QUESTION $1[25$ marks$]$

Read the following case study and then answer the questions that follow.

NAVIGATING MODERN WORK CHALLENGES IN A DYNAMIC ORGANISATION

Meet Sarah Mitchell, a $35-$year$-$old professional working as a digital marketing specialist at Global Tech

Solutions, a rapidly growing tech company. Sarah has over seven years of experience in the industry

and joined the company three years ago. She has been a dedicated employee, always striving to excel

in her role.

Sarah$$s journey at Global Tech Solutions began after she left her previous job at a traditional marketing

agency. She was excited about the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment that promised

innovation and growth. While she appreciates the company$$s forward$-$thinking approach, she faces

several unique challenges in her role.

Challenges:

Sarah often feels intense pressure to meet aggressive marketing targets set by the organisation,

impacting her job satisfaction and overall well$-$being. In recent months, she has struggled to achieve her

sales targets, raising concerns on her performance. Her line manager, Mr$.$ Monaledi, has on several

occasions indicated that her performance is not up to standard, adding to Sarah$$s stress and anxiety as

she strives to meet expectations. Despite her dedication and skills, she finds it challenging to see a

clear career path within the organisation and is unsure about opportunities for advancement or the

company$$s commitment to her professional development. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy work$-$life

balance has become increasingly difficult, as she juggles multiple projects and tight deadlines, taking a

toll on her health. She frequently experiences stress$-$related symptoms and the organisation lacks a

comprehensive wellness programme to address employee well$-$being.

Support from line management and HR:

Sarah's immediate supervisor, Mr Monaledi, has a critical role in providing support. He regularly meets

with Sarah to set realistic goals, provide constructive feedback and address her concerns. However,

these conversations have primarily focused on her performance issues, adding to her stress.

The HR department at Global Tech Solutions offers various support mechanisms. They conduct regular

employee satisfaction surveys to gather feedback and identify areas of improvement. HR also provides

career coaching sessions, to help employees like Sarah map out their career trajectories within the

organisation.

Challenges for line managers and HR:

Despite these support initiatives, the fast$-$paced environment poses challenges for line managers in

providing relevant guidance. Marketing roles also carry high$-$performance expectations, making it tough

for line managers to balance results and emotional support. Additionally, HR struggles with recruiting

and retaining tech$-$savvy marketing specialists, given the industry's high turnover rate and the need for

continuous skills updates.

HRM$2605$: Assessment $06$ Semester $01(2024)$

$8$

$$ UNISA $2024$

Source: Author$$s own compilation

$1\mathrm{.}1$ First, discuss the role of effective performance feedback in improving employee satisfaction and

performance $(3$ marks$).$ Secondly, evaluate Mr Monaledi$$s approach to providing feedback to Sarah

$(1$ mark$)$ and suggest three alternative strategies for improvement $(3$ x $2$ marks $=6$ marks$).$ The

proposed strategies must apply to the given scenario. $(10)$

$1\mathrm{.}2$ Assess the challenges faced by the HR department in recruiting and retaining specialised talent in

high$-$turnover industries such as Global Tech Solutions. Identify $(5$ marks$)$ and explain $(5$ marks$)$ five

$(5)$ innovative HR strategies that Global Tech Solutions could implement to attract and retain highly

talented individuals. $(10)$

$1\mathrm{.}3$ You have been requested by the HR manager at Global Tech Solutions to assist him in designing a

comprehensive healthcare programme to address the well$-$being concerns mentioned in the case

study. Assist the HR manager by discussing the programmes that should be included in the

comprehensive healthcare programme. $(5)$

QUESTION $2[25$ marks$]$

Question $2\mathrm{.}1(15)$

In today$$s rapidly evolving workplace, the role of the line manager has become increasingly crucial in the

effective management of human resources. Analyse the key responsibilities of line managers in HRM $(10$

marks$)$ and identify the most significant challenge $(5$ marks$)$ they face in the $21$st

$-$century HRM landscape.

Support your answer with relevant literature and practical examples.

Structure your answer as follows:

$2\mathrm{.}1\mathrm{.}1$ Responsibilities of the line manager in HRM $(10)$

$2\mathrm{.}1\mathrm{.}2$ The most significant HR challenge faced by line managers $(5)$

Question $2\mathrm{.}2(10)$

Reflect on the module$$s content and your response to question $2\mathrm{.}1$ above.

$2\mathrm{.}2\mathrm{.}1$ In your opinion, in which HR function does the line manager play the most significant role and

why? $(1$ mark$)$ Substantiate your answer with relevant theory$/$literature $(4$ marks$).(5)$

$2\mathrm{.}2\mathrm{.}2$ How can HR support the line manager in the role identif