co.uk/archives/news/yorlab-appoints-new-general-manager www.customglassware.co.uk/ABOUT.aspx 2. Project Definition You are one of the HRM consultant, asked by Jane to help the company plan for the changes ahead. The purpose of this project is to help the company improve its human resource provision, primarily through the analysis of existing organisational practices and development of plans for improvement. To achieve this, there will be a need to conduct an extensive research, identify 'best practices' in the industry, and provide operational and strategic recommendations to the management. Those recommendations and suggestions should be supported with proper academic literature. YORLAB is a glassware specialised, medium-sized organisation. Therefore, it is important to conduct a review about the industry's structure as well as HRM practices in SMEs. The module MMB020 Strategic Human Resource Management will be the foundation to develop an appreciation of the theoretical and practical issues as well as to understand the role of HRM in improving strategic management processes. With regards to the HR function, the company has not implemented any formalised systems and practices to support business integration and implementation. A recent review to its HR approach reveals the following findings: Strategic HRM HR is not a core function in the company. The management recognises that HR might create the space and circumstances for improving performance and productivity, but there is no formal strategic approach to people management. The company has an array of strong family and community values which the management is YORLAB Project 4|Pa g e keen to maintain as this is what makes the company successful. However, they recognise the need to revisit the role of HR in management thinking and maintain the strong professional ethos of its employees. Your Consultancy Report should encompass suggestions for Strategic HRM implementation and practices in Yorlab. ASSESSMENT QUESTION: Undertake a research to explore whether a more strategic focus on managing people could allow the company to meet its strategic objectives. Drawing from the findings, suggest the approach to Strategic HRM that the management should adopt to support the company's business strategy and plan. ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET Assignment: Individual Written Report Level: Module No: Module title: Credit value: M MMB020 Strategic Human Resource Management 15 Word Limit: 3000 Words produced in Microsoft Word The marks for this written assignment are worth 100% of the overall marks for this module. SECTION 3: MARKING SCHEME AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA YORLAB Project 5|Pa g e ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND FEEDBACK SHEET Student: Marking Criteria Date: 80-100 70-79 Overall Mark: 60-69 Demonstrates Demonstrates a wellcommand of the topic informed through accurate and understanding of the appropriate selection topic by showing a of academic literature very good knowledge on HRM from a wide and understanding of relevant and the subject. Evidence innovative range of of research beyond perspectives and core material and sources, drawing on sound preparation leading edge debates. from a wide and Excellent relevant range of understanding of the perspectives and topical HR strategic sources that draws and operational upon contemporary issues. Clear evidence academic debate. of excellent research Sound preparation. and preparation. 50-59 Awareness of Topical Issues Critically identifies and evaluate strategic and operational HRM issues as presented in the case study, prioritises these and applies topic specific concepts in a critical manner. Outstanding selection of academic literature demonstrating exceptional understanding of the key strategic and operational HRM issues. Outstanding use of academic source material. Clear evidence of outstanding research and preparation. Analysis and Evaluation Systematic interrogation of the case study organisation. Extracts essential elements of the case for discussion and relates to the wider contexts, model and perspectives in relation to HRM. Outstanding analysis Excellent analysis and Predominantly Predominantly and evaluation of the evaluation of the analytical with very descriptive but some subject under subject under good links to research evidence of analytical investigation with investigation with data and the case thought with good substantive links to the appropriate links to the study as well as very extracts from the case study and case study and good development of aliterature review and development of a development of a coherent academic the case study. coherent academic coherent academic discussion. Logical Sources mostly welldiscussion. Arguments discussion. Arguments and convincing integrated into the set out in an set out in a concise arguments and points overall argument exceptionally concise and persuasive were included. producing a good and persuasive manner and key points Sources integrated evaluative report. manner and key points and arguments into the analysis of the Some key points and and arguments covered and key HRM issues arguments were not justified and explained. Sources highlighted in the case always fully developed emphasised. Sources very well integrated study. and evaluated using YORLAB Project Demonstrates a good understanding of the topic, with some creative input and insight to academic literature. Relevant selection of evidence from a good range of sources and perspectives. Satisfactory preparation. 40-49 20-39 0-19 Demonstrate reasonable understanding of the topic lacking focus on the brief. Moderate attempt to research relevant and appropriate evidence around the subject. Little evidence of preparation and heavy reliance on few sources. Limited research and reading but inadequate at this level. A failed report which demonstrate little knowledge and understanding of the topic. Exceptionally limited evidence of preparation and understanding of the topic. Non serious attempt. An exceptionally poor fail without any relevant material. No evidence of any research or reading. Some tendencies towards a clear and cogent analysis but wholly descriptive with limited extracts from the literature review related to HRM management. Contains errors, mainly key points missed and arguments poorly constructed. Sources sometimes properly integrated into the analysis of the key Wholly descriptive and incomplete. Contains substantial errors and arguments poorly constructed and incomplete. Sources only occasionally/not at all integrated into the analysis. Some/minimal relevant sources and limited topic coverage Major omissions with regards to the assignment brief. 6|Pa g e Not a serious attempt. exceptionally into the analysis of the integrated into the key HRM issues analysis of the key highlighted in the case HRM issues study. highlighted in the case study. Integration of Theory and Practice Able to filter theory and critique into coherent and consistent arguments. Shows evidence of undertaking relevant reading and backs up discussions with a credible evidence base in order to consider the issues raised by the assignment. Practical Implications and Conclusion Clearly identifies the consequences of case issues and considers the impact of solutions in practice. Acknowledges the feasibility of recommendations and produce a clear and justified conclusion. appropriate academic HRM issues literature. Analytical highlighted in the case and critical skills could study. be improved. Critical distance and Critical distance and Critical distance and Demonstrates criticality Some successful outstanding analysis ofoutstanding analysis ofsound analysis of the and generally good analysis with a the skills observed, to the skills observed skills observed. analysis. Good ability tendency to accept the a high degree of Excellent ability to filterDemonstrate very to filter theory and source material at excellence. theory and critique into good ability to filter critique into coherent face value. Moderate Outstanding ability to coherent and theory and critique into and consistent ability to filter theory filter theory and consistent arguments coherent and arguments aiming to and critique into critique into coherent to discuss key aspects consistent arguments evaluate the social, coherent and and consistent of HRM. Excellent aiming to evaluate the political and practical consistent arguments arguments to discuss ability to develop and social, political and aspects of HRM. Good aiming to evaluate the key aspects of HRM. support an argument practical aspects of ability to apply and social, political and Outstanding ability to with appropriate HRM. The ability to support an argument practical aspects of identify key issues application from the integrate and support with appropriate HRM. Adequate ability which support the literature. an argument with evidence and to integrate theory and argument and backs appropriate evidence examples from the practice, and support up discussions. and examples from thecase study. an argument, but less case study is very use of appropriate good. evidence. Outstanding and Excellent and concise Very good conclusion Good conclusion and Adequate and concise conclusions conclusion and and recommendations recommendations with somewhat confused and recommendations recommendations covering most of the a number of points conclusions and covering all of the key covering all of the key key points in relation omitted as to how the limited points. points. with the chosen chosen organisation recommendations. organisation's could improve current improvement policies and practices. practices. YORLAB Project 7|Pa g e Limited integration of theory and practices, with demonstration of substantial errors in understanding. Fails to provide supporting evidence and provide critical links with the literature. Fails to identify and link ANY relevant theory/model lining to the case study. Very brief or No conclusion and irrelevant conclusion. recommendation were Lack of provided comprehensive recommendations aiming to suggest potential actions for improving current policies and practices in order to maintain a healthy and safe working environment. Presentation and References Uses appropriate format for assignment. Clear and well-structured and indexed work following a logical sequence of thoughts and linking sections to produce a quality report. Appropriate referencing including books, journals and electronic sources using the Harvard System of referencing. Outstanding presented Excellent presented report following a report following a logical sequence of logical sequence of thoughts. Outstanding thoughts. Excellent writing skills writing skills demonstrating an demonstrating an excellent ability to excellent ability to produce an academic produce an academic piece of work. piece of work. Referencing Referencing clear and impeccable using accurate using appropriate appropriate conventions. No errors conventions. Virtually in grammar or spelling.no errors in grammar or spelling. YORLAB Project Fluent, coherent and Well-presented report articulate report with a that follows some relatively logical logical sequence of focused structure. thoughts. Good writing Very good writing skills skills demonstrating a demonstrating a good good ability to produce ability to produce an an academic piece of academic piece of work. Referencing work. Referencing clear and mostly clear and accurate accurate using using appropriate appropriate conventions. Near conventions. Good perfect grammar and grammar and spelling spelling, with only a with some errors. few errors. Reasonable attempt to create a wellstructured and balanced report that follows some sequence. Writing and presentation skills could be improved. References adequate but clearer and/or more references needed. Reasonable grammar and spelling but with several notable errors. 8|Pa g e Presentation was Failure to meet the lacking in key requirements of confidence, and was the assignment brief. unconvincing. An attempt has been made to do the assignment, but it is of very poor quality. Many errors in grammar and spelling, making it difficult or impossible to read