You will be acting as a team of specialists in human resources. You are all employees for Hardy$$s Hardware, a privately owned regional chain of building and home improvement products. Hardy$$s operates $54$ stores in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. The stores are smaller than the super$-$centers of Lowes or Home Depot but carry similar products. The CEO has allocated the team a fixed sum to fund a new human resources program. Your job is to help figure out which program that should be$.$ A survey of common practices in the field has yielded a list of $10$ practices $($below$).$ In order to determine which one is the best, the CEO has asked that you rank the practices from most $($i$.$e$.$ #$1)$ to least $($i$.$e$.$ #$10)$ valuable for the company$$s long$-$term financial performance.

You will work with other members of your team to collectively agree upon a ranking, under the direction$/$guidance of your leader. This should take approximately $15$ minutes. You are to work cooperatively to find a ranking order that works for everyone.

Finally, please make $3$ assumptions so that these are fair comparisons:

$1)$ Assume none of these HR programs are currently in place.

$2)$ Assume each program would be implemented with equal effectiveness.

$3)$ Assume each program costs teh same to implement.

Rank the $10$ practices below from most $($#$1)$ to least $($#$10)$ valuable for the company$$s long$-$term financial performance.

$\_\_\_\_\_1)$ Train employees in $$people skills$$ such as effective communication, conflict

management, and persuasion.

$\_\_\_\_\_2)$ Create a program to identify high$-$potential employees for future leadership positions.

$\_\_\_\_\_3)$ Give bonuses to the top $20\%$ of employees to motivate excellence.

$\_\_\_\_\_4)$ Increase diversity by setting aside $15\%$ of the new hires for minority applicants.

$\_\_\_\_\_5)$ Have supervisors provide performance feedback more frequently and in more detail.

$\_\_\_\_\_6)$ Institute a Management by Objectives program.

$\_\_\_\_\_7)$ Create a $360-$degree$$ feedback program where everyone $($peers$,$ supervisors,

subordinates, customers, suppliers$)$ gives developmental comments to each other.

$\_\_\_\_\_8)$ Hire for the personality traits of conscientiousness and emotional stability.

$\_\_\_\_\_9)$ Create a $$Hardy$$s Moment$$ recognition program for excellent behavior.

$\_\_\_\_\_10)$ Create formal grievance procedures for resolving disputes with peers or supervisors.

Please provide explanations for the rankings.