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Human Resource Management - Hrmt 510 Question Paper
Human Resource Management - Hrmt 510
Course:Mba
Institution: Kabarak University question papers
Exam Year:2010
COURSE CODE: HRMT 510
COURSE TITLE: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
STREAM: MBA – S1
INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer question ONE and any other THREE questions
Q1. Read the case study on a defiant worker provided below and answer the questions that
follows:-
THE CASE OF A DEFIANT WORKER
Examine critically the following case study of “A Defiant Worker” and identify the problems
involved, and answer the questions at the end.
Mr. X aged 25, who had been working in a large-scale textile unit in Madurai, referred to the
social worker by the Labour Relations Department for social investigations of the defiant behaviour
exhibited by him in the workplace. He had absented himself from work many a time due to certain
disturbing habits.
Mr. X has committed serious sets of misconduct of riotous and disorderly behaviour during
working hours on 10th January, 1982 as:
1. He came to the Mill in a drunken state and quarreled with his co-worken, and
2. Abused the Supervisor using foul language.
On a cursory perusal of the past records of the defiant worker, the Social Worker came to know
that Mr. X gas absented himself continually for 176 days during 1981. In addition he had availed
himself of 21 days medical leave and 22 days casual leave. As a result of his indisciplined behaviour,
the company had taken the following disciplinary action against him:
1. He was suspended three times for 30 days by the Labour Relations Department for absenting
himself from work for more than six consecutive days on two occasions, and once for
committing a serious act of misconduct, on
2. He was suspended as many as five time for being absent from the work spot.
3. Once he was fined ½ maximum for carelessly allowing the cotton to wrap on the cylinder roll.
4. He was given a final warning on 27.8.82 regarding his habitual absence.
During the preliminary interview the Social Worker had with Mr. X, he came to know that Mr. X
was married and had studied up to 6th standard. He had been drawing a salary Ksh. 800 and had put in
six years of service as a “Worker” in the Blow section. As for the family background Mr. X is the
youngest son of his parents. He lost his father and mother when he was 7 years old. Since then elder
brother had been looking after him. In order to know more about socio-cultural background of Mr. X,
the factors which had driven him to indulge in alcoholism and the causes of his indisciplined behaviour
at the work-place, the Social Worker paid visits to his house many a time and conferred with his family
members. In the course of an interview he had with the eldest Brother of Mr. X the Social Worker
gathered information about Mr. X’s life history right from the schooling. This revealed that Mr. X was
never interested in schooling and frequently absented from the class. He was associated with a gang of
friends who used to take him to films regularly when Mr. X was in the fifth standard.
During his youth, Mr. X seemed to take active interest in politics and ultimately fell under the
influence of gangsters, through whom he had developed certain vices such as consuming alcohol, ganja
and gambling. Seeing the deteriorating moral and social life of Mr. X, his brother procured a job for
him in the local textile unit so that Mr. X could settle down and assume certain responsibilities in life.
As years rolled by Mr. X got married but in course of time he started developing a feeling of hatred
towards his wife inasmuch as he did not like her physical appearance. His marital life lasted for only
three months after which the nuptial bondage had broken, one and for all. Dissatisfied with the kind of
life he was leading, Mr. X began to consume alcohol regularly only to become an addict. He started
playing ducks and drakes with all his savings and the income derived from his land too. His eldest
brother began to reject him for he was beyond redemption and finally drove him out of the house.
Mr. X’s supervisor while interviewed by the Social Worker stated that Mr. X’s relationship with
him and co-workers had been unsatisfactory. He was not efficient in his work. Often times, he
quarreled with the supervisor and other workers when he came to the workspot under the influence of
alcohol. The supervisor was of the view that though Mr. X has been counseled and punished on many
occasions, he has not repented for the acts of misconduct he had committed.
Understandably, the factors contributing to the deviant behaviour of Mr. X might be the lack
of parental care during his childhood, his association with gangsters, marital disagreement due to
dissatisfaction in his sexual relations, failure on the part of the management to discover the problem at
an early stage and control the same, etc., and this might lead us to assume that Mr. X had developed
disturbing habits, such as alcoholic addition and chronic absenteeism owing to various factors indicated
above. When the Social Workers pleaded with the Labour Officer to grant pardon to Mr. X for the
repeated deviant acts exhibited by him, the officer explained that though Mr. X was given the absolute
final warning, the latter had absented himself for about 45 days even after receiving the same and,
therefore, he asserted, that he had no other option but to dismiss Mr. X from service.
Questions:
The following questions arise from the above case:
(i) Is it not the moral and ethical responsibility of the employer to be concerned about the quality
of life of the defiant worker? (3 marks)
(ii) How could the misbehavior of the worker be constructively corrected without penalty?
(3 marks)
(iii) Suppose the defiant worker had been counseled by the supervisor/Manager rather than
progressively penalized, would he have been dismissed from service? (3 marks)
(iv) Is the procedure adopted by the organization for disciplining the errant behaviour of the
worker justifiable? (3 marks)
(v) Comment on the recruitment procedure adopted in selecting the defiant workers “Mr. X” and
highlight on the best procedure you would follow as a Human Resource management
specialist in selecting your employees. (8 marks)
(vi) Drucker once said that the work of Human Resource management is just like that of a “file
clerk” citing the hasty experience the management in the above case are undergoing with their
defiant worker and your general experience as a Human Resource manager explain why this
statement is currently invalid. (8 marks)
(vii) Do you agree that management of Human Resources is more complicated than management
of other resources in the organization? Fully support your answer (6 marks)
(viii) Differentiate line and staff relationships in the organization and explain the possible source
of conflicts between Human Resource manager as staff and production finance and marketing
managers as line managers. (6 marks)
Q2. Some Managers argue that employee’s training is an investment without returns. As a Human
resource manager critically examine this statement. (9 marks)
Q3. (i) Discuss job Analysis and clearly point out its role in selection and placement of employees.
(6 marks)
(ii) Differentiate the following terms and show why they should co-exist; - Authority, responsibility
and accountability. (3 marks)
Q4. Identify and discuss major sources of recruitment and point out merits and demerits associated
with each. (9 marks)
Q5. (i) Explain how strong trade union can be an asset to both employees and management.(4 marks)
(ii) Discuss various factors you would consider when determining salaries of your employees.
(5 marks)
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