Organizational HRM - Case Studies

This chapter in the 1st edition of Human Resource Management in a Business Context contains three case studies. The first and third have been replaced by newer items in the 3rd edition . This page is intended to provide updates and links to sites with relevant information for users of the book. 

 Case Study 4.1: The Asian small business in the UK

This is a case of a minority immigrant group in the UK initially making its mark on the community through entrepreneurship. Similar situations can be seen in other countries where individuals from some groups find it difficult to climb normal career ladders because of discrimination, linguistic difficulties or lack of accepted qualifications. In the UK, entrepreneurs are polarising into two groups:

- those who remain small and are often seeing reduced incomes because of competition from major retailers;

- extremely successful individuals who have turned their businesses into large organizations.

Check out the following links for starters:

Asian American Concerns and Issues - rich series of links for US Asian situation

 Case Study 4.2: Home Products

This case study is based on a company where the author once worked (name has been changed). You are expected to analyze the organizational consequences of the two structures - old and new. Do this by reading pages 102-106 carefully, paying particular attention to structure. You could use the 10 'C' framework for this. Also see restructuring in chapter 6.

 Case Study 4.3: Workflow

'Workflow' is a term applied to process management, particularly in production and service organizations. Business process re-engineering is a modern methodology which often uses related techniques to streamline operations and reduce paperwork. If your education included Operations Management or Management Science in recent years you are probably familiar with the topic.

Remember that HRM is not just about working on recruitment and appraisal in personnel departments - it also involves dealing with other managers in the reorganization of companies. This is an example, focused on IBM at Austin, Texas.

See networks (pages 111-112) and business process re-engineering (BPR) (pages 176-180) for relevant reading.

Papers on Workflow listed by IBM Research Exotica

  Previous page