Portfolio Activity

Arrange an interview with a senior executive/partner/principal of a firm, preferably a business you are
interested in. The manager must have EMPLOYEE supervision responsibilities. Your task in this
interview is to identify the interviewee’s orientation and business philosophy toward key human
resource management functions. A face-to-face interview is highly recommended, however, a phone
interview is acceptable.

The interviewee should not be:

A family member

A former supervisor

A person from your current or past places of employment

PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW

Develop a list of approx. 10 human resource related questions you will ask that cover recruitment,
staffing, staff motivation, employee development, and employee appraisal. (In your priority order). One
question must cover the Supervisors viewpoint on the “competitive advantage through people”. I am
available to review your questions if you desire feedback.

DELIVERABLE

Prepare a three-page, double-spaced paper that summarizes the responses and your analysis of the
interview including:

What you learned about supervising/managing others? Did you learn anything new? Did the interview
clear up any misconceptions you had about HR and HR management?

What did you agree with and disagree with?

What was (were) the most memorable part(s) of the interview? Why?

How did the responses of your interviewee compare to class readings and class discussions this far?

What was the interviewee's thoughts on the “competitive advantage through people"?

Summarize the interview and include your thoughts and feelings towards the professional you
interviewed. Did you walk away with an overall view of this person's philosophy and values as they
relate to HR management?
Critically reflect on your own perceptions of HR management. What beliefs did you have going into the
interview about HR management? Has anything changed for you?

Please write an email or note to the person you interviewed thanking him/her for their time.

Hand in:

A maximum of three pages, double-spaced

Include a cover page which indicates clearly the full name of the interviewee, their position title, their
organization, address, date, type of interview (face to face or phone)

Attach the list of your pre-interview questions to the document you submit.

Attach a photocopy/copy of the Thank You note you sent to your interviewee.