HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

CE3CHR – HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
A TALE OF TWO COMPANIES
OVERVIEW AND ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVE
This case study concurrently touches on several important topics that you have covered during
lectures. This assignment tests your ability to draw upon the knowledge that you have
acquired and using it to critically analyse and overcome the problems and issues presented in
this case study.
TASKS
You have been hired by Colin Brown as an external consultant to help him formulate and
implement future developmental strategy for Evans. In particular you have been asked to
address the issues outlined below:
1. What lessons of potential applicability to Evans might Colin Brown draw from his
colleague’s report on management development in the Japanese competitor
company? Specifically,
What are the main problems currently facing Evans with regards to
management development? Why?
Which aspects of Japanese practice seem to be particularly advantageous to
Watanabe’s capacity for competitiveness? Why?
How should Colin Brown conceptualize the meaning of the term
‘management training and development’? What HR strategy or strategies
might usefully be employed to capture the focus and scope of the concept?
What steps would you advise Colin Brown to take in order to implement
these strategies?
2. Evaluate and critique the Japanese system of managing managers and their
development. Explain what are its advantages and disadvantages. How sustainable is
the system likely to be and why?
TO SUBMIT
 Prepare a comprehensive and concise report OF NO MORE THAN 20 PAGES
(including references [and appendices, if any]). In your report, it is essential that
you provide adequate/appropriate references to support and reinforce your views and
proposal
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.
 The report should contain an Executive Summary and a Table of Contents page.
Where appropriate, your report may include figures, tables and charts to clarify or
emphasize certain points that you are making. Although these do not in and of
themselves carry additional marks, a coherent, convincing and well-structured report
will count towards the final assignment grade.

 Work that is considered to be plagiarised will be awarded a zero mark.
*
In addition to the reading materials and reading list on Blackboard, you are strongly
encouraged to consult a wider range of management texts and journals either from the library
or the library’s online resources. Remember that any work that is not your own must be
properly referenced.