Performance Management

You are the Human Resources Director of your organization or an organization with which you are personally familiar and have access. The Executive Director/CEO/Principal of your organization has asked you to prepare an analysis of how various HR functions were altered during the recent pandemic and whether or not those changes should be continued into the future. The Executive Director is particularly interested in what best practices and organizational takeaways occurred during this period of time.
Specifically, the Executive Director has asked you to review the changes, improvements, challenges, or organizational learning that occurred in the following areas: performance management, employee engagement, training and development, labor relations (or employee relations), and crisis management.
Option 2: Alternative Format: If you are not currently affiliated with a workplace organization or you are not in a position where you can gather the type of information needed for Option 1, you may do the same assignment but from the perspective of pre-pandemic practices, pandemic practices, and post-pandemic practices, assuming a hybrid workplace where the work force has partially returned to the office and partially works at home. Use the literature to talk about the evolution of HR practices through these three periods. What were common best practices before the pandemic in each category below? What changed during the pandemic and what are best practices now in each of the HR categories below. Rely on the literature and speak generally rather than about a specific organization.

Prepare an 8–10-page report (not counting the title page and references) in APA 7 format using the following first-level headings.

Introduction (Include a description of your organization, your job, and the charge the Executive Director/CEO/Principal has given you; no references required. If you are doing the Alternative Option, explain that you are discussing how HR functions have changed since before the pandemic, during the pandemic and now. In either case, include a thesis statement clearly stating the purpose of the paper.

Performance Management (Examples: Performance assessment, performance feedback, Performance metrics)

Employee Engagement (Examples: Empowerment, recognition programs, team building)

Training and Development (Includes analysis of training needs)

Labor Relations (Or Employee Relations, whichever applies)

Full Answer Section

    Performance Management
  • Pre-pandemic performance management practices (traditional methods, frequency, metrics)
  • Pandemic-induced changes (remote performance evaluation, new performance metrics, goal setting adjustments)
  • Post-pandemic best practices (hybrid approach, continuous feedback, competency-based performance management)
Employee Engagement
  • Pre-pandemic engagement strategies (employee surveys, recognition programs, team-building activities)
  • Pandemic-driven engagement initiatives (virtual engagement, employee well-being programs, flexible work arrangements)
  • Post-pandemic engagement best practices (hybrid work environment considerations, employee experience focus, fostering a sense of belonging)
Training and Development
  • Pre-pandemic training delivery methods (classroom-based, on-the-job training)
  • Pandemic-forced training innovations (virtual learning, e-learning platforms, upskilling and reskilling)
  • Post-pandemic training strategies (blended learning, performance-driven training, continuous learning culture)
Labor Relations (or Employee Relations)
  • Pre-pandemic labor relations challenges (union negotiations, grievance handling, employee disputes)
  • Pandemic-related labor issues (remote work challenges, employee safety concerns, work-life balance)
  • Post-pandemic labor relations strategies (conflict resolution, change management, employee communication)
Conclusion
  • Summarize key findings and recommendations.
  • Discuss the overall impact of the pandemic on HR functions.
  • Highlight the importance of adaptability and resilience in HR.
  • Offer suggestions for future research or exploration.
References
  • List all cited sources in APA 7 format.
Note: For Option 1, you will replace the general information about pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic practices with specific data from your organization.    

Sample Answer

 

Outline

Introduction

  • Brief overview of the organization (if applicable) or statement about the focus on general HR practices.
  • Clearly state the purpose of the report: to analyze the impact of the pandemic on HR functions and identify best practices for the future.
  • Thesis statement summarizing the key findings and recommendations.