David Jones Limited is a prestigious Australian department store chain founded in 1838: Diploma In Human Resources Assignment, DBS, Ireland

Background

David Jones Limited is a prestigious Australian department store chain founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant. It is one of the oldest continuously operating department stores in the world that still trades under its original name. David Jones currently operates 38 stores located in Australian states and territories.

All stores are located in major retail precincts and shopping malls. The iconic Melbourne flagship store was completely renovated into two stores facing each other across Bourke Street.

Project Component Guidelines It is approaching the Christmas period and all departments within the store require additional members of staff.

Recruitment

1. When would you begin advertising the positions? Explain your answer; 2. Outline how the jobs will be advertised.

Job Descriptions

1. Choose 3 job roles and devise a job description. Include a list of staff responsibilities;

2. Illustrate how you have taken the store’s values into consideration when recruiting members of staff;

3. Decide if positions are full and part time, temporary or permanent;

4. Highlight any benefits/job perks offered;

5. Identify the scope for promotion.

Scheduling

1. Create a staff timetable to ensure sufficient numbers of staff are available. During busy periods (certain times of day), 6 members of staff are required;

2. Members of staff have differing levels of skill and responsibility.

Demonstrate how you would rotate staff to ensure a more senior member of staff oversees general staff.

Training

Some new members of staff require training so as to keep up with customer demands and the expectations of the store. New facilities have also meant that training is required for a select number of staff and is especially important when staff has to be transferred to other departments if staffing levels are low.

1. Outline how you would schedule time for additional training — taking into account that most staff work full-time;

Leadership and Communication (David Jones Ltd)

During very busy times, staff members are extremely busy undertaking numerous tasks (ensuring items are available, dealing with customer enquiries, keeping area tidy, etc.).

Management

1. Illustrate how senior members of staff will ensure the smooth running of the department;

2. Identify effective leadership styles and illustrate how different styles suit different scenarios.

Influence

In the children’s department, a top manager is failing to organize the floor effectively. A private meeting with key staff members reveal that the person in question was often disorganized and confrontational.

1. Using the above example, demonstrate how a senior member of staff and their managerial skills can have a detrimental effect on the department, the store in general, and its customers;

2. Identify key characteristics that will ensure senior members of staff exert positive power and influence over general staff;

3. As a manager of this department, how would you best motivate your staff? Include in your answer dome mention of power, influence and positive feedback.

Communication

Staff within the same department frequently have to communicate with each other, either in person or virtually. Occasionally, all members of staff employed in the organisation need to communicate various items of news. Sometimes this news is high priority.

1. Devise an effective communication network for a given department;

2. Devise an effective communication network for the entire store, ensuring that you incorporate all members of staff (director, general manager, part-time staff etc.);

3. Outline how different styles of communication have differing impacts and success rates, depending on the chosen audience.

Managing Conflict

The women’s wear department has several managers working different shifts. Often there is conflict between the team. 1. Now does effective communication help resolve conflict amongst staff?