HRM of Apple Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

HRM of Apple Company - Assignment Example The organization chosen for this coursework assignment is Apple Company. This organization is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and personal computers. The most famous products of the company are Macintosh computers, iPods, iPad, iPhones, etc.It was established in Cupertino, California on April 1, in the year 1976 and incorporated on January 3rd in the year 1977. The company was called as Apple Computer, Inc. for nearly 30 years of its incorporation and later computer was removed from the company’s name for its ongoing expansion in designing and producing new products. The company by the year 2010 has nearly 284 retail stores operating in ten countries and an online store where the software and hardware products are sold. It also sells and delivers digital content through its application stores. The products are sold through worldwide retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force, other third parties, and value-adde d resellers. This company ranks as the tenth largest company in the world. This organization has employed 80,000 people worldwide of which majority hail from the US. Apple Company serves its customers by offering a broader range of services and products which include mobile communication and other technological and sophisticated gadgets which attract more consumers in purchasing. Besides these services and products, the Apple Company offers its characteristic software products. Task 1 a. The differences between personnel and human resource management Personnel management deals with people employed and its management; and HRM deals with managing employee skills, acquaintance, abilities and aptitudes. Personal management views employees as a money-making or profitable man where he offers his services and gets paid in the form of wage/salary. Therefore, it views employee as equipment which can be purchased and utilized. On the other hand HRM considers employees to be not only economic but also as social and psychological. This approach regards employee as a complete man and are viewed as a reserve or source for his services rendered. Personnel management considers employees as charge centre and hence expenses of employment are maintained by the management whereas in HRM employees are treated as profit centres and hence put in capital for human resources development and future effectiveness. Personnel management uses employees for organizational benefits while HRM uses them for the multiple mutual benefits of the organization, employees and the family members. HRM is a function of strategic management and it lays much emphasis on strategic fit and integration (Armstrong, 2006, p. 19), while in personnel management, personnel functions are considered supplementary. The HRM functions in terms of its contribution to organizational purpose. Managerial functions and Operational functions together constitute to the Human Resource Management functions. Managerial functions include Planning, Organizing, Directing and Controlling. All these functions are important towards the contribution to organizational purpose. The operational functions include Employment, Human Resource development (HRD), Compensation and Human Relations. b. The role and responsibilities of a line manager The line manager plays an important role in the Apple Company. The responsibilities in the performance and development system are diverse and require varying skills for effective management. The line authority is direct authority exercised by a supervisor or manager over his subordinates so that his orders and instructions are carries out in a proper manner. A line manager is considered as generalist of an organization, who directs his subordinates and delegates authority and has power to vote. He makes the operating decisions and bears the final responsibility. The role manager has to motivate his employees, subordinates to work effectively and maximize the potential by identification and