Case study ihrm issues

Case Study Analysis & Response

Aligned subject learning outcomes Appraise the challenges involved in managing a cross-cultural workforce and managing trans-nationally, including expatriate management and the conduct of organisational change and development in global business operations; Design HRM best practice from a comparative perspective with an emphasis on the mediating role played by national cultures and institutions and new trends in global corporate governance.

Group or individual Individual

Weighting 40

Due date 24th May, 2018 (Thursday) 12 noon – Week 10

Case Study Analysis & Response Brief

Walmart in S. Africa is the case study that you will adopt for the individual task assignment.

It is stated in the case study that Wal-Mart is based in the USA and is expanding into S. Africa.

Here is the task brief.

You have been employed as a consultant and are to present your case study analysis to the CEO.

It is recommended that you use an issue-oriented/problem-solving approach.

After a very brief introduction, identify clearly what you believe to be the real issue(s).

From there, move on to a section where you outline 3 problems/issues/challenges that are raised in the case.

After addressing these problems in relation to theoretical understanding, arrive at plausible courses of action—try not to come up with more than three so that you can keep your analysis focused and detailed, and not take a shotgun approach.

For your conclusion, you need to select the one solution that, as consultants, you will recommend to the CEO.

Discuss this recommendation in detail, considering the implications of proceeding with this recommendation. You are contracted, and duly compensated, to advise the company exactly how to approach this case based situation; be frank and open in your recommendations.

Finally, discuss the implementation of your solution, identifying timetables, responsibilities, follow-ups, and any additional issues that may potentially impede your suggested implementation.

Include here any adverse fallout from your recommendation that may potentially have a negative impact, and offer constructive counter strategies to resistance.

Finally account for if Africa offers good growth prospects for Walmart in the future?

Case Study Analysis & Response Brief

How to go about doing the analysis

Read the case study given on Walmart in Africa.

For the introduction provide the scenario of Walmart in Africa. For example: your introduction could account for the reasons why Wal-Mart shifts its focus to Africa in 2012 with the acquisition of South African retailer Massmart Holdings Limited. What is the current situation of Wal-Mart in S.Africa?

Next, identify clearly the three IHRM issues/challenges faced by Walmart expanding into South Africa.

Adopt a problem-solving/issue-oriented approach that Walmart will face in Africa (taking note of their previous experience in other international markets and of course, the cultural, economic and social context of S.Africa).

You have to read the case thoroughly to draw out some of these problems/issues/challenges.

The three issues/challenges (identified from reading the case) must be informed by IHRM theoretical understanding or frameworks taught in the lectures.

Use at least six (6) reliable sources (which can include journal articles, newspaper reports, country of industry information etc) for this case study analysis.

Suggest 3 plausible courses of action or recommendations to the three problems/issues discussed. The first two recommendations should be discussed briefly.

The last recommendation should form the conclusion as it is the most pertinent recommendation one that you discussed in full by:

stating why have you chosen this last specific issue/problem to focus on?

What is the consultants’ main recommendation?

Discuss the implementation of your solutions

i.e. how to go about them

identifying timetables, responsibilities, follow-ups,

any additional issues that might potentially hinder the implementation

any implications or adverse fallout from your recommendation that you could potentially anticipate

Finally account for if Africa offers good growth prospects for Walmart in the future?

How to go about doing the analysis

Choose 3 of the IHRM frameworks below to account for the possible issues/problems faced by Walmart in S.Africa and suggest a plausible course of action/recommendation for each one.

The topics given below are by no means exhaustive (meaning you could think of relevant ones that fall under IHRM analysis):

1. The organisation context: what kinds of management structures (localization or standardization) and strategy (multi-domestic or global) to adopt for international growth – linking them to types of control & coordination mechanisms including cultural control:

Consider the following questions in looking at organization context:

What kind of strategy you think Walmart is adopting? A multi-domestic one ( responsiveness to local requirements within each of its markets) or a global strategy (stresses the need to gain economies of scale by offering essentially the same products or services in each market).

What challenge/s might this pose in terms of the types of control (including cultural control) Walmart can exercise over its subsidiaries or merger?

Discuss how these will impact on the way IHRM works – example with regards to international performance management, training & development etc.

Provide a plausible recommendation

Refer to Lecture 3, 4 & 7; Chapters 3 & 7 of textbook

Possible IHRM issues/challenges

Possible IHRM issues/challenges

2. IHRM Challenges in Cross-Border Mergers

a. Being a merger in Africa, what are some possible HR activities in the different phases of a cross-border M&A that Walmart should take note of? (refer to Figure 4.4 in lecture 4 or p.87 of textbook)

b. Will they face challenges especially in the integration planning phase???

c. How might this impact on your business operations in S.Africa?

d. What plausible recommendation should be considered?

Refer to Lecture 4 and textbook chapter 4

3. Sourcing human resources for global market : staffing, recruiting & selection

a. What approach to staffing is Walmart adopting in S.Africa? Is it Ethnocentric, geocentric or polycentric?

b. How is the adopted approach related to the kind of international assignment that Walmart would employ? i.e. what roles will expatriates play in going to S.Africa?

c. How to recruit and select the expatriates that will do well in S.Africa?

d. What is the current situation in S.Africa that international managers ought to take note of?

e. What plausible recommendation should be considered?

Refer to Lecture 5 & Chapters 5 of textbook

4. International Performance Management

What are some factors associated with expatriate performance that Walmart should take into consideration when sending expatriates to s. Africa?

Taking into consideration compensation package, task & role, host environmental factors, cultural adjustment faced by expatriates working in Africa

b. How is this linked to MNE control and performance?

c. . What plausible recommendation should be considered?

Refer to Lecture 6 and textbook chapter 6

5. International Training, Development, Careers & Talent

a. The role of training in supporting expatriate adjustment & on-assignment performance

b. Pre-departure training

c. Re-entry & repatriation

 refer to Lecture 7 & textbook Chapter 7

Possible IHRM issues/challenges

6. International industrial relations & the global institutional context

key concerns of trade unions to activities of MNEs;

potential constraints trade unions may have on MNE:

Refer to Lecture 9 & textbook Chapter 9

7. International business ethics & HRM

different legal & ethical structures/practices that impacts on business practices that are very different (e.g. accepting gifts of money, corruption etc);

check out the labour laws in the S.Africa - how will these impact on the way you are going to operate your business in S.Africa?

the complex assessment and planning activities related to safety, security & counterterrorist efforts:

Refer to Lecture 9 & Chapter 10

Possible IHRM issues/challenges

Headings of Content Page of Report What to focus on?? Suggested no. of pages

Cover Page (download from Assessment folder)

Executive Summary An executive summary provides a succinct narrative on what the team is tasked to do, briefly what you found to be the most pertinent issue with the suggested recommendation moving forward for the company. 1

2. Introduction Your introduction could account for the reasons why Wal-Mart shifts its focus to Africa in 2012 with the acquisition of South African retailer Massmart Holdings Limited. What is the current situation of Wal-Mart in S.Africa? As consultants, you are tasked to identify three pertinent IHRM issues/problems that Walmart is likely to encounter in S.Africa. 1

3 Three Pertinent IHRM Issues/Problems 3.1 Discussion & analysis of IHRM Issue 1 3.2 Discussion & analysis of IHRM Issue 2 3.3 Discussion & analysis of IHRM Issue 3 Identify what area of HR the problem/issue fall in (i.e. the problem/issue must be informed by IHRM theoretical understanding or frameworks taught). Review relevant information & data (if any) pertaining to issue 1 – i.e. you must conduct research pertaining to this issue identified. You need to use at two (2) reliable sources (which can include journal articles, newspaper reports, country of industry information etc) for each issue identified. Analyse the information and/or data collected. Suggest a recommendation/ course of action to this issue/problem identified. 2 – 2.5 pages

3.2 Discussion & analysis of IHRM Issue Same as 4.1 above 2- 2.5 pages

3.3 Discussion & analysis of IHRM Issue3 Same as 4.1 above 2- 2.5 pages

Conclusion Conclude by stating which is the most specific issue/problem the company should focus on. Why have your team chosen this specific issue/problem to focus on? What is the consultants’ main recommendation? Discuss the implementation of your solutions i.e. how to go about them identifying timetables, responsibilities, follow-ups, any additional issues that might potentially hinder the implementation any implications or adverse fallout from your recommendation that you could potentially anticipate Finally account for if Africa offers good growth prospects for Walmart in the future? 2 – 2.5 pages

References page In APA style Make sure APA style is in alphabetical order according to family name of author (see Assessment folder on APA referencing style) There should be at least 6 references at the end using either journal articles and/or reputable industry/academic websites, relevant to the issues discussed. 1-2 pages depending on how many references the team uses. Not included in the page count.

Appendices (depending on how many graph or picture to be inserted) Include any graphs, picture, statistics that cannot be fitted into the main pages here. 1-3 pages Not included in the page count.

7. Insert marking criteria for case study analysis Download from Assessment folder

Criteria for Case Study Analysis Report

Outline key features of the ‘case’ Describe unique characteristics of the case, identifying issues and problems and nominating the key ones to be analysed further. Weight: 6 marks Content Development Logical flow, critical analysis, clear & relevant outcomes; concise and cohesive including executive summary. Weight: 6 marks

Analysis/Evaluation of the issues and problems in the ‘Case’ context and in relation to the IHRM literature Compare and contrast the issues of the case study with the relevant literature of IHRM Weight: 10 marks Style & Conventions Formal and informal rules inherent in the expectations for writing a professional analysis. Weight: 4 marks

Conclusions and Recommendations Concise and logical link between the issues, recommendations and implementation of the latter in that the recommendations and implementation flow from the conclusions and critical analysis of the issues, adding depth and understanding of IHRM. Weight: 4 marks Sources and Evidence Research evidence; accurate, credible, relevant, current data sources referenced in appropriate style Weight: 4 marks

Control of Syntax and Mechanics Sentence construction; grammar; punctuation & spelling. Weight: 6 marks

Format & Requirements

No more than twelve double-spaced pages (exclude reference page, appendices)

Times Roman Font, 12

Coloured pictures if any in the hard copy