21720: Human Resource Management September 17 2009 DECLARATION I declare that the work in this assignment is my own. All ideas, sources and works are clearly acknowledged and accurately cited and referenced. NAME : ________________________________ SIGNATURE: ________________________________ Human Resource Management - Portfolio 1
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21720: Human
Resource
Management
September 17
2009
DECLARATION
I declare that the work in this assignment is my own. All ideas, sources and
works are clearly acknowledged and accurately cited and referenced.
NAME : ________________________________
SIGNATURE: ________________________________
Human Resource
Management -
Portfolio
1
Table of Contents
No. Topics Page Numbers
1. Introduction
1.1 Company’s Profile
1.2 Company`s overview
2. Job Description
2.1 Job Summary
2.1.1 Responsibilities
2.1.2 Qualifications
2.1.3 Job/Person Specification
2.1.4 Accountability
2.2 Employment Conditions
2.3 Link with Human resource management
2.4 Link with Apple`s Goals and Strategies
3. Recruitment
3.1 Begin Recruitment
3.2 Announcement of Positions
3.2.1 Advertisements
3.2.2 Online Advertisements
4. Selection
4.1 Receiving complete Application/Resume and begin the Review Process
4.2 Committee/Face to Face Interviews
4.3 Reference Check
4.4 Compliance Review
4.5 Medical Examinations
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4.6 Appointment of Candidate
4.7 Induction Program
5. Remuneration Management
5.1 Methods of setting pay rates
5.2 Determining Pay rate
6. Performance Management
6.1 Contribution of Performance Management in Achieving Organizational Goals
6.2 Project Manager Performance Reporting System Guidelines
6.3 Performance Evaluation Criteria
6.4 Performance Reporting
6.5 Performance Appraisal
7. Contribution to Good Corporate Governance
7.1 Recruiting and Selecting Staff
7.2 Managing Performance & Rewards
7.3 Occupational Health and Safety
7.4 Apple`s Corporate governance guidelines
8. Key Learnings from Portfolio
9. Bibliography
10. Appendix
List of Tables
1. Table-Performance Management
2. Table-Remuneration
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1. Introduction
1.1 Company’s Profile
Apple Computers Inc. is a world renowned company in the field of personal computing and digital media
distribution. The company has become eminent for its innovative user interfaces and innovative technology
in the realm of desktops and laptops which feature its unique and intuitive operating system. Its main
products include Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook for consumer and education markets, and more powerful
MacBook Pro and Mac Pro for high end consumers and professionals. Apple took the whole world by storm
with the introduction of its portable music players (iPod) and its online music store (iTunes). Apple`s
innovation has brought it into a new market of mobile phones (iPhone) which has changed the very concept
of a mobile phone. Other successful products include servers (Xserve), wireless networking equipment
(Airport) and its FileMaker subsidiary that provides database software (Apple Inc 2009). The mission of the
organization is in spite of their success in the hardware category “We will always be a software company”
(Apple Inc 2008).
1.2 Position overview
The prime positions in the organization are held by William V. Campbell as The Chairman of Apple
Computer Inc, Timothy D. Cook is designated as the COO and the most prominently designated individual
is Steven P. Jobs as the CEO and the Director of Apple Computers Inc. (Apple Inc 2008).
The position under focus is of a Project Manager posted at Santa Clara Valley, USA. It is a full time job at
the headquarters of Apple Inc at Cupertino in California. The iTunes Store is the world's most popular music
store on the internet. It's a fast-paced development organization and needs a good project manager to take up
the responsibility for shipping new features (Apple Inc 2009).
2. Job Description
A job description indicates the undertakings, obligations and restraints that are all a part of any venture. It
identifies what is done, why it is done, where it is done, and briefly, how it is done (Mathis & Jackson 2007,
p. 221). The description of the job is done by elaborating the tasks to be performed, equipment to be used,
the working conditions and the performance standards (Dessler et al 2007, p.100). According to Stone a
good job description should elucidate and focus on the job and the position and not on any particular
individual that fills that position (Stone 2005).
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2.1 Job Summary
Aspirants having established credentials and performance history in the field of freighting or shipping, along
with complicated and intricate client related matters within limited timeframes and meeting deadlines are
favored by Apple. This requires active involvement and participation on behalf of the project manager in
matters such as industry or company evaluation, operational blueprint reviews and consultations, statistics
structuring meets, experimentation, proof-of-concept, management of dealer relations, etc.
2.1.1 Responsibilities:
• Oversee all aspects of project information for multiple projects including timelines, resource
allocation, scope and definition
• Drive business, functional, financial, and reporting requirements, often writing them yourself
• Own overall cross-functional project schedules including development on the iTunes Store, back-end
financial systems, and other Apple groups
• Collaborate with IS&T, Treasury, legal, Tax, finance, operations and other organizations both within
and outside of Apple to develop solutions for partnerships and promotions and other new business.
(Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.2 Qualifications:
At least 4 years of project management in software development.
Outstanding communication and presentation skills, written and verbal, at multiple levels of the
organization.
Ability to participate in and possibly facilitate requirements brainstorming sessions.
Strong technical proficiency: server architecture and development, SQL, and bonus for past
programming experience.
E-Commerce and business experience: orders, billing, tax, payments, invoicing, royalties, licensing,
etc.
Digital media experience, SAP integration experience. (Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.3 Job/Person Specification
Experience: 8 - 10+ years of experience in Operations related project management.
Proven track record leading large and complex system projects.
3 -5 years experience managing Business Process design or Re- engineering activities, PMI training.
Consulting experience considered a plus. (Apple Inc. 2009)
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2.1.4 Accountability
A manager is answerable for any undertaking that he takes up and must be strictly observed at all times by
the governing bodies within the organization. He must adhere to all the regulations and guidelines of the
organization and must thereby operate within the boundaries of professional ethics (Dessler 2004). A project
manager should act as a guide and share complete knowledge of the overall activity as a part of his job.
2.2 Employment Conditions
The successful candidate has to fulfill certain needs before becoming a part of the organization officially,
which means before finalizing the selection the following conditions have to be fulfilled.
2.2.1 General Conditions
Lucrative aspirants must acquire and preserve a suitable safety sanctions and some other essential
conditions (De Cieri & Kramar 2003).
Proof of identity and legal right to work in the United States as required by and in accordance with
the process and procedures of the U.S. Immigration reform and Control Act (IRCA).
Due to US Department of Commerce requirements, if not a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident,
Canadian citizen, political refugee, or political asylum holder, you will be required to sign an
assurance regarding obligations not to export controlled technical data or software to certain
countries.
Must sign the Intellectual Property Agreement and return the signed agreement.
Must receive a satisfactory background check in accordance with Apple policy.
2.2.2 Probationary Period
The successful candidates would have to sign a 12 month probationary period agreement which includes
training and performance management to determine the satisfactory work capabilities (Bartlet 2002.) Apple
closely monitors its new project manager`s performance as a large portion of responsibility is rested on the
shoulders of a manager of iTunes, which also controls a number of other departments in the organization.
Apple may terminate a contract during this probationary period in case of unsatisfactory performance of the
candidate.
2.3 Link with Human Resource Management
Job descriptions supply the essential details for internal assessment that include availability of positions,
number of jobs and the strategic importance of the jobs. Human resource specialists can redesign jobs to
eradicate redundant tasks and integrate responsibilities on the basis of a clear identification of the current
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functions being performed and the time spent on performing them. The fundamental aim of human resource
management is to provide for the presence of a compliant and accommodating team in an establishment.
There are four major aspects of the human resource management, namely operational, organizational,
personal and societal (Project Management Institute 2006).
Societal Objectives: The project manager should be morally and communally prepared to meet the
wants of, and tackle the issues plaguing society, while simultaneously reducing the negative effects
of these charges upon the establishment.
Organizational Objectives: To acknowledge the function of a project manager, in the field of human
resource management, in generating organizational efficiency. In short, this branch essentially exists
for the sole purpose of benefitting the establishment and ensuring its progress.
Functional Objectives: The project manager should supervise and ensure that the department caters
to the needs of the establishment in a stable and steady manner.
2.4 Link with Apple`s Goals and Strategies
Apple has predefined certain objectives for its project managers such as portfolio management, business
planning, project planning and execution. A perfect alignment of these activities leads to the portfolio
element being fed by strategy, the project management element being fed by the portfolio and the team`s
execution is fed by the project manager. In certain cases, establishments handle all enterprises and
undertakings in a similar manner, irrespective of the entrepreneurial tactic or stratagem that the
establishment opts for (Pinto 1989 & Covin 1989). Therefore, if the enterprise’s business tactic is converted
into project related objectives, its .Thus, when the organization's business strategy is translated into project-
level goals, its specialized rareness and exclusivity is amplified multifold. (Mathis & Jackson 2007).
3. Recruitment
Recruitment is the practice of attracting a collection of eligible candidates for an available post through
particular measures like publicity, broadcasts and announcements (Dessler et al 2007, p.168). Apple has its
recruitment in accordance to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), along with a strong implementation of
Equal Pay Act (1963), Civil Rights Act (1991), Congressional Accountability Act (1995) and other
legislations laid down by the US government (See Appendix 9). It is rather note-worthy that Apple has
shown its capability in demonstrating such a cohesive branding know-how all through their commodities,
promotion, vending and distributing, assisting clients, and hiring or appointing candidates.
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3.1 Commence Recruitment
The Director of Human Resources at Apple Headquarters in Cupertino completes the following documents
before there is an announcement for a position:
Recruitment request form
Job description
Job classification and suggested salary range
Interview questions
Test/Skill evaluation tools
Criteria for evaluating candidates
3.2 Announcement of Positions
The Human resource department announces the open position and draft advertisements. The job descriptions
are circulated to about 340 agencies, universities and organizations. The Hiring Unit has to bear the cost of
all other advertising expenses.
3.2.1 Advertisements
Advertising is a prominent source to build a pool of Candidates:
Print media – Newspapers: State, national or local; Other: specialist magazines/journals (See
Appendix 8)
Other media – radio, television
Decisions must be made as to which media to use and how the advertisement should be designed to
target suitable applicants
3.2.2 Online Advertisements
This refers to recruitment conducted online; taking advantage of ease of use and the wide audience that can
be tapped into using the web (Dessler et al 2007).For Example – jobs.Apple.com, www.glassdoor.com,