HRM3701 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024 (585848)-DUE 26 August 2024

HRM3701 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024 (585848)-DUE 26 August 2024 Latest Solutions Operational context NOVA Economics is a specialist economic and development consulting firm which employs 120 people, the consultants are all economists, financial analysts and computer scientists. Most of the staff are between their 30s and mid-40s many with master’s degrees and some with PhDs. Founded in 2002, NOVA Economics provides clients with the in-depth expertise and analysis necessary to make the right choices. The consultants combine a deep understanding of the Southern African business and policy context with specialist skills in international trade, public policy and regulation, competition economics and climate change. The work is very technical, involving large amounts of data analysis. Where NOVA Economics does not have specialist skills in-house, the consulting firm was able to draw on a network of local experts and academics as well as their strategic business partners in Australia and Europe. Before lockdown, staff were used to remote videoconferencing with clients, and company policy allowed working from home one day a week, but this wasn’t particularly commonplace. The Managing Director Yash Ramkolowan commented that ‘even if once a week someone would work from home, the rest of the team would be in the office, so it did have the feeling that most people were in the office most of the time.’ In terms of flexible hours, there was already a culture of flexing the start and end of the day, both for work–life balance needs and to enable meetings with “THEIR” clients in different time zones. While some staff made use of this, many also worked traditional office hours, and core hours of 11.00 to 15.00 were in place. The type of knowledge work done by NOVA Economics could hardly be better suited to working from home, or indeed to flexing hours; as Yash commented: ‘In terms of our client needs, there isn’t any specific need to be in the office or producing from very set hours. A lot of the work that we do is quite internally focused.’ The consultants’ work is also mostly highly plannable: they speak regularly to clients but have a good deal of autonomy over when those calls take place. However, when the pandemic enforced total, five-days-a-week homeworking, something was lost from team communication. Head of HR Kate Dabula commented: ‘There is no substitute for that soft social interaction that happens by default, when you are in the office together. There’s something that just isn’t the same, and we haven’t found that magic button to replace it yet.’ Even for extremely motivated, high-performing knowledge workers who are ‘really engaged in the subject matter’ Kate said, ‘Some of that energy that you get from being together as a team, it’s much harder to replicate when you’re at home. However, I am surprised that it is not impacting on their work. The deadlines still get met, the quality of work is there, but there’s a sort of energy around it, an excitement, a feeling, when you’re in the office. We noticed a slump. There was also an impact on brainstorming. The informal dialogue and information-sharing that happens naturally when employees are together takes a lot more effort when employees are working remotely.’ Task One [45] 1. Describe the nature of work done at NOVA Economics? (2) 2. Identify problems encountered by NOVA Economics since the pandemic enforced a total, five-days-a-week homeworking. (3) 3. Discuss how each of these problems can be resolved or improved (15) 4. In addition to videoconferencing, discuss other technologies that can be used to support workflow processes at NOVA Economics? (10) 5. By default, the pandemic changed the WFH model at NOVA Economics. Discuss how the consulting firm can amend their policy to suit the new WFH model. (6) 6. What needs to be considered before a flexible working arrangement can be put in place? Discuss this in terms of both the individual employee and the organisation as a whole. (4) 7. What steps will need to be taken to implement a flexible working arrangement? (5) The following links will assist you in understanding more about flexible working arrangements: Task Two [20] The new WFH Model at NOVA Economics requires managers to be cognisant of the change taking place and how consultants are dealing with the process of change in the new work environment. Questions 2.1. NOVA Economics implemented a new performance management system. Therefore, you have been requested to facilitate a training workshop on how to use the new system. You have been allocated 2 hours and the training will be online. Your line manager requested you to do a power point presentation on how you plan to facilitate the workshop in 2 hours. Your facilitation plan should not exceed five slides. (10) Note: This activity requires you to do a bit of research on what needs to be covered in the training plan, including the training schedule that will run for 2 hours. Use your creativity and think outside the box. Lastly, you need to integrate your slides into the complete portfolio document. Note: Please do not embed your presentation; you need to convert your PowerPoint presentation into Word, and then convert it into a single PDF file for submission. The following video will show you how to convert power point slides; you can also search videos for your own convenience: 2.2. Discuss how NOVA Economics can use HRIS for training and development? (5) 2.3. Which performance management method would be suitable for NOVA Economics. Provide reasons for your answer. (5) The following links will assist you in understanding more about flexible working arrangements: Self-reflection [5] Complete the self-reflection for this assignment. The self-reflection is a set template of ten questions you need to answer to complete this task. Reflect on the experience you had when completing this assignment and answer the questions as honestly as you can.