International Human Resource Strategies for Multinational Companies

Executive Summary

Assignment Task 1 (Report, 75 Marks) – Word count 3500 words:

 

You are required to choose any organisation, preferably a Multinational company which has operations in several countries. Assume you are the Head, Human Resources Management for the organization. The Board has informed you of its decision to enter into the international market.

You, along with the other functional heads, have been asked to strategize for the multinational nature of your organization. You have been given two weeks to study the various related aspects and submit a report that are likely to influence the organization’s HR strategies in the international scene. 

Guidance on choosing the company: Choose any multinational company from Fortune 500 list or Forbes. Good reason to choose a multinational company that is already listed is because you will find ample information about the company on the in-house library ProQuest or Google Scholar as many researchers would have already researched on the HR functions/operations of these organizations and you will find relevant information that can be used here. If you are selecting a company out of 500 list, check if there is enough information about the company that published or researched and is accessible in the internet database. 

1. Executive Summary [4 marks, 200 words]

Executive summary is written at the end after completing the entire report but placed at the beginning as it summarises all the major points of the report in a gist. Not revealing much but should catch the attention of the reader/assessor in such a way that they enjoy reading it. Can be ideally one but two paragraphs are acceptable but never more than a page. 

2. Introduction: Provide some background information on the chosen organization with a special focus on its human resources.[10 marks, 300 words]

Highlight the reasons why you have selected the chosen company and stress on the evolving nature of human resources in the company since its start. Try to link its current human resource objectives to the company’s vision. (List down some important updates on the practices of the human resource in the company if done for any reason- specify the reason)
    

3. Critically review the existing HRM practices of your organization. Analyse the importance of HRM and its practices in your organisation with specific focus on how it helps in overcoming business issues/ challenges for better performance. 

4. Critically review any two theories of leadership (trait, behavioural, contingency). Assess the suitability of one of the leadership theory that you have analysed in the context of your organization’s international plans.

5. Discuss the behavioural dimensions that would be required in the management of human resources in the new foreign context of your organization. You can do so by identifying some of the key challenges that you are likely to face in the international environment (from a human resources point of view such as understanding human behaviour, identifying employee needs). 

6. Discuss the strategies you would employ to attract and recruit local talent. You are furthered required to identify the cultural challenges and your plans to respond to such challenges. [10 marks, 500 words]

7. Conclusions and Recommendations: Conclude the report, and provide recommendations for the change of practices and perspectives required in managing human resources in the change from domestic to multinational set up. Discuss how this change will impact on the international nature of your organisation.