Applied Material Corporation Human Resource Strategy

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Performance appraisal and management

Applied Materials offers a wide range of comprehensive benefit programs to its employees. The Wellness program encourages all employees to reach their potential and maintain the productivity necessary to meet the challenges of work and life. There are health appraisals, physical activity, fitness, stress management and work & life health programs. Based on the above information, the compensation program is rich and should be also considered with the employees wage when calculating the economic value of each employee. Though I think it is important how much each employee costs according to his responsibilities, such tools as the Cascio-Ramos estimate of performance in dollars can be used to analyze a specific value of the activity each employee does in order to eliminate or substitute the activity the individual does not perform so well.

Performance management in the company is followed by objectives (MBO). The MBO technique requires the supervisor and the employee to develop and agree on realistic, achievable and measurable objectives; to determine how those objectives will be met; and to agree on how results will be measured. MBO is well suited for Applied Materials because most of the jobs are non-routine positions, in which individuals have a higher degree of control and influence on an outcome that is measurable. This type of review offers a relatively high level of objectivity. MBO encourages employees to actively participate in goal setting and to increase motivation by relating organizational goals to individual goals. The objectives are depicted on a comprehensive grid that integrates action plans and outcomes. For each action plan assigned leader and time goal. Employees can review progress monthly. According to the research The Impression Management Implications of Supportive Relationships with Star and Project Peers, it is very recommended to use intensive performance record, history of individual achievements, other additional opinions for employee evaluations and decisions. All these can give greater insight into invidula and company’s results.

All things considered, the applied Material company has effective strategic resource planning. The HR startegies match the strategic orientation of the prospector, which include: work flows that foster creativity and innovation, employee development, training opportunities. No doubt that HR strategies make a great contribution to firm performance assisting the company in better utilizing its own unique blend of human resourse skills and assets. Applied Materials has a stable position on the market and is a susccessful company due to high performance work system. Huselid (1995) suggests that the effective implementation of high performance work systems benefits both the employees and the organization. Employees are found to be more involved in the organization, experience better growth and satisfaction, and become more valuable as contributors. The organization also benefits from high productivity, quality, flexibility, and customer satisfaction. The Applied Materials’ HR practices support this idea.