Human Resource Management: Worst Case Scenario Essay Example
Human Resource Management: Worst Case Scenario Essay Example

Human Resource Management: Worst Case Scenario Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 3 (798 words)
  • Published: February 13, 2018
  • Type: Case Study
View Entire Sample
Text preview

By effectively utilizing principles and practices, an organization can identify its needs as well as those of its employees. This information can be used to develop a work atmosphere that benefits both parties, leading to a motivated workforce, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and profit. However, in the case study Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street, the lawyer fails to use these principles in his dealings with employees, particularly Bartleby. The lawyer's lack of knowledge in human resource management (HARM) results in significant costs that could have been avoided by identifying and addressing problems before the hiring of Bartleby. The story illustrates that organizational problems may exist before the introduction of new hires.

Before hiring Barley, the narrator who is also a lawyer, provides a detailed description of the undesirable behaviors demonstrated by two of h

...

is employees - Turkey and Nippers - whom he allows to engage in such conduct with little to no regard. According to Menarche and Jenkins, creating a cultural infrastructure that defines, nurtures, and harnesses the power of human capital is essential to the success of any organization. This involves planning human resource strategies that align with the company's culture and hiring employees who strengthen it. Unfortunately, the lawyer's behavior in the story is consistent, allowing Barley's insubordination to fit right into a company culture lacking the necessary discipline. Despite identifying issues with his employees, the lawyer fails to take corrective action and justifies their behavior by highlighting their occasional good work.

Aids (2013, p.220) defines discipline as the corrective process for undesirable behavior, which is necessary for achieving organizational goals and expectations. The absence of discipline allows for

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

punishment, but it is important for the person in charge to correct undesirable behavior in accordance with the goals of the organization, as stated by HARM principles. However, in the absence of policies for disciplinary proceedings, a lawyer attempting to discipline employees is rendered ineffective in controlling their behavior within the organization. It is crucial for any business organization to have work policies or human resource policies to assist managers in achieving the goals and expectations of the company based on its strategic plan. These policies provide a blueprint for how daily communication with employees should be handled and enable managers to effectively determine appropriate solutions to problems or questions. While managers cannot be expected to know every policy aspect, this knowledge assists in effective management of employees.

It is crucial for organizations to have policies that outline their expectations for employees. These policies not only help new employees understand their roles but also serve as a reference for current employees in their daily work (Allergen, &Klein, 2000, Para., 3). Failing to address performance issues can have long-term consequences in the workplace, not only affecting individual work quality but also creating negative attitudes among colleagues who may imitate such behavior (Aids, 2013, pig.219). It falls on human resource professionals to develop policies and procedures to prevent such issues from arising. Managers can use these policies to effectively evaluate employee performance and avoid the situation described in Melville's story, where the lawyer did not have any policies in place to handle performance problems with his staff.

Although some of the performance issues within the reader's organization are known, they are rarely addressed directly with the

employees. As Melville (2011, pig.6) notes, even gentle remonstrations had little effect on undesirable behavior. Aids (2013, pig.39) explains that performance appraisals are a method of measuring job performance that can provide dynamic control measures for an organization's administrative, developmental, and strategic needs. In this case, however, strategic control measures such as performance appraisals and problem-solving interviews are not being administered to address performance deficiencies. These interviews allow employees and managers to discuss both successes and problems in order to develop improvement plans aimed at addressing any deficiencies (Aids, 2013, pig.263). With these plans in place, training can be implemented to help employees meet desired performance standards.P. Gain emphasized the significant role of employee training for effective resources management as it can improve productivity and attain a competitive edge in customer service. Conversely, a lack of training can lead to job dissatisfaction and frustration (Gain, 1999, Para.1-2). The lawyer's recruitment strategy for Bartlett, the scrivener, is not well-elaborated in the story except for it being an advertisement. Bartlett was hired on the spot after a brief interview about his qualifications (Melville, 2011, pig.8), despite recommended steps in the interviewing process such as clearly defining job duties, expectations and priorities (Cravings & Klein, 2002, Para.3, 14, 15). This reflects a flaw in the lawyer's human resource management.Melville's story exemplifies poor human resource management, as it portrays an employee who refuses to work shortly after being hired. The organization's pre-existing condition that allowed this employee to pass the interview process is evident.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New