ASSIGNMENT

Zoha Khalid
S17BBAH090  
 Assignment No. 1

Case Study: The Human Resource Function of Harrison Brothers

Corporation

1. How does McCain view her role as human resource manager?

According to McCain, she has to set up procedures and policies and spends time
managing the HR Department, McCain also keeps updated on the performance of
workers. She also selects the applicants for the Sales and Support job as they look for a
motivated personality. Also spends time with a trainer who tells selling techniques to
new salespersons. She conducts about 25 to 30 interviews a week and perhaps more
during the holiday rush. McCain Also spends a good deal of time with her and will
help out if the training classes are too large. McCain provides career planning to
employees and also performs an annual evaluation of employee performance.
McCain’s main emphasis is on sales productivity efforts are constrained by the under
the staff of the department and cost consideration.

2. What is Harrison Brothers’ business strategy?

The long-term goal of the company is to become the leading chain of department
stores in the Northeast, selling moderate- to higher-priced merchandise to middle-
class, fashion-conscious customers.
He identified 5 strategic goals.
 Convert non-selling space into revenue generating selling space.
 Invest aggressively in private brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, Nautica.
 Improve productivity of sales associates, buyers and department heads.
 Build up underdeveloped merchandise categories.
 Reduce cost through the use of advanced compute systems to project sales and
manage inventory.

The new CEO James Harrison realized that they need to revise their strategy.
3. What is the structure and staffing of the human resources department?
Harrison Brothers HR structure consist of 5 employees.
 HR Manager
 Two HR Assistance
 Trainer
 Pay roll clerk

Staffing includes operations manager, sales manager and department head. Training
sessions are conducted by HR department for new employees. The applicants are
hired through word-of-mouth, Newspaper Ads, through present/past employee
recommendation and. Then applicants are selected on how well they perform
during interview.

4. Analyze the data in Exhibit 1.4. What are its implications?

Store managers have given equal ranking for HR functions, Knowledge of the business
and managing change. On the other hand, the HR managers only give high priority for
staffing and evaluation of employee’s performance. In my opinion they should
carefully handle the problem of high turnover and the store managers should look into
safety and compensation to better handle the problem of high turnover. Regarding the
Human Resources Managers, they are to focused on staffing and performance
management, although this are two important functions.

5. Given the organization’s size and strategic goals, evaluate the development of the
human resource function at Harrison Brothers. What problems do you see? How
could its major human resource functions be improved?
There are several issues that Harrison needs to rectify in order to achieve its goals. In my
opinion, Harrison Brothers should have a centralized HR department that will initiate the
hiring process plan the training, define employee benefits and management protocols.
The centralized HR service, along with delegation of responsibilities will allow the HR to
improve management response and not to focus only on the selection process.
The employees should be required to take effective and complete training as they enter
the company and continuing training to help the employees in terms of customer service,
new inventory or how to become more productive.
To minimize high turnover, Harrison should improve the hiring process. A new pay
structure and giving bonus after reviewing employee performance.