Organizations are made of two key resources: people and money. People, who are made up as its workforce, are the most valued property (Plumbley 1976). The data, skills and commitment the workforce brings should be useful to its maximum to permit the organisation thrive. Plumbley (1985) suggests that the success and even the success of a business normally relies after the calibre of the labor force, and it has been debated that the expenses of ineffectual commercial viability can probably be associated with a long period of inadequate recruitment and selection methods (Lewis, 1984; Plumbley, 1985; Smith and Robertson, 1993; Terpstra, 1996). Way more the processes associated with recruitment and selection of employees, their management and option of skills and knowledge will give an enterprise a company business strategy.
Recruitment and selection are necessary processes for an effective organization, as selecting the appropriate personnel can "improve and maintain organisational performance" (Petts 1997). Recruitment is merely linking those with jobs and the ones seeking jobs; in effect discovering the potential of prospective people for real or predicted vacancies. Regarding to Edwin B. Flippo, "recruitment is only a process of looking for prospective applicants for employment, stimulating and encouraging them to use for a job". An satisfactory recruitment process would contain such intensifying steps: Job definition, Person specification, Creation of recruitment and selection techniques, review and shortlist and offer of employment based on agreed deal (Peel and Dale 2001:9).
Figure Recruitment and Selection Process (Ward 2007)
In reality, the whole recruitment process is more difficult than just encouraging people. It targets the purpose of attracting the most suitable people at that point with time (Dale 2003:50).
Invariably the situation of selection not only involves allocating the right specific for the right job, but it also entails the effectiveness of the methods used in order for doing that purpose (Dempsey 1955). The entire process of selection begins from a short testing interview and concludes with your final career offer.
Figure The Selection Process (Montana, Charnov 2000:216)
While carrying out the choice process, management will need to have a remedy to the question: 'What is required by the job'? So, any criterion considered in employee selection must be a Real Occupational Certification (BFOQ), or job related conditions to avoid any form of discrimination that is an illegality and punishable (Montana, Charnov 2000).
Case Review Review
Company Profile
Framley executive is a comparatively small sized company that designs, produces, manufactures and offers superior electronics. A large proportion (60%) of the company's revenue is derived from export market segments; hence the company has a strong market interested in the unique products offered. The organization's life is hinged on the vital recruitment of R&D technical engineers who are pioneers of in house technology and in charge of launching new products for the marketplace.
The company consist of 520 employees, 57 being technicians. The company is expanding because of the periodical recruitment of certified engineers that are crucial to its life. With the next SWOT analysis, the business's current situation can evidently be shown:
Strengths
Framley executive is a little sized company compared to its larger opponents but holds a 'first mover edge' (FMA), where it's been able to gain time over its competition; and time advantages generally and in the field the business functions is the surest way to get market share (Lieberman, Montgomery 1988).
Weakness
Lack of an effective recruitment and selection strategy by the Man Resource department, consequently of the incompetence of the top of RECRUITING and departmental heads using limited interviewing and selection skills for recruiting new engineers. This could be detrimental as it might reduce the company's competitiveness in the market as its success is dependent on quality designers.
Opportunities
Steadily widening through employing experienced technicians and across-the-board low labour turnover.
Threats
The recruitment of people with no relevant skills or knowledge, who are unfit for the business as highlighted by the Director of Engineering at Framley anatomist. This may lead to increased labour turnover, increased costs for the organization and finally lower the morale of the labor force.
Examining the SWOT examination of the research study, it can be gathered that a major setback for Framley executive is its grossly incompetent Head of Human Resource and departmental minds. The heads of department evidently lacked interviewing and selection skills basing decisions on personal grounds and prejudices that could be interpreted as a form of discrimination, possibly stereotyping or assigning of qualities to people based on their social backdrop. Although stereotyping is an all natural mental process that enables the mind filtration system and categorizes stimuli, it becomes a stumbling block when recruiters view the aged, obese, gender and cultural minorities within intransigent restrictions, presuming them as less licensed for a post based on their affiliation to a interpersonal group (Levesque 2005). An example is the truth of Wayne Connor (Greenhouse 2003), who was simply offered a job as a make meals by McDonalds. Connor was 6 ft. extra tall and weighed 420 pounds which means chain had to order a custom-made even for him in which during the time of its entrance, the chain got transformed management and the new owners decided against using Mr Connor on account of his fatness. Thus it can be assumed that the new owners commits the perceptual blunder of the halo result (Klein 2004) in deeming that because of one insignificant negative characteristic, their total belief of him and his talents is distorted adversely (McShane et al 2005:19).
Furthermore the effects of poor recruitment decisions as seen in the research study include: wastage of time and money allocated to advertising, shortlisting, interviewing, stating 'good bye' and re-hiring; negative specific and team morale where existing personnel have to compensate for the new folks' insufficient skill or production. A significant pitfall is the direct costs with needing to re-recruit, approximated by the CIPD as 3, 500 per staff on the average (Management and Expectations Centre n. d. ).
Effective Recruitment and Selection Strategies
Recruitment
Recruiting is seen as a "positive procedure for creating a pool of candidates by reaching the 'right' audience, suitable for the vacancy" (Leopold 2002). The original progression of recruitment is to create a job examination which is essential for both the organization and candidates. If the post is needed in the business, a job description is then collated. An average job description comprises of the job title, location and what the work key functions are main duties the work entails and the part it plays in the success of a business. Thereafter, based on the job description a person specification can be constructed. In definition, a person specs is a "process by which both required qualities essential to attempt the post and the appealing qualities of the perfect candidate for the work are detailed" (Torrington et al 1992). In line with the case study, a job description should entirely be created by the Individuals Resource office at Framley anatomist. Though it is strongly recommended that the HR Head confers with the Director of engineering (for required skills), whom the new recruits will be reporting to; as their relative input into the job role will be important and such relevant details which should be included in the specification.
The next level is choosing appropriate steps in recruiting the best candidate. In place there are three stations by which an organizations can recruit suited prospects, there are: Internal, Exterior and On-line recruitment. Internal recruitment involves advertising job articles on staff notice planks in personnel rooms or announcing in staff meetings. Recognized by Leopold (2002), inner recruitment enables staff to advance within the organization through advertising to a new area, in so doing providing them with valuable experience elevating these to a higher level in an identical role. For instance, Tesco adopts inner recruitment dialling it an 'Internal Skill Plan' where it lists current employees buying a move either on the same level or on promotion. The benefit of internal recruitment is that the manager is aware of the candidate's capabilities thus preventing the error of using an external candidate who may not be determined to commit to the introduction of the organization. As opposed, a significant obstacle of inside recruitment is the fact that it may add a sense of indifference within the organization. Wherefore sometimes it is preferable to use externally that could increase competition for deals and improve appraisals, as employees won't feel as if they can be in their 'comfort area', knowing the organization uses internally.
External recruitment includes recruitment companies, job centres, recommendations and new paper adverts. External recruitment is whenever a candidate is recruited from outside the organization as the applicant may bring strategies or skills needed. In relation to Framley engineering, the company uses externally, which is suitable because of its size, composition and field they operate in being the recruitment of R&D engineers. The company needs outdoor experience which brings an injection of fresh and innovative ideas. Though this system maybe costlier, it is essential to keep carefully the company in operation as it is reliant on the grade of engineers and in house technology.
The previous recruitment strategy is online recruitment which really is a cost effective way for organizations as it shares information between candidates and recruiters, and information collected can simply be updated. Though its major drawback is the fact it attracts series of unsuitable applicants and recruiters spend lots of time extracting ideal ones (Beardwell 2007). Framley engineering should adopt this cost effective method as part of their recruitment insurance plan though to totally utilize the method, recruiters must be in regular contact with potential candidates so that they aren't lost to competition. Another example is Hong Kong flight Dragon Air, a subsidiary of Cathway Pacific Group which uses 1400 cabin staff staff. The flight uses online recruitment for costs and time keeping as candidates post their application in predetermined format through the internet. In addition they employ alternative party businesses such as Monster. com where data is consolidated and analysed by the grade of the candidate. It has demonstrated effective in employing the right workforce and can be emulated by Framley.
In correlation, the next step in hiring job seekers is assessing the adequate candidate for the post through sifting applications (Armstrong 2007). The sifting process includes classifying abundant job seekers into 'possible, possible and unsuitable' teams (Beardwell 2007). This is possible through the comparison of different resumes and moving promising individuals to the selection process. Unsatisfactory should be notified on paper soonest matching to CIPD directives (Beardwell 2007). Another approach you can use in sifting applications is Bio data, which is the collation of data that involves demographic information such as education, sex, age, educational qualifications, employment record, and interests etc. things are awarded matching to their relevance to the post and data collected is scored by the bio data review. The points accumulated determine applicants who is able to proceed to the next stage (Armstrong 2007).
Selection
Selection can be interpreted as "the procedure of picking the 'appropriate' individuals both willing and competent to fill the post". Several selection techniques can be used to recognize the most suitable candidate for the post by lowering the pool (Leopold 2002). The number of techniques could be: psychometric exams, analysis centres, interviews, recommendations among others (Beardwell 2007).
The hottest strategy is interviews as expressed by Torrington (2002), as a "controlled talk with a purpose". You will discover three types of interviews particularly: individual interview, selection panel and interviewing panels, the most typical one being the individual interview which is more or less face to face. This enables close contact between the interviewer and interviewee, but may result in partial decisions predicated on personal grounds like depicted in the event study. It is glaring that the departmental minds did not comprehend the whole process of recruitment. They lacked the training necessary to enlighten them about the importance of the recruitment process and creating a strategy to effectively offer with selecting the right people, equivalent opportunities, lessening costs from 'incorrect hiring', and moreover to recognize marginal performers prior to hiring. Definitely, untrained and incompetent recruiters coupled with incorrect selection techniques will cause a workforce not being sufficiently trained for the post they maintain, which suffocates an organization as it gradually gets smashed under the pressure of rehiring adequate employees that sorts the backbone of the company; as in this case Framley engineering.
A much fairer method which may get rid of preconceived judgements is a panel interview, likely regarding two line managers and one staff supervisor to interview an individual candidate. This enables fair discussions with a view from different sides. The final method is selection plank interviews which is usually bigger and even more formal, and may have someone on the board more important than others whose decisions might effect others on the plank. This sort of interview allows people included to make decisions on applicants relating to relevant things. Framley executive should adopt the panel interview method as it is more energetic and individuals are evaluated in a fairer manner as group of questions asked depends on individual encounters.
Other selection techniques is assessment centres, which requires candidates living with a series of exercises while being discovered by assessors what skills were confirmed, their features and if they are suitable for the job to enhance the introduction of the organization (Fowler 1992). Jobs performed at analysis centres are psychometric checks, group, job and specific exercises (Porter 2001). However, although this technique gives a consider how people would perform in categories which would be an advantage to organizations that require staffs to work in groups, it is among many techniques and the ultimate way to understand and choose a suitable candidate is through interview. In addition the process can be very costly as it requires a lot of resources, hence mainly used by greater organizations therefore not well suited for Framley anatomist.
However, another technique which might be useful to the case study is using personal references. Referrals are personal and exact information collected about applicants. This would enable the company know who they are recruiting. The disadvantage of the method is that applicants can get anyone to write up an individual reference point as Armstrong (2007) rightly pointed out that "personal references are of course evidently inadequate as all they show would be that the candidate has at least one or more friends". Thus, personal references should only come from Human resources rather than from a earlier manager or past workmate as they will be biased and conjure up a brilliant guide which is not beneficial as the organization needs to know the calibre of applicants they are really recruiting.
For an organization to look at the best approach to recruitment and selection there are several external and internal factors to be taken under consideration before an excellent strategy can be developed. Such factors shall be analysed furthermore.
Internal Factors
Foremost is how big is a business as this establishes what technique to adopt. A business with between 200 and 500 employees, as is the problem in the case study, would have to choose a best use of techniques talked about here. However much smaller companies with 50 plus employees do not require implementing all techniques mentioned as it is inadequate, frustrating and counterproductive due to relatively high costs. For example assessment centres aren't needed by smaller firms as this might be expensive, and instead use of practical methods such as interviews and paper application. But examination centres are very helpful to larger organizations recruiters should narrow down the large numbers of job seekers as effectively utilized by corporations like English Gas that uses analysis centres where they use 90 claims in every and job seekers are scored as amber, inexperienced or red. The color grading shows the attitudes people have towards team development and people, so that it would go to show which assignments are suitable for an individual. Green and amber job seekers are put ahead unto the last stage while red rankings are not taken any further.
The financial position of a business also plays a crucial role as it offers a major effect on the recruitment and selection policies an organization chooses. If a body is financially buoyant it can apply all the techniques but if often can verify a weakness for organizations as demanding budgets means constraints to techniques that can be employed to attract potential applicants.
Consequently, it can be determined that when considering the internal factors, businesses need to comply with their inside factors whenever choosing what recruitment and selection solution to adopt. It could be seen that not absolutely all organizations can choose the 'best techniques' anticipated to size and financial constraints, however it is clear that all businesses can adopt the essential of recruitment and selection being interviews and applications.
External Factors
Political factors (macro environmental factors) such as government plan and legislation on race, intimacy and discrimination presents an important function in recruiting and selection methods, as organizations have to follow laws that have been passed by government. Hence in mention of the case study, departmental heads and subsequently the head of HR may need to utilize methods such as Bio data to prevent any discrimination regulations from being damaged as this could lead to the business' closure and legal proceedings.
Forces within the external labour market may are likely involved in businesses' recruitment and selection shortages. In the field where Framley executive operates, there is certainly competition for recruitment of R&D designers, thus the business enterprise may need to look outside the shores of Britain for ideal designers, which would be an advantage since 60% of its income is derived from exports. A variety of foreign expertise could be good for creating ground breaking products to suit the export market. This as well is actually a complicated process as cross-border legalities must be adhered and exhaustive background checks must be carried out.
It is clear when analysing exterior factors, there are always a group of conditions that effect organizations in choosing the most suitable technique. What is constant in exterior factors is the fact business climates and market pushes are rapidly innovating, way more businesses need to modify in order to remain competitive. For instance companies such as Tesco who frequently uses labour from Eastern Europe countries will have a big change in their recruitment and selection insurance policies which results in the need to adapt to the changes in macro environmental factors (as mentioned above).
Conclusion
An organization that does not promote a 'best practice' technique can not only recruit ineffectively but put the business enterprise at a risk of closure credited to failings of the Recruiting department. There should be a close rapport between Human resources department, departmental mind and the Director of executive, to guarantee the techniques used and the person specification fits the work role. Particularly, maximum care should be studied to when interviewing for the recruiter to look at a natural position in order to avoid such problems like the halo impact, stereotyping and preconceived judgements. It is lastly essential that interviewers are properly trained and heads of HR are accountable to either successes or failures of recruitment and selection guidelines.
