The company was now in its second year of business

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The company was now in its second year of business. Sales and profits continued to grow, and more staff had been hired. There were now 8 sales clerks and 1 inventory specialist, in addition to Jessie and Ashton, who shared the responsibility of managing the store. Employees seemed to get along with one another, shifts were being split equally and product was arriving in a timely manner, so all inventory concerns seemed to be addressed. jessie and Ashton were convinced that the future was golden and that business would carry on as usual and the profits would continue to roll in.

Things were going so well that Jessie and Ashton were considering opening a second location. This new location would be in Cosmo Fair, a big, bright mall that was the talk of the town. Everyone was excited about the upcoming grand opening of this shopping haven, and Jessie and Ashton had solid lead on leasing a beautiful spot in this new venue. They were thinking that they could each manage 1 store location, and given the current economy, it would be easy to hire sales clerk for the new location.. The plan was to have new hires job-shadow current employees in order to learn how to be effective sales clerks. These new hires could then move to the new store after they had learned the ropes. However, plans for expansion were put on hold when unexpected news arrived.

 

Jessie was shocked when she arrived at work and opened the envelopes on her desk. Sandra, the most senior sales clerk who had been with the company since it was opened, was giving 2 weeks' notice. The second envelope contained a resignation letter from Jason, the inventory specialist, Jason indicated that he would be leaving the company next week. "How can this be happening?" thought Jessie, who picked up the phone to call Ashton emergency conversation.

 

Jessie and Ashton asked to meet with Sandra to inquire as to why she was leaving. Was it because of money? If they increased her hourly rate, would she stay? How much would it take? Sandra indicated that although the job she was moving to did pay slightly more per hour, she was was mainly moving because the new role provided her with more responsibility and room for career growth and development. Her new employer promised to send her on leadership courses and invest in her future development. Sandra also indicated that her new job was in Cosmo fair, and she was excited about working in a new, energized shopping mall.

 

When she was speaking Jason, he indicated that he was tired of always showing sales clerks how to do inventory and that he wasn't really paid for all the work he did. Jessie and Ashton explained to Jason that he was valuable member of the team and that they didn't want him to leave, especially with expansion plans in the works. Jason was shocked and replied " I have never been given any feedback or encouragement form either of you. How I was supposed to know any of this? Also, when you gave out bonuses last month, everyone got the same dollar amount. Why did I get the same money as sales clerks, when my salary is higher and my contribution are more meaningful? Also, everyone knows that the 2 of you took sizeable bonus. I'm done. Consider this my last day!" Jason stormed out and slammed the office door behind him. That meeting had not gone as planned, and Jessie and Ashton were stunned. They knew had to regroup and possibly rethink they expansion plans.

 

1. Assume you have been hired by Jessie & Ashton as an HR consultant to address the following business needs

Recommend a training plan to help improve the performance of newly hired sales clerks. Your training plan must identify:

a. 3 instructional goals (outcomes you want from a training program) and rationale for proposing these goals?

b. Training methods that will help meet the instructional goals (identify at least 2) and rationale for proposing these methods? 

c. Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of your training program (Remember the various levels of evaluation of training) and rationale for proposing these evaluation methods?

 

2. Currently, the sales clerks and inventory specialist are only receiving base pay and mandatory benefits. Ashton and Jessie are considering whether they should implement an incentive pay plan for their staff. What pay-for-performance incentive plan(s) would you recommend and why? What considerations would the organization need to take in adopting your proposed plans?