The Challenges In Effective Selection And Induction Process:

Four months previously Professor Grant's application for additional funding for his

current project was approved. On the recommendation of a colleague (who had

acted as postgraduate supervisor) in another university Professor Grant had named

Alex Spender as the research assistant to work on the extension to the project. Alex

joined Professor Grant's research team three months ago immediately after

completing her Ph.D. at another university. Her postgraduate work had overlapped

exactly with expertise needed on the project. She has now been in her first

postdoctoral position for three months. Two other research fellows work on the

project (John and Charlotte), both of whom have been in post for the last two years.

Previously they had been postgraduates within the School.

Charlotte had emerged as the more proactive of the research fellows and Professor

Grant has tended to use her to help coordinate the project. Normally Professor Grant

did not involve research fellows in matters that affected employment or funding.

However, since he would be absent at an important conference when Alex Spender

joined the research group he spoke to Charlotte and explained about the

1appointment. An appointment of an excellent young researcher in this way helped

the research group avoid the bureaucratic recruitment cycle expected by the

Personnel Department. Since her appointment Charlotte had introduced Alex to

those parts of the research work that she was to take up. Charlotte had to fit this

mentoring role alongside her other research activities.

Charlotte has met Professor Grants and stated her dissatisfaction towards Alex.

Charlotte was frustrated because she had been distracted from her own research by

a number of complaints from technicians and others in the department. These

complaints had focused on Alex asking people to do things that were not their

responsibility. As one example Charlotte explained that it was departmental policy

for technicians to be assigned to particular research groups. No one could simply go

to the technician in another group and ask for help. Charlotte also believed that Alex

was slow in getting through her work. All in all she had formed the opinion that Alex

was not up to the job. These difficulties were sapping the morale of the research

group.

Professor Grant has only been able to meet with Alex twice since her appointment

because of his heavy schedule of commitments. Charlotte thinks that as the Principal

Investigator he should put a shot across Alex's bow.

Professor Grant has called a meeting at which he intends to confront Alex with

Charlotte's accusations.

ANSWER THE QUSETION IN YOUR OWN OPINION( NOT LESS THAN 300 WORDS)

1. What are the main issues concerning the function of recruitment and

selection in this case?