Abercrombie and fitch
WESTMINSTER BUSINESS SCHOOL
BMAM 702.2
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
SEMESTER 2 2014-2015
COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT - CASE STUDY
HIRING PRACTICES OF ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH
Student Name: Sze Keat CHEONG
Student ID: W153 9934
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
1. INTRODUCTION 2
1.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND 3
1.2 STATE OF THE PROBLEMS 3
2. CRITICAL EVALUATION ON KEY ISSUES 4
3. RECOMMENDATIONS 11
SUGGESTION 1- 12
SUGGESTION 2- 12
SUGGESTION 3- 13
REFERENCES 15
APPENDIX 20
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An ethical HR hiring practice in the organisation is playing an important role in the competitive business environment today. The report critically analyses on how Abercrombie and Fitch as a global organisation, on what appropriate implications will lead to a better equality and diversity organisation, and also the current methods of recruitment and selection. Moreover, three recommendations have been proposed which the management could be taken in account to implement in the future for better outcomes.
Keywords: hiring practices, ethical, discrimination, equality, diversity, recruitment, selection
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND
David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch founded Abercrombie and Fitch (hereafter refers as A&F) in 1892 in the Manhattan borough of New City. A&F is casual, all-American clothing that focuses on casual young consumers with laidback sophistication with their headquartered in New Albany, Ohio and expanding internationally.
The company operates three different concept brands currently; Abercrombie kids targeting consumers aged 7 to 14, which is the children’s version of A&F, whereas Hollister Co is targeting consumer aged 14-18, which price range lower than their parent’s brand. (Abercrombie and Fitch. 2012) Also, with the tagline ‘all-American brand with Sydney sensibility’; A&F’s cheeky’s cousin, Gilly Hicks’ stores were closed on March 2014 due to unfavourable revenue and currently they are still
BMAM 702.2
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
SEMESTER 2 2014-2015
COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT - CASE STUDY
HIRING PRACTICES OF ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH
Student Name: Sze Keat CHEONG
Student ID: W153 9934
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
1. INTRODUCTION 2
1.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND 3
1.2 STATE OF THE PROBLEMS 3
2. CRITICAL EVALUATION ON KEY ISSUES 4
3. RECOMMENDATIONS 11
SUGGESTION 1- 12
SUGGESTION 2- 12
SUGGESTION 3- 13
REFERENCES 15
APPENDIX 20
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An ethical HR hiring practice in the organisation is playing an important role in the competitive business environment today. The report critically analyses on how Abercrombie and Fitch as a global organisation, on what appropriate implications will lead to a better equality and diversity organisation, and also the current methods of recruitment and selection. Moreover, three recommendations have been proposed which the management could be taken in account to implement in the future for better outcomes.
Keywords: hiring practices, ethical, discrimination, equality, diversity, recruitment, selection
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND
David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch founded Abercrombie and Fitch (hereafter refers as A&F) in 1892 in the Manhattan borough of New City. A&F is casual, all-American clothing that focuses on casual young consumers with laidback sophistication with their headquartered in New Albany, Ohio and expanding internationally.
The company operates three different concept brands currently; Abercrombie kids targeting consumers aged 7 to 14, which is the children’s version of A&F, whereas Hollister Co is targeting consumer aged 14-18, which price range lower than their parent’s brand. (Abercrombie and Fitch. 2012) Also, with the tagline ‘all-American brand with Sydney sensibility’; A&F’s cheeky’s cousin, Gilly Hicks’ stores were closed on March 2014 due to unfavourable revenue and currently they are still
References: - Abercrombie and Fitch. (2012). Abercrombie and Fitch Careers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.anfcareers.com [Accessed 16 March 15]. - Abercrombie and Fitch. (2012). Abercrombie and Fitch Investors. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.abercrombie.co.uk/anf/investors/investorrelations.html [Accessed 16 March 15]. - Abercrombie and Fitch. (2013). Abercrombie & Fitch Store Employee Handbook (Revised 2013): London - ACAS - Appelbaum, E. Bailey, T. Berg, P. Kalleberg, A.L. (2000) Manufacturing advantage: Why high- performance work system pay off. Economic Policy Institute: Cornell University Press, London. - Argyris, C - Armstrong, M (2006). Strategic Human ~Resource Management. 3th ed. London: Kogan Page Limited. p121. - Aune, B - Bentham, J. (1815/1983), A Table of the Springs of Action: Oxford University Press. Oxford - Brewster, C - Brown, J.S. & Duguid, P. (1991). Organisational learning and communication of practice. Organisation Science, 2, p40-57 - Brown, J.S - Chatman. (1991) Matching people and organisations: Selection and socialization in public accounting firms .Administrative Science Quarterly, 36. p 459–484 - CIPD - CIPD (2012b) Diversity in the workplace: An overview: Factsheet. London: Chartered institute of Personnel and Development. - CIPD (2007a). Recruitment, retention and turnover. London: Chartered institute of Personnel and Development. - CIPD (2007b) Managing Diversity: People make the difference at work, but everyone is difference. London: Chartered institute of Personnel and Development. - CIPD. (2014). Selection Methods. [online] Available: http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/selection methods.aspx#link_1. [Accessed 31 March 2015]. - Cunningham, Peggy H. (1999), “Ethics of Advertising,” in The Advertising Business, London: John Philip Jones, ed: Sage, p499–513. - Dale, M - Edwards, C. (2006) Raised stakes. People Management. p30-32 - Ethical Consumer - Falloreta, T. (2014). Recruitment Services. [Online] Available at: http://www.fau.edu/hr/recruitment/Panel_Int.php. [Accessed 31 March 2015] - France, S - Frank J. Cavico Stephen C. Muffler Bahaudin G. Mujtaba, (2012),"Appearance discrimination in employment", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, Vol. 32 Iss 1 p83 - 119 - Gene, R -Greenhouse, S. (2003), “Looks aren’t everything – unless you want a job”, The Miami Herald, July 13, p21A. - Hausknecht, J - Henderson, I. (2008). Human Resource Management for MBA students. London: CIPD. p73-92. - Jim, A - Kant, I.(1785/1993), Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, 3rd Edition, Hackett, Indianapolis, Indiana. - Kristof. (1996) Person-organisation fit: An integrative review of its conceptualisations, measurement, and implications: Personnel Psychology. 49pp. 1–49 - Kurma, S - Makkonen, T.(2002) Multiple, Compound and intersectional Discrimination: Bringing the Experience of the most marginalized to the Fore. Abo. Finland: Institute of Human Rights. - Manroop, L. (2014) ‘Human resource systems and competitive advantage: an ethical climate perspective’. Business Ethics: A European Review, 24.2, p186-200 . - Martin, G. Hetrick, S. (2006) Corporate Reputations, Branding, and People Management. Amsterdam: Butterworth- Heinemann. p69-77. - Mertens, J.-F., A, Dhillon - Murphy, P., Laczniak, G. and Prothero A. (2012). Ethics in Marketing. Oxon: Routledge - Olivia, F - Pivato, S., N. Misani, and A. Tencati. (2008). The impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer trust: The case of organic food. Business Ethics: A European Review 17: 3–12 - Purcell, J., Kinnie, M., Hutchinson, S., Rayton, B., Swart, J - Purcell, J., & Hutchinson, S. (2007). Front-line managers as agents in the HRM-performance causal chain: theory, analysis and evidence. Human Resource Management Journal, 17(1), p3-20 - Sadie W - Sen, A. (2004), ‘Elements of a Theory of Human Rights’, Philosophy & Public Affairs 32, p315–356. - Simpson, P.M. et al. (1997). "Disclosure of Contextually Hidden Sexual Images Embedded in an Advertisement." Psychological Reports, 81: p333-334. - Stowe, G. (2012). “ Culture of diversity. Abercrombie & Fitch finds a fit”. [ONLINE] Available at: A&F needs to establish a corporate culture that fosters on the personal commitment to diversity. [Accessed 1 April 15]. - Taylor, S. (2008). People Resourcing. 4th ed. London. Chartered institute of Personnel and Development. - Torrington, D. Hall, L. Taylor, S. Atkinsin, C. (2014). Human Resource Management. 9th ed. London: Pearson Education Limited. - Van den Brink, M., Fruytier, B