QUESTION $1$

$(20$ Marks$)$

Critically discuss the extent to which FreshMart's approach to human resource management is strategic.

QUESTION $2$

$(20$ Marks$)$

Critically evaluate whether FreshMart would have been able to better leverage strategic human resource $($HR$)$ practices had the company entered the Chinese market through a merger or acquisition.

SECTION B

$[60$ MARKS$]$

Answer ANY THREE $(3)$ questions in this section.

QUESTION $3$

$(20$ Marks$)$

TechWave is a software development company in South Africa that employs $1053$ employees. The company has a total of nine offices $($one in each of the South African provinces$).$ Due to recent shifts in the market leading to reduced demand and increased competition, TechWave must implement a change process that involves reducing its workforce by $100$ employees and closing two of its offices. TechWave has hired you, a human resource $($HR$)$ consultant, to assist in managing this transition. As your first task, you decide to email the TechWave Management Committee to inform them about the generic model of change management to guide them through this process.

Prepare an email to the TechWave Management Committee in which you examine the generic model of change. Include examples in your email to show how the generic model of change would be practically implemented within TechWave.

QUESTION $4$

$(20$ Marks$)$

"Human resource planning is a strategic approach that aligns human capital needs with the organisation's long$-$term objectives, ensuring that the right people are in the right roles at the right time" $($Neves$,$ Nunes and Lima, $2023).$

Evaluate the strategic importance of human resource planning. Provide examples to motivate your discussion.

QUESTION $5$

$(20$ Marks$)$

"Succession management is increasingly recognised as a critical management imperative, not merely for ensuring continuity in leadership but for aligning human resources with the strategic direction of the organisation" $($Hayden and Pahl, $2021).$

Analyse the role of succession management in aligning human resource management with organisational strategy. Provide examples to exemplify your answer $.$

QUESTION $6$

$(20$ Marks$)$

"The fastest growing component of outsourcing is human resource $($HR$)$ outsourcing which involves moving HR functions outside of an organisation's boundaries" $($Shi$,2022).$

Critically discuss the rationale for HR outsourcing, as well as its risks and limitations$.$ Provide examples to exemplify your answer.