QUESTION $1$

Human Resource Functions:

$1.$ Human Resource Planning: Human resource planning involves forecasting an organization$$s future human resource needs and developing strategies to meet those needs. It includes assessing the current workforce, predicting future workforce requirements, and devising plans to address gaps through training, development, and recruitment.

o Amazon$$s Approach: Amazon$$s HR planning is highly strategic, with a focus on aligning workforce capabilities with the company$$s customer obsession and long$-$term growth objectives. By fostering leadership development and promoting decentralized decision$-$making, Amazon ensures that its employees are empowered to drive projects that enhance customer satisfaction.

$2.$ Recruitment: Recruitment entails attracting and identifying candidates to fill organizational roles. This process includes defining job requirements, advertising vacancies, reviewing applications, and conducting interviews.

o Amazon$$s Approach: Amazon$$s recruitment process is distinctive in its focus on candidates$$ alignment with the company$$s principles and values, beyond just technical skills. This ensures that new hires are not only capable of performing their roles but also embody Amazon$$s customer$-$centric ethos and contribute to its innovative culture.

$3.$ Selection: Selection involves choosing the most suitable candidates from the pool of applicants. This process includes assessments, interviews, and various evaluation methods to determine the best fit for the organization.

o Amazon$$s Approach: Amazon$$s selection process is thorough, emphasizing candidates$$ alignment with the company$$s leadership principles and values. This ensures that employees are well$-$suited to drive innovation and maintain a strong focus on customer experience.

QUESTION $2$

Three Approaches to Human Resource Management:

$1.$ Administrative Approach: Focuses on the administrative tasks and legal requirements of HR$,$ such as payroll, benefits administration, and compliance with labor laws.

$2.$ Strategic Approach: Aligns HR strategies with the overall business strategy, focusing on long$-$term planning and integrating HR as a key component of the company$$s strategic direction. It involves developing HR practices that support the company$$s mission and goals.

$3.$ Human Relations Approach: Emphasizes the well$-$being of employees, focusing on motivation, job satisfaction, and interpersonal relationships within the workplace.

Amazon$$s Approach: Amazon uses a strategic approach to HR management. The company$$s HR strategies are closely aligned with its mission of customer obsession and innovation. By integrating HR practices with long$-$term business objectives and core values, Amazon ensures that its workforce is motivated, customer$-$centric, and capable of driving continuous growth and innovation.

QUESTION $3$

Strategic Management and Strategic Human Resource Management $($SHRM$)$:

$$ Strategic Management: Involves formulating and implementing the major goals and initiatives taken by a company's top management, based on consideration of resources and an assessment of internal and external environments.

$$ Strategic Human Resource Management $($SHRM$)$: Aligns HR activities and policies with the long$-$term business goals and outcomes. It involves planning HR strategies that support the organization$$s objectives.

Four Organizational Strategies and HR Recruitment Strategies:

$1.$ Growth Strategy:

o HR Recruitment Strategy: Focus on attracting and retaining talent with high potential for growth and innovation.

o Amazon: Amazon$$s recruitment strategy supports its growth strategy by targeting candidates who can drive innovation and enhance customer satisfaction.

$2.$ Stability Strategy:

o HR Recruitment Strategy: Emphasize hiring individuals who can maintain and sustain the current performance levels.

o Amazon: Not directly applicable as Amazon focuses on continuous growth and innovation.

$3.$ Retrenchment Strategy:

o HR Recruitment Strategy: Implement cost$-$cutting measures, possibly involving downsizing or restructuring.

o Amazon: Not directly applicable as Amazon focuses on expansion and innovation rather than retrenchment.

$4.$ Differentiation Strategy:

o HR Recruitment Strategy: Attract creative and innovative individuals who can help the company stand out in the market.

o Amazon: Amazon$$s HR strategy aligns with differentiation through its emphasis on innovation and customer$-$centric thinking, ensuring that employees drive unique value propositions.

Amazon$$s Organizational Strategy: Amazon implements a growth and differentiation strategy. The company$$s HR practices support this by recruiting and selecting employees who are innovative and customer$-$focused, ensuring that the workforce is capable of driving long$-$term growth and differentiation in the market.

QUESTION $4$