Question 1

In a blog post on the Forbes website, USC professor and organizational scholar Edward Lawler III names the following HR practices and functions as “significantly associated with a stronger strategic role for HR” (Lawler, 2012):

1. The use of information technology 

2. Focusing on HR talent development 

3. Having HR activities that focus on organization design, organization development, change management, employee development, and metrics  

4. Using computer systems for training and development 

5. Having effective HR metrics and analytics

6. Having an HR staff with technical, organizational dynamics, business partner, and metrics skills

Select one of these practices/functions, and explain how it creates a stronger strategic role for HRM departments and personnel. Then consider what changes may have taken place in your selected practice or function since the 2012 publication of the Lawler blog.

Question 2

First Post—Module 2

Step 1) Select a country (NOT the United States, Canada, Mexico, or China). Look up information about employee benefit practices in that country. Select specific employee benefits and compare and contrast them with similar benefits in the United States. Provide industry and/or employer examples (by name), if possible. Select a different country than your classmates. Also focus on different benefits (if possible) than those chosen by your classmates.

Step 2) Answer the following 5 questions using question and answer (Q&A) format for your response; in other words, include the original question along with your response. Within your post support your responses with information from at least 2 reputable sources (library and/or Web-based), and provide the full citation at the end. Use APA format for your references. Share your own personal experiences if applicable.

1. What country other than the United States, Mexico, Canada, or China did you analyze?

2. What specific benefit did you analyze? Describe it.

3. How does the benefit work in the United States?

4. How is the benefit in the country identified in Question 1 similar to the benefit in the United States?

5. How is the benefit in the country identified in Question 1 different from the benefit in the United States?