human resource bai
Cover page
Table of content
Abstract ( Aqmal )
Introduction ( Aqmal )
Company background ( K Seha )
Product and services ( ZR )
Environmental influences ( ZR )
HR department ( ZR )
HR functions/practices ( K Seha )
HR problems / issues ( K Seha )
Recommendation ( Aqmal )
Conclusion ( Aqmal )
References
Appendix
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (MGT340)
Company:
APPLE INC.
Prepared For:
SIR HAJI RAZALI
Prepared By:
Zaireen Raihana Binti Zaharuddin 2011358773
Siti Naseha Binti Zainudin 2010593055
Tunku Aqmal Arief Bin Tunku Azlan 2011
Group:
BM 111 5A
Date of Submission:
13TH OF FEBRUARY 2014
BACKGROUND OF APPLE COMPANY
Apple Inc. (Apple), incorporated on January 3, 1977, designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. The Company 's products and services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the iOS and OS X operating systems, iCloud, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings. In March 2013, the Company acquired a Silicon Valley startup, WiFiSlam, which makes mapping applications for smart phones. Effective July 19, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Locationary Inc. Effective July 20, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Hopstop.com Inc. Effective August 28, 2013, Apple Inc acquired AlgoTrim AB, a Malmo-based developer of prepackaged software. In November 2013, Apple Inc bought PrimeSense Ltd. Effective December 2, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Topsy Labs Inc.
The Company offers a range of mobile communication and media devices, personal computing products, and portable digital music players, as well as a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions and third-party hardware and software products. In addition, the Company offers its own software products, including iOS, the Company 's mobile operating system; OS X, the Company 's Mac operating system; and server and application software. The Company 's primary products include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, iTunes, Mac App Store, iCloud, Operating System Software, Application Software and Other Application Software.
Apple is a consumer goods company, and therefore evaluating its value requires understanding its products and consumers. This can be very difficult because Apple competes with many different companies throughout the different industries it takes part in. A good description from Wikipedia describes Apple: "For reasons varying from its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry."
PRODUCT AND SERVICES
Mac
MacBook Air: Consumer ultra-thin, ultra-portable notebook, introduced in 2008.
MacBook Pro: Professional notebook, introduced in 2006.
Mac Mini: Consumer sub-desktop computer and server, introduced in 2005. iMac: Consumer all-in one desktop computer, introduced in 1998.
Mac Pro: Workstation desktop computer, introduced in 2006.
Apple sells a variety of computer accessories for Macs, including Thunderbolt Display, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, Wireless Keyboard, Battery Charger, the AirPort wireless networking products, and Time Capsule. iPad On January 27, 2010, Apple introduced their much-anticipated media tablet, the iPad, running a modified version of iOS. It offers multi-touch interaction with multimedia formats including newspapers, magazines, eBooks, textbooks, photos, movies, videos of TV shows, music, word processing documents, spreadsheets, videogames, and most existing iPhone apps. It also includes a mobile version of Safari for web browsing, as well as access to the App Store, iTunes Library, iBookstore, contacts, and notepad. Content is downloadable via Wi-Fi and optional 3G service or synced through the user 's computer. AT&T was initially the sole US provider of 3G wireless access for the iPad.
On March 2, 2011, Apple introduced the iPad 2, which had a faster processor and a camera on the front and back. It also added support for optional 3G service provided by Verizon in addition to the existing offering by AT&T. However, the availability of the iPad 2 has been limited as a result of the devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan in March 2011.
On March 7, 2012, Apple introduced the third-generation iPad, marketed as "the new iPad". It added LTE service from AT&T or Verizon, the upgraded A5X processor, and the Retina display (2048 by 1536 resolution), originally implemented on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The dimensions and form factor remained relatively unchanged, with the new iPad being a fraction thicker and heavier than the previous version, and minor positioning changes.
On October 23, 2012, Apple 's fourth-generation iPad came out, marketed as the "iPad with Retina display". It added the upgraded A6X processor and replaced the traditional 30-pin dock connector with the all-digital Lightning connector. The iPad Mini was also introduced, with a reduced 7.9-inch display and featuring much of the same internal specifications as the iPad 2.
On October 22, 2013, Apple introduced the iPad Air. It added the new 64 bit Apple-A7 processor. The iPad mini with Retina Display was also introduced, featuring the Apple-A7 processor as well.
Since its launch, iPad users have downloaded three billion apps, while the total number of App Store downloads is over 25 billion. iPod On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod digital music player. Several updated models have since been introduced, and the iPod brand is now the market leader in portable music players by a significant margin, with more than 350 million units shipped as of September 2012. Apple has partnered with Nike to offer the Nike+iPod Sports Kit, enabling runners to synchronize and monitor their runs with iTunes and the Nike+ website.
Apple currently sells four variants of the iPod: iPod Shuffle: Ultra-portable digital audio player, currently available in a 2 GB model, introduced in 2005. iPod Nano: Portable media player, currently available in a 16 GB model, introduced in 2005. Earlier models featured the traditional iPod click wheel, though the current generation features a multi-touch interface and includes an FM radio and a pedometer. iPod Touch: Portable media player than runs iOS, currently available in 16, 32 and 64 GB models, introduced in 2007. The current generation, which released on September 12, 2012 features the Apple A5 processor, a Retina display, and dual cameras on the front (1.2 megapixel sensor) and back (5 megapixel iSight), the latter of which supports HD video recording at 1080p and Siri. iPod Classic: Portable media player, currently available in a 160 GB model, first introduced in 2001. iPhone At the Macworld Conference & Expo in January 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the long-anticipated iPhone, a convergence of an Internet-enabled smartphone and iPod. The first-generation iPhone was released on June 29, 2007 for $499 (4 GB) and $599 (8 GB) with an AT&T contract. On February 5, 2008, it was updated to have 16 GB of memory, in addition to the 8 GB and 4 GB models. It combined a 2.5G quad band GSM and EDGE cellular phone with features found in handheld devices, running scaled-down versions of Apple 's Mac OS X (dubbed iPhone OS, later renamed iOS), with various Mac OS X applications such as Safari and Mail. It also includes web-based and Dashboard apps such as Google Maps and Weather. The iPhone features a 3.5-inch (89 mm) touchscreen display, Bluetooth , and Wi-Fi (both "b" and "g").
At Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2008, Apple announced the iPhone 3G. It was released on July 11, 2008, with a reduced price of $199 for the 8 GB version, and $299 for the 16 GB version. This version added support for 3G networking and assisted-GPS navigation. The flat silver back and large antenna square of the original model were eliminated in favor of a curved glossy black or white back. Software capabilities were improved with the release of the App Store, providing applications for download that were compatible with the iPhone. On April 24, 2009, the App Store surpassed one billion downloads. At WWDC on June 8, 2009, Apple announced the iPhone 3GS. It provided an incremental update to the device, including faster internal components, support for faster 3G speeds, video recording capability, and voice control.
At WWDC on June 7, 2010, Apple announced the redesigned iPhone 4. It features a 960x640 display, the Apple A4 processor also used in the iPad, a gyroscope for enhanced gaming, 5MP camera with LED flash, front-facing VGA camera and FaceTime video calling. Shortly after its release, reception issues were discovered by consumers, due to the stainless steel band around the edge of the device, which also serves as the phone 's cellular signal and Wi-Fi antenna. The issue was corrected by a "Bumper Case" distributed by Apple for free to all owners for a few months. In June 2011, Apple overtook Nokia to become the world 's biggest smartphone maker by volume.
On October 4, 2011, Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, which was first released on October 14, 2011. It features the Apple A5 processor, and is the first model offered by Sprint (joining AT&T and Verizon Wireless as the United States carriers offering iPhone models). On October 19, 2011, Apple announced an agreement with C Spire Wireless to sell the iPhone 4S with that carrier in the near future, marking the first time the iPhone was officially supported on a regional carrier 's network. Another notable feature of the iPhone 4S was Siri voice assistant technology, which Apple had acquired in 2010, as well as other features, including an updated 8MP camera with new optics. Apple sold 4 million iPhone 4S phones in the first three days of availability.
On September 12, 2012, Apple introduced the iPhone 5. It added a 4-inch display, 4G LTE connectivity, and the upgraded Apple A6 chip, among several other improvements. Two million iPhones were sold in the first twenty-four hours of pre-ordering and over five million handsets were sold in the first three days of its launch.
A patent filed in July 2013 revealed the development of a new iPhone battery system that uses location data in combination with data on the user 's habits to moderate the handsets power settings accordingly. Apple is working towards a power management system that will provide features such as the ability of the iPhone to estimate the length of time a user will be away from a power source to modify energy usage and a detection function that adjusts the charging rate to best suit the type of power source that is being used.
In March 2013, one of the largest cellular phone companies in the United States, T-Mobile, announced that it would begin selling the iPhone 5 on April 12. The announcement of the iPhone came with the announcement that the company would begin implementing 4G cellular service for its users.
Upon the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, Apple sold over nine million devices in the first three days of its launch, which sets a new record for first-weekend smartphone sales. This was the first time that Apple has simultaneously launched two models and the inclusion of China in the list of markets contributed to the record sales result.
On October 15, 2013, U.S. Cellular, the United States fifth largest cell phone provider, announced that it would in fact begin to carry the iPhone. It is the last of the five major carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile to acquire the phone. The phone went on sale on November 8 at U.S. Cellular stores around the country. The finalization of a deal between Apple and China Mobile, the world 's largest mobile network, was announced in late December 2013. The multi-year agreement provides iPhone access to over 760 million China Mobile subscribers
Apple TV
At the 2007 Macworld conference, Jobs demonstrated the Apple TV, (previously known as the iTV), a set-top video device intended to bridge the sale of content from iTunes with high-definition televisions. The device links up to a user 's TV and syncs, either via Wi-Fi or a wired network, with one computer 's iTunes library and streams from an additional four. The Apple TV originally incorporated a 40 GB hard drive for storage, includes outputs for HDMI and component video, and plays video at a maximum resolution of 720p. On May 31, 2007 a 160 GB drive was released alongside the existing 40 GB model and on January 15, 2008 a software update was released, which allowed media to be purchased directly from the Apple TV.
In September 2009, Apple discontinued the original 40 GB Apple TV and now continues to produce and sell the 160 GB Apple TV. On September 1, 2010, alongside the release of the new line of iPod devices for the year, Apple released a completely redesigned Apple TV. The new device is 1/4 the size, runs quieter, and replaces the need for a hard drive with media streaming from any iTunes library on the network along with 8 GB of flash memory to cache media downloaded. Apple with the Apple TV has added another device to its portfolio that runs on its A4 processor along with the iPad and the iPhone. The memory included in the device is the half of the iPhone 4 at 256 MB; the same as the iPad, iPhone 3GS, third and fourth-generation iPod Touch.
It has HDMI out as the only video out source. Features include access to the iTunes Store to rent movies and TV shows (purchasing has been discontinued), streaming from internet video sources, including YouTube and Netflix, and media streaming from an iTunes library. Apple also reduced the price of the device to $99. A third generation of the device was introduced at an Apple event on March 7, 2012, with new features such as higher resolution (1080p) and a new user interface.
Software
Apple develops its own operating system to run on Macs, OS X, the latest version being OS X Mavericks (version 10.9). Apple also independently develops computer software titles for its OS X operating system. Much of the software Apple develops is bundled with its computers. An example of this is the consumer-oriented iLife software package that bundles iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand. For presentation, page layout and word processing, iWork is available, which includes Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. iTunes, QuickTime media player, and Software Update are available as free downloads for both OS X and Windows.
Apple also offers a range of professional software titles. Their range of server software includes the operating system OS X Server; Apple Remote Desktop, a remote systems management application; and Xsan, a Storage Area Network file system. For the professional creative market, there is Aperture for professional RAW-format photo processing; Final Cut Pro, a video production suite; Logic Pro, a comprehensive music toolkit; and Motion, an advanced effects composition program.
Apple also offers online services with iCloud, which provides cloud storage and syncing for a wide range of data, including email, contacts, calendars, photos and documents. It also offers iOS device backup, and is able to integrate directly with third-party apps for even greater functionality. iCloud is the fourth generation of online services provided by Apple, and was preceded by MobileMe, .Mac and iTools, all which met varying degrees of success.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES
Climate change and clean energy
On April 21, 2011, Greenpeace released a report highlighting the fact that data centers consumed up to 2% of all global electricity and this amount was projected to increase. Phil Radford of Greenpeace said “we are concerned that this new explosion in electricity use could lock us into old, polluting energy sources instead of the clean energy available today.” On April 17, 2012, following a Greenpeace protest of Apple, Apple Inc. released a statement committing to ending its use of coal and shifting to 100% clean energy. In 2013 Apple announced it was using 100% renewable energy to power their data centers, and overall 75% of its power comes from renewable sources.
In 2010, Climate Counts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to directing consumers toward the greenest companies, gave Apple a score of 52 points out of a possible 100, which puts Apple in their top category "Striding". This was an increase from May 2008, when Climate Counts only gave Apple 11 points out of 100, which placed the company last among electronics companies, at which time Climate Counts also labeled Apple with a "stuck icon", adding that Apple at the time was "a choice to avoid for the climate conscious consumer".
Toxics
Greenpeace has campaigned against Apple because of various environmental issues, including a global end-of-life take-back plan, non-recyclable hardware components and toxins within iPhone hardware. Since 2003 Greenpeace has campaigned against Apple 's use of particular chemicals in its products, more specifically, the inclusion of PVC and BFRs in their devices. On May 2, 2007, Steve Jobs released a report announcing plans to eliminate PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008.Apple has since eliminated PVC and BFRs from its product range, becoming the first laptop manufacturer to do so. In the first edition of the Greenpeace 'Green Electronics Guide ', released in August 2006, Apple only scored 2.7/10.
The Environmental Protection Agency rates Apple highest amongst producers of notebooks, and fairly well compared to producers of desktop computers and LCD displays.
In June 2007, Apple upgraded the MacBook Pro, replacing cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlit LCD displays with mercury-free LED backlit LCD displays and arsenic-free glass, and has since done this for all notebooks. Apple has also left out BFRs and PVCs in various internal components. Apple offers information about emissions, materials, and electrical usage concerning each product.
In June 2009, Apple 's iPhone 3GS was free of PVC, arsenic, BFRs and had an efficient power adapter.
In October 2009, Apple upgraded the iMac and MacBook, replacing the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlit LCD displays with mercury-free LED backlit LCD displays and arsenic-free glass. This means all Apple computers have mercury free LED backlit displays, arsenic-free glass and are without PVC cables. All Apple computers also have EPEAT Gold status.
In October 2011, Chinese authorities ordered an Apple supplier to close part of its plant in Suzhou after residents living nearby raised significant environmental concerns.
In November 2011, Apple featured in Greenpeace 's Guide to Greener Electronics, which ranks electronics manufacturers on sustainability, climate and energy policy, and how "green" their products are. The company ranked fourth of fifteen electronics companies (moving up five places from the previous year) with a score of 4.6/10 down from 4.9. Greenpeace praises Apple 's sustainability, noting that the company exceeded its 70% global recycling goal in 2010. It continues to score well on the products rating with all Apple products now being free of PVC vinyl plastic and brominated flame retardants. However, the guide criticizes Apple on the Energy criteria for not seeking external verification of its greenhouse gas emissions data and for not setting out any targets to reduce emissions. In January 2012, Apple announced plans and requested that their cable maker Volex begin producing halogen-free USB and power cables.
In June 2012, Apple Inc. withdrew its products from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certification system, but reversed this decision in July.
HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT
Apple Computer, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company 's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010[update], the company operates 301 retail stores in ten countries, and an online store where hardware and software products are sold. As of May 2010, Apple is one of the largest companies in the world and the most valuable technology company in the world, having surpassed Microsoft.
Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977,the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word "Computer" on January 9, 2007,to reflect the company 's ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers. As of September 2010, Apple had 46,600 full time employees and 2,800 temporary full time employees worldwide and had worldwide annual sales of $65.23 billion.
For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States. Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors ' labor, environmental, and business practices.
Jobs, Steve - CEO
Oppenheimer, Peter - SVP and CFO
Schiller, Philip - SVP, Worldwide Product Marketing
Serlet, Bertrand - SVP, Software Engineering
Cook, Timothy - COO
Brandon, John - VP, Americas and Asia Pacific
Fredrickson, Scott - Director VAR/Distribution
Hansen, Jeff - Sr. Director Channel Sales
Wong, Paddy - Operations
Pinkman, Michael - Sr. Director Direct Marketers
Shanahan, Bob - Sr. Director of Sales
Cohen, Seth - National Accounts Manager
Rose, Elaine – Market Source Program Manager
Rentillo, Leticia - National Programs Manager
Ruff, John - National Sales Manager
Gallagher, Susan – Apple Care Apple Americas
Stroup, Will - Mgr. Refurb
Stuart, Merrill - Mgr. Apple Online Store
Elliot, Jay – Human Resource Executive
Alder, Katie - Executive Assistant
Berger, Susanne - WW Telesales Director
Berning, Tom - Manager 3rd Party Products
Burt, Michael - Hardware
Paulin, Helena - Mgr Consumer & EDU
Levine, Grant - VP Operations
Sewell, Bruce - SVP and General Counsel
Ive, Jonathan - SVP, Design
Johnson, Ronald - SVP Retail
Tamaddon, Sina - SVP, Applications
Job Description
A job description indicates the undertakings, obligations and restraints that are all a part of any venture. It identifies what is done, why it is done, where it is done, and briefly, how it is done (Mathis & Jackson 2007, p. 221). The description of the job is done by elaborating the tasks to be performed, equipment to be used, the working conditions and the performance standards (Dessler et al 2007, p.100). According to Stone a good job description should elucidate and focus on the job and the position and not on any particular individual that fills that position (Stone 2005).
2.1 Job Summary
Aspirants having established credentials and performance history in the field of freighting or shipping, along with complicated and intricate client related matters within limited timeframes and meeting deadlines are favored by Apple. This requires active involvement and participation on behalf of the project manager in matters such as industry or company evaluation, operational blueprint reviews and consultations, statistics structuring meets, experimentation, proof-of-concept, management of dealer relations, etc.
2.1.1 Responsibilities:
• Oversee all aspects of project information for multiple projects including timelines, resource allocation, scope and definition
• Drive business, functional, financial, and reporting requirements, often writing them yourself
• Own overall cross-functional project schedules including development on the iTunes Store, back-end financial systems, and other Apple groups
• Collaborate with IS&T, Treasury, legal, Tax, finance, operations and other organizations both within and outside of Apple to develop solutions for partnerships and promotions and other new business.(Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.2 Qualifications:
• At least 4 years of project management in software development.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, written and verbal, at multiple levels of the organization.
• Ability to participate in and possibly facilitate requirements brainstorming sessions.
• Strong technical proficiency: server architecture and development, SQL, and bonus for past programming experience.
• E-Commerce and business experience: orders, billing, tax, payments, invoicing, royalties, licensing, etc.
• Digital media experience, SAP integration experience. (Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.3 Job/Person Specification
• Experience: 8 - 10+ years of experience in Operations related project management.
• Proven track record leading large and complex system projects.
• 3 -5 years experience managing Business Process design or Re- engineering activities, PMI training.
• Consulting experience considered a plus. (Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.4 Accountability
A manager is answerable for any undertaking that he takes up and must be strictly observed at all times by the governing bodies within the organization. He must adhere to all the regulations and guidelines of the organization and must thereby operate within the boundaries of professional ethics (Dessler 2004). A project manager should act as a guide and share complete knowledge of the overall activity as a part of his job.
2.2 Employment Conditions
The successful candidate has to fulfill certain needs before becoming a part of the organization officially, which means before finalizing the selection the following conditions have to be fulfilled.
2.2.1 General Conditions
Lucrative aspirants must acquire and preserve a suitable safety sanctions and some other essential conditions (De Cieri & Kramar 2003).
• Proof of identity and legal right to work in the United States as required by and in accordance with the process and procedures of the U.S. Immigration reform and Control Act (IRCA).
• Due to US Department of Commerce requirements, if not a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, Canadian citizen, political refugee, or political asylum holder, you will be required to sign an assurance regarding obligations not to export controlled technical data or software to certain countries.
• Must sign the Intellectual Property Agreement and return the signed agreement.
• Must receive a satisfactory background check in accordance with Apple policy.
2.2.2 Probationary Period
The successful candidates would have to sign a 12 month probationary period agreement which includes training and performance management to determine the satisfactory work capabilities (Bartlet 2002.) Apple closely monitors its new project manager`s performance as a large portion of responsibility is rested on the shoulders of a manager of iTunes, which also controls a number of other departments in the organization. Apple may terminate a contract during this probationary period in case of unsatisfactory performance of the candidate.
2.3 Link with Human Resource Management
Job descriptions supply the essential details for internal assessment that include availability of positions, number of jobs and the strategic importance of the jobs. Human resource specialists can redesign jobs to eradicate redundant tasks and integrate responsibilities on the basis of a clear identification of the current functions being performed and the time spent on performing them. The fundamental aim of human resource management is to provide for the presence of a compliant and accommodating team in an establishment. There are four major aspects of the human resource management, namely operational, organizational, personal and societal (Project Management Institute 2006).
• Societal Objectives: The project manager should be morally and communally prepared to meet the wants of, and tackle the issues plaguing society, while simultaneously reducing the negative effects of these charges upon the establishment.
• Organizational Objectives: To acknowledge the function of a project manager, in the field of human resource management, in generating organizational efficiency. In short, this branch essentially exists for the sole purpose of benefiting the establishment and ensuring its progress.
• Functional Objectives: The project manager should supervise and ensure that the department caters to the needs of the establishment in a stable and steady manner.
2.4 Link with Apple`s Goals and Strategies
Apple has predefined certain objectives for its project managers such as portfolio management, business planning, project planning and execution. A perfect alignment of these activities leads to the portfolio element being fed by strategy, the project management element being fed by the portfolio and the team`s execution is fed by the project manager. In certain cases, establishments handle all enterprises and undertakings in a similar manner, irrespective of the entrepreneurial tactic or stratagem that the establishment opts for (Pinto 1989 & Covin 1989). Therefore, if the enterprise’s business tactic is converted into project related objectives, its .Thus, when the organization 's business strategy is translated into project-level goals, its specialized rareness and exclusivity is amplified multifold. (Mathis & Jackson 2007).
3. Recruitment
Recruitment is the practice of attracting a collection of eligible candidates for an available post through particular measures like publicity, broadcasts and announcements (Dessler et al 2007, p.168). Apple has its recruitment in accordance to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), along with a strong implementation of Equal Pay Act (1963), Civil Rights Act (1991), Congressional Accountability Act (1995) and other legislations laid down by the US government (See Appendix 9). It is rather note-worthy that Apple has shown its capability in demonstrating such a cohesive branding know-how all through their commodities, promotion, vending and distributing, assisting clients, and hiring or appointing candidates.
3.1 Commence Recruitment
The Director of Human Resources at Apple Headquarters in Cupertino completes the following documents before there is an announcement for a position:
• Recruitment request form
• Job description
• Job classification and suggested salary range
• Interview questions
• Test/Skill evaluation tools
• Criteria for evaluating candidates
3.2 Announcement of Positions
The Human resource department announces the open position and draft advertisements. The job descriptions are circulated to about 340 agencies, universities and organizations. The Hiring Unit has to bear the cost of all other advertising expenses.
3.2.1 Advertisements
Advertising is a prominent source to build a pool of Candidates:
• Print media – Newspapers: State, national or local; Other: specialist magazines/journals (See Appendix 8)
• Other media – radio, television
• Decisions must be made as to which media to use and how the advertisement should be designed to target suitable applicants.
Receiving complete Application/Resume and begin the Review Process
Applicants are accepted or rejected on the basis of their qualifications and experience in the field of engineering management. The criterion for selection is determined before the actual screening takes place. Once the screening is complete using the criteria of performance and experience, the Hiring Unit interviews at least three applicants.
4.2 Committee/Face to Face Interviews
The interview includes questions that are relevant to the job under focus. The interviewing panel members have to fill the interview evaluation form for each applicant interviewed which is submitted to the Human Resource department. The COO reviews the search committee for all new hires for Project manager level.
Sample Questions:
• What is most important to you in a job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Technical Interview:
• Are you familiar with OS 9?
• If a customer asks you to sync music from their iPod to computer, what do you say?
• How do you answer a customer who wants to share music with his friend via iTunes?
4.3 Reference Check
Before an offer can be made to the selected candidates a reference check has to be done by the Hiring Manager. This manager would personally contact all the references to complete the Candidate Reference Check.
• Academic references
• Prior work references
• Financial references
• Law enforcement records
• Personal references
4.4 Compliance Review
Once the desired aspirant has been chosen by the department manager, certain documents to be assessed must be handed over to the human resources director, namely:
• Request to recruit form – offer section completed
• Affirmative action compliance report
• The rationale behind selecting the final aspirant
4.5 Medical Examinations
The applicant must endure a fitness assessment test. Often, the job is offered to an applicant only once it has been confirmed that he is physically stable and enjoys good health after having taken the test. The physical examination/test is done for following purposes:
• To detect if individual is carrying any infectious disease.
• Determines whether the applicant is fit to perform work.
• Determines if there are certain physical capabilities, which differentiate successful and less successful employees.
• Medical check-up protects the applicant from undertaking work that would be hazardous to his health (Stone 2005).
4.6 Appointment of Candidate
The Hiring Department forwards the Non-Academic Appointment Form to the Human Resources Department. The newly hired project manager has to complete all the forms and return them to the Human Resource Department before joining. The induction program cannot commence till all these formalities have been completed (San Jose State University Research Foundation 2004).
4.7 Induction Program
The induction program provides a planned introduction of the job, organization and the environment. It is a quintessential part of recruitment as it provides familiarity with the roles and responsibilities within the rules and norms of the organization`s culture (Stone 2005). Induction programs have been found to contribute to improved socialization and to increase organizational commitment. Helps to reduce new employees’ stress levels and assist them to settle into their new role more quickly. Apple uses the buddy system – a method of linking every new employee with an existing employee who then assists them to settle into the workplace (San Jose State University Research Foundation 2004).
5. Remuneration Management
Remuneration implies the pay packet given to any staff member for the work done by them, their efforts and services. Sum total of the remuneration comprises of all the ways of payment and gratuities and incentives that may be both fiscal and non-fiscal, and that are presented to the staff. Two types of remuneration are direct remuneration that basically consists of monetary rewards such as a pay packet or other value add-ons, and indirect remuneration that are non-monetary rewards such as reimbursements or such other services, that although are fiscal in nature, yet cannot be accepted in the form of money. However, these benefits can be traded with money (Dessler 2004). The strategies and policies have to be implemented for a just and balanced reward management system where the rewarding would be fair and consistent without any bias (Armstrong & Murlis 2007).
5.1 Methods of setting pay rates
• Collective agreements (EBAs)
• Individual arrangements (AWAs or common law contracts)
• Awards
5.2 Determining Pay rate
• Salary Surveys - Government and commercial salary surveys can provide useful information
• Job evaluation - Determines ‘worth’ or ‘value’ of job through systematic comparison of one job relative to another
• Grouping jobs into pay grades - After determining the relative worth of each job, jobs are grouped into pay grades. A pay grade is made up on jobs of approximately equal difficulty or importance
• Pricing each pay grade - Pay rates are assigned to each pay grade
Remuneration plans at Apple are built on four principles:
• Salary
• Trust
• Few classifications
• Pay-for-performance (PFP)
Apple has one of the most well balanced remuneration policies in the corporate world today. They have been well established as an employees` company, where good salary packages, insurance and a well structured superannuation program have established it as a fair and balanced organization for its employees. Remuneration comprises of reserve procuring schemes, 401k and adjustable and formative health and wellness schemes. Furthermore, apple allows its staff member’s rebates on its commodities, along with incentives such as paid vacation schemes, and other education – related alternatives. (See Appendix 2)
Rationale behind Apple`s Compensation Program
• Engage and absorb the coveted class and combination of staff workers.
• Encourage their staff to enhance their efficiency and efforts in a steady manner.
• Strengthen the establishment’s strategic standards and principals and the coveted system of operating within the establishment.
• To be just and unbiased towards its staff members.
• Offer customary and periodic reimbursement and efficiency audits.
HR FUNCTION OF APPLE COMPANY
1. EMPLOYMENT CONDITION
The successful candidate has to fulfill certain needs before becoming a part of the organization officially, which means before finalizing the selection the following conditions have to be fulfilled.
2. PROBATIONARY PERIOD
The successful candidates would have to sign a 12 month probationary period agreement which includes training and performance management to determine the satisfactory work capabilities (Bartlet 2002.) Apple closely monitors its new project manager`s performance as a large portion of responsibility is rested on the shoulders of a manager of iTunes, which also controls a number of other departments in the organization. Apple may terminate a contract during this probationary period in case of unsatisfactory performance of the candidate.
3. RECRUITMENT
Recruitment is the practice of attracting a collection of eligible candidates for an available post through particular measures like publicity, broadcasts and announcements (Dessler et al 2007, p.168). Apple has its recruitment in accordance to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), along with a strong implementation of Equal Pay Act (1963), Civil Rights Act (1991), Congressional Accountability Act (1995) and other legislations laid down by the US government (See Appendix 9). It is rather note-worthy that Apple has shown its capability in demonstrating such a cohesive branding know-how all through their commodities, promotion, vending and distributing, assisting clients, and hiring or appointing candidates.
4. COMPLIANCE REVIEW
Once the desired aspirant has been chosen by the department manager, certain documents to be assessed must be handed over to the human resources director.
• Request to recruit form – offer section completed
• Affirmative action compliance report
• The rationale behind selecting the final aspirant
HR PROBLEMS OF APPLE COMPANY
1. STAFF TRAINING
Employees at Apple stores are banned from saying negative words such as “unfortunately” or “problems” to customers while managers have to use buzz words like “I’ll reach out to you”.
2. APPLE LEARNING SYSTEM
Apple 's new employee in the company will take a long time to learn work skills. They should have the skills to deal with the problem of improving the quality of work.
3. THE PROBLEM OF HIGH STAFF TURNOVER IN A SMALL COMPANY
Apple Company first encounters workers in small companies. The layoffs will occur if a small company experiencing problems redundancy. When too many employees in a company, they will have problems to give salaries to the employees.
4. TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
Every employee should have the skills and need to know about information technology as a product of the company. Technology is very important for the company to increase the quality of an item. Employees have no knowledge of information technology.
REFERENCE http://www.apple.com/ APPENDIX
References: iPad On January 27, 2010, Apple introduced their much-anticipated media tablet, the iPad, running a modified version of iOS On October 22, 2013, Apple introduced the iPad Air. It added the new 64 bit Apple-A7 processor. The iPad mini with Retina Display was also introduced, featuring the Apple-A7 processor as well. iPod On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod digital music player
Table of content
Abstract ( Aqmal )
Introduction ( Aqmal )
Company background ( K Seha )
Product and services ( ZR )
Environmental influences ( ZR )
HR department ( ZR )
HR functions/practices ( K Seha )
HR problems / issues ( K Seha )
Recommendation ( Aqmal )
Conclusion ( Aqmal )
References
Appendix
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (MGT340)
Company:
APPLE INC.
Prepared For:
SIR HAJI RAZALI
Prepared By:
Zaireen Raihana Binti Zaharuddin 2011358773
Siti Naseha Binti Zainudin 2010593055
Tunku Aqmal Arief Bin Tunku Azlan 2011
Group:
BM 111 5A
Date of Submission:
13TH OF FEBRUARY 2014
BACKGROUND OF APPLE COMPANY
Apple Inc. (Apple), incorporated on January 3, 1977, designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. The Company 's products and services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the iOS and OS X operating systems, iCloud, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings. In March 2013, the Company acquired a Silicon Valley startup, WiFiSlam, which makes mapping applications for smart phones. Effective July 19, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Locationary Inc. Effective July 20, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Hopstop.com Inc. Effective August 28, 2013, Apple Inc acquired AlgoTrim AB, a Malmo-based developer of prepackaged software. In November 2013, Apple Inc bought PrimeSense Ltd. Effective December 2, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Topsy Labs Inc.
The Company offers a range of mobile communication and media devices, personal computing products, and portable digital music players, as well as a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions and third-party hardware and software products. In addition, the Company offers its own software products, including iOS, the Company 's mobile operating system; OS X, the Company 's Mac operating system; and server and application software. The Company 's primary products include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, iTunes, Mac App Store, iCloud, Operating System Software, Application Software and Other Application Software.
Apple is a consumer goods company, and therefore evaluating its value requires understanding its products and consumers. This can be very difficult because Apple competes with many different companies throughout the different industries it takes part in. A good description from Wikipedia describes Apple: "For reasons varying from its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry."
PRODUCT AND SERVICES
Mac
MacBook Air: Consumer ultra-thin, ultra-portable notebook, introduced in 2008.
MacBook Pro: Professional notebook, introduced in 2006.
Mac Mini: Consumer sub-desktop computer and server, introduced in 2005. iMac: Consumer all-in one desktop computer, introduced in 1998.
Mac Pro: Workstation desktop computer, introduced in 2006.
Apple sells a variety of computer accessories for Macs, including Thunderbolt Display, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, Wireless Keyboard, Battery Charger, the AirPort wireless networking products, and Time Capsule. iPad On January 27, 2010, Apple introduced their much-anticipated media tablet, the iPad, running a modified version of iOS. It offers multi-touch interaction with multimedia formats including newspapers, magazines, eBooks, textbooks, photos, movies, videos of TV shows, music, word processing documents, spreadsheets, videogames, and most existing iPhone apps. It also includes a mobile version of Safari for web browsing, as well as access to the App Store, iTunes Library, iBookstore, contacts, and notepad. Content is downloadable via Wi-Fi and optional 3G service or synced through the user 's computer. AT&T was initially the sole US provider of 3G wireless access for the iPad.
On March 2, 2011, Apple introduced the iPad 2, which had a faster processor and a camera on the front and back. It also added support for optional 3G service provided by Verizon in addition to the existing offering by AT&T. However, the availability of the iPad 2 has been limited as a result of the devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan in March 2011.
On March 7, 2012, Apple introduced the third-generation iPad, marketed as "the new iPad". It added LTE service from AT&T or Verizon, the upgraded A5X processor, and the Retina display (2048 by 1536 resolution), originally implemented on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The dimensions and form factor remained relatively unchanged, with the new iPad being a fraction thicker and heavier than the previous version, and minor positioning changes.
On October 23, 2012, Apple 's fourth-generation iPad came out, marketed as the "iPad with Retina display". It added the upgraded A6X processor and replaced the traditional 30-pin dock connector with the all-digital Lightning connector. The iPad Mini was also introduced, with a reduced 7.9-inch display and featuring much of the same internal specifications as the iPad 2.
On October 22, 2013, Apple introduced the iPad Air. It added the new 64 bit Apple-A7 processor. The iPad mini with Retina Display was also introduced, featuring the Apple-A7 processor as well.
Since its launch, iPad users have downloaded three billion apps, while the total number of App Store downloads is over 25 billion. iPod On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod digital music player. Several updated models have since been introduced, and the iPod brand is now the market leader in portable music players by a significant margin, with more than 350 million units shipped as of September 2012. Apple has partnered with Nike to offer the Nike+iPod Sports Kit, enabling runners to synchronize and monitor their runs with iTunes and the Nike+ website.
Apple currently sells four variants of the iPod: iPod Shuffle: Ultra-portable digital audio player, currently available in a 2 GB model, introduced in 2005. iPod Nano: Portable media player, currently available in a 16 GB model, introduced in 2005. Earlier models featured the traditional iPod click wheel, though the current generation features a multi-touch interface and includes an FM radio and a pedometer. iPod Touch: Portable media player than runs iOS, currently available in 16, 32 and 64 GB models, introduced in 2007. The current generation, which released on September 12, 2012 features the Apple A5 processor, a Retina display, and dual cameras on the front (1.2 megapixel sensor) and back (5 megapixel iSight), the latter of which supports HD video recording at 1080p and Siri. iPod Classic: Portable media player, currently available in a 160 GB model, first introduced in 2001. iPhone At the Macworld Conference & Expo in January 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the long-anticipated iPhone, a convergence of an Internet-enabled smartphone and iPod. The first-generation iPhone was released on June 29, 2007 for $499 (4 GB) and $599 (8 GB) with an AT&T contract. On February 5, 2008, it was updated to have 16 GB of memory, in addition to the 8 GB and 4 GB models. It combined a 2.5G quad band GSM and EDGE cellular phone with features found in handheld devices, running scaled-down versions of Apple 's Mac OS X (dubbed iPhone OS, later renamed iOS), with various Mac OS X applications such as Safari and Mail. It also includes web-based and Dashboard apps such as Google Maps and Weather. The iPhone features a 3.5-inch (89 mm) touchscreen display, Bluetooth , and Wi-Fi (both "b" and "g").
At Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2008, Apple announced the iPhone 3G. It was released on July 11, 2008, with a reduced price of $199 for the 8 GB version, and $299 for the 16 GB version. This version added support for 3G networking and assisted-GPS navigation. The flat silver back and large antenna square of the original model were eliminated in favor of a curved glossy black or white back. Software capabilities were improved with the release of the App Store, providing applications for download that were compatible with the iPhone. On April 24, 2009, the App Store surpassed one billion downloads. At WWDC on June 8, 2009, Apple announced the iPhone 3GS. It provided an incremental update to the device, including faster internal components, support for faster 3G speeds, video recording capability, and voice control.
At WWDC on June 7, 2010, Apple announced the redesigned iPhone 4. It features a 960x640 display, the Apple A4 processor also used in the iPad, a gyroscope for enhanced gaming, 5MP camera with LED flash, front-facing VGA camera and FaceTime video calling. Shortly after its release, reception issues were discovered by consumers, due to the stainless steel band around the edge of the device, which also serves as the phone 's cellular signal and Wi-Fi antenna. The issue was corrected by a "Bumper Case" distributed by Apple for free to all owners for a few months. In June 2011, Apple overtook Nokia to become the world 's biggest smartphone maker by volume.
On October 4, 2011, Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, which was first released on October 14, 2011. It features the Apple A5 processor, and is the first model offered by Sprint (joining AT&T and Verizon Wireless as the United States carriers offering iPhone models). On October 19, 2011, Apple announced an agreement with C Spire Wireless to sell the iPhone 4S with that carrier in the near future, marking the first time the iPhone was officially supported on a regional carrier 's network. Another notable feature of the iPhone 4S was Siri voice assistant technology, which Apple had acquired in 2010, as well as other features, including an updated 8MP camera with new optics. Apple sold 4 million iPhone 4S phones in the first three days of availability.
On September 12, 2012, Apple introduced the iPhone 5. It added a 4-inch display, 4G LTE connectivity, and the upgraded Apple A6 chip, among several other improvements. Two million iPhones were sold in the first twenty-four hours of pre-ordering and over five million handsets were sold in the first three days of its launch.
A patent filed in July 2013 revealed the development of a new iPhone battery system that uses location data in combination with data on the user 's habits to moderate the handsets power settings accordingly. Apple is working towards a power management system that will provide features such as the ability of the iPhone to estimate the length of time a user will be away from a power source to modify energy usage and a detection function that adjusts the charging rate to best suit the type of power source that is being used.
In March 2013, one of the largest cellular phone companies in the United States, T-Mobile, announced that it would begin selling the iPhone 5 on April 12. The announcement of the iPhone came with the announcement that the company would begin implementing 4G cellular service for its users.
Upon the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, Apple sold over nine million devices in the first three days of its launch, which sets a new record for first-weekend smartphone sales. This was the first time that Apple has simultaneously launched two models and the inclusion of China in the list of markets contributed to the record sales result.
On October 15, 2013, U.S. Cellular, the United States fifth largest cell phone provider, announced that it would in fact begin to carry the iPhone. It is the last of the five major carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile to acquire the phone. The phone went on sale on November 8 at U.S. Cellular stores around the country. The finalization of a deal between Apple and China Mobile, the world 's largest mobile network, was announced in late December 2013. The multi-year agreement provides iPhone access to over 760 million China Mobile subscribers
Apple TV
At the 2007 Macworld conference, Jobs demonstrated the Apple TV, (previously known as the iTV), a set-top video device intended to bridge the sale of content from iTunes with high-definition televisions. The device links up to a user 's TV and syncs, either via Wi-Fi or a wired network, with one computer 's iTunes library and streams from an additional four. The Apple TV originally incorporated a 40 GB hard drive for storage, includes outputs for HDMI and component video, and plays video at a maximum resolution of 720p. On May 31, 2007 a 160 GB drive was released alongside the existing 40 GB model and on January 15, 2008 a software update was released, which allowed media to be purchased directly from the Apple TV.
In September 2009, Apple discontinued the original 40 GB Apple TV and now continues to produce and sell the 160 GB Apple TV. On September 1, 2010, alongside the release of the new line of iPod devices for the year, Apple released a completely redesigned Apple TV. The new device is 1/4 the size, runs quieter, and replaces the need for a hard drive with media streaming from any iTunes library on the network along with 8 GB of flash memory to cache media downloaded. Apple with the Apple TV has added another device to its portfolio that runs on its A4 processor along with the iPad and the iPhone. The memory included in the device is the half of the iPhone 4 at 256 MB; the same as the iPad, iPhone 3GS, third and fourth-generation iPod Touch.
It has HDMI out as the only video out source. Features include access to the iTunes Store to rent movies and TV shows (purchasing has been discontinued), streaming from internet video sources, including YouTube and Netflix, and media streaming from an iTunes library. Apple also reduced the price of the device to $99. A third generation of the device was introduced at an Apple event on March 7, 2012, with new features such as higher resolution (1080p) and a new user interface.
Software
Apple develops its own operating system to run on Macs, OS X, the latest version being OS X Mavericks (version 10.9). Apple also independently develops computer software titles for its OS X operating system. Much of the software Apple develops is bundled with its computers. An example of this is the consumer-oriented iLife software package that bundles iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand. For presentation, page layout and word processing, iWork is available, which includes Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. iTunes, QuickTime media player, and Software Update are available as free downloads for both OS X and Windows.
Apple also offers a range of professional software titles. Their range of server software includes the operating system OS X Server; Apple Remote Desktop, a remote systems management application; and Xsan, a Storage Area Network file system. For the professional creative market, there is Aperture for professional RAW-format photo processing; Final Cut Pro, a video production suite; Logic Pro, a comprehensive music toolkit; and Motion, an advanced effects composition program.
Apple also offers online services with iCloud, which provides cloud storage and syncing for a wide range of data, including email, contacts, calendars, photos and documents. It also offers iOS device backup, and is able to integrate directly with third-party apps for even greater functionality. iCloud is the fourth generation of online services provided by Apple, and was preceded by MobileMe, .Mac and iTools, all which met varying degrees of success.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES
Climate change and clean energy
On April 21, 2011, Greenpeace released a report highlighting the fact that data centers consumed up to 2% of all global electricity and this amount was projected to increase. Phil Radford of Greenpeace said “we are concerned that this new explosion in electricity use could lock us into old, polluting energy sources instead of the clean energy available today.” On April 17, 2012, following a Greenpeace protest of Apple, Apple Inc. released a statement committing to ending its use of coal and shifting to 100% clean energy. In 2013 Apple announced it was using 100% renewable energy to power their data centers, and overall 75% of its power comes from renewable sources.
In 2010, Climate Counts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to directing consumers toward the greenest companies, gave Apple a score of 52 points out of a possible 100, which puts Apple in their top category "Striding". This was an increase from May 2008, when Climate Counts only gave Apple 11 points out of 100, which placed the company last among electronics companies, at which time Climate Counts also labeled Apple with a "stuck icon", adding that Apple at the time was "a choice to avoid for the climate conscious consumer".
Toxics
Greenpeace has campaigned against Apple because of various environmental issues, including a global end-of-life take-back plan, non-recyclable hardware components and toxins within iPhone hardware. Since 2003 Greenpeace has campaigned against Apple 's use of particular chemicals in its products, more specifically, the inclusion of PVC and BFRs in their devices. On May 2, 2007, Steve Jobs released a report announcing plans to eliminate PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008.Apple has since eliminated PVC and BFRs from its product range, becoming the first laptop manufacturer to do so. In the first edition of the Greenpeace 'Green Electronics Guide ', released in August 2006, Apple only scored 2.7/10.
The Environmental Protection Agency rates Apple highest amongst producers of notebooks, and fairly well compared to producers of desktop computers and LCD displays.
In June 2007, Apple upgraded the MacBook Pro, replacing cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlit LCD displays with mercury-free LED backlit LCD displays and arsenic-free glass, and has since done this for all notebooks. Apple has also left out BFRs and PVCs in various internal components. Apple offers information about emissions, materials, and electrical usage concerning each product.
In June 2009, Apple 's iPhone 3GS was free of PVC, arsenic, BFRs and had an efficient power adapter.
In October 2009, Apple upgraded the iMac and MacBook, replacing the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlit LCD displays with mercury-free LED backlit LCD displays and arsenic-free glass. This means all Apple computers have mercury free LED backlit displays, arsenic-free glass and are without PVC cables. All Apple computers also have EPEAT Gold status.
In October 2011, Chinese authorities ordered an Apple supplier to close part of its plant in Suzhou after residents living nearby raised significant environmental concerns.
In November 2011, Apple featured in Greenpeace 's Guide to Greener Electronics, which ranks electronics manufacturers on sustainability, climate and energy policy, and how "green" their products are. The company ranked fourth of fifteen electronics companies (moving up five places from the previous year) with a score of 4.6/10 down from 4.9. Greenpeace praises Apple 's sustainability, noting that the company exceeded its 70% global recycling goal in 2010. It continues to score well on the products rating with all Apple products now being free of PVC vinyl plastic and brominated flame retardants. However, the guide criticizes Apple on the Energy criteria for not seeking external verification of its greenhouse gas emissions data and for not setting out any targets to reduce emissions. In January 2012, Apple announced plans and requested that their cable maker Volex begin producing halogen-free USB and power cables.
In June 2012, Apple Inc. withdrew its products from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certification system, but reversed this decision in July.
HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT
Apple Computer, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company 's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010[update], the company operates 301 retail stores in ten countries, and an online store where hardware and software products are sold. As of May 2010, Apple is one of the largest companies in the world and the most valuable technology company in the world, having surpassed Microsoft.
Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977,the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word "Computer" on January 9, 2007,to reflect the company 's ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers. As of September 2010, Apple had 46,600 full time employees and 2,800 temporary full time employees worldwide and had worldwide annual sales of $65.23 billion.
For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States. Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors ' labor, environmental, and business practices.
Jobs, Steve - CEO
Oppenheimer, Peter - SVP and CFO
Schiller, Philip - SVP, Worldwide Product Marketing
Serlet, Bertrand - SVP, Software Engineering
Cook, Timothy - COO
Brandon, John - VP, Americas and Asia Pacific
Fredrickson, Scott - Director VAR/Distribution
Hansen, Jeff - Sr. Director Channel Sales
Wong, Paddy - Operations
Pinkman, Michael - Sr. Director Direct Marketers
Shanahan, Bob - Sr. Director of Sales
Cohen, Seth - National Accounts Manager
Rose, Elaine – Market Source Program Manager
Rentillo, Leticia - National Programs Manager
Ruff, John - National Sales Manager
Gallagher, Susan – Apple Care Apple Americas
Stroup, Will - Mgr. Refurb
Stuart, Merrill - Mgr. Apple Online Store
Elliot, Jay – Human Resource Executive
Alder, Katie - Executive Assistant
Berger, Susanne - WW Telesales Director
Berning, Tom - Manager 3rd Party Products
Burt, Michael - Hardware
Paulin, Helena - Mgr Consumer & EDU
Levine, Grant - VP Operations
Sewell, Bruce - SVP and General Counsel
Ive, Jonathan - SVP, Design
Johnson, Ronald - SVP Retail
Tamaddon, Sina - SVP, Applications
Job Description
A job description indicates the undertakings, obligations and restraints that are all a part of any venture. It identifies what is done, why it is done, where it is done, and briefly, how it is done (Mathis & Jackson 2007, p. 221). The description of the job is done by elaborating the tasks to be performed, equipment to be used, the working conditions and the performance standards (Dessler et al 2007, p.100). According to Stone a good job description should elucidate and focus on the job and the position and not on any particular individual that fills that position (Stone 2005).
2.1 Job Summary
Aspirants having established credentials and performance history in the field of freighting or shipping, along with complicated and intricate client related matters within limited timeframes and meeting deadlines are favored by Apple. This requires active involvement and participation on behalf of the project manager in matters such as industry or company evaluation, operational blueprint reviews and consultations, statistics structuring meets, experimentation, proof-of-concept, management of dealer relations, etc.
2.1.1 Responsibilities:
• Oversee all aspects of project information for multiple projects including timelines, resource allocation, scope and definition
• Drive business, functional, financial, and reporting requirements, often writing them yourself
• Own overall cross-functional project schedules including development on the iTunes Store, back-end financial systems, and other Apple groups
• Collaborate with IS&T, Treasury, legal, Tax, finance, operations and other organizations both within and outside of Apple to develop solutions for partnerships and promotions and other new business.(Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.2 Qualifications:
• At least 4 years of project management in software development.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, written and verbal, at multiple levels of the organization.
• Ability to participate in and possibly facilitate requirements brainstorming sessions.
• Strong technical proficiency: server architecture and development, SQL, and bonus for past programming experience.
• E-Commerce and business experience: orders, billing, tax, payments, invoicing, royalties, licensing, etc.
• Digital media experience, SAP integration experience. (Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.3 Job/Person Specification
• Experience: 8 - 10+ years of experience in Operations related project management.
• Proven track record leading large and complex system projects.
• 3 -5 years experience managing Business Process design or Re- engineering activities, PMI training.
• Consulting experience considered a plus. (Apple Inc. 2009)
2.1.4 Accountability
A manager is answerable for any undertaking that he takes up and must be strictly observed at all times by the governing bodies within the organization. He must adhere to all the regulations and guidelines of the organization and must thereby operate within the boundaries of professional ethics (Dessler 2004). A project manager should act as a guide and share complete knowledge of the overall activity as a part of his job.
2.2 Employment Conditions
The successful candidate has to fulfill certain needs before becoming a part of the organization officially, which means before finalizing the selection the following conditions have to be fulfilled.
2.2.1 General Conditions
Lucrative aspirants must acquire and preserve a suitable safety sanctions and some other essential conditions (De Cieri & Kramar 2003).
• Proof of identity and legal right to work in the United States as required by and in accordance with the process and procedures of the U.S. Immigration reform and Control Act (IRCA).
• Due to US Department of Commerce requirements, if not a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, Canadian citizen, political refugee, or political asylum holder, you will be required to sign an assurance regarding obligations not to export controlled technical data or software to certain countries.
• Must sign the Intellectual Property Agreement and return the signed agreement.
• Must receive a satisfactory background check in accordance with Apple policy.
2.2.2 Probationary Period
The successful candidates would have to sign a 12 month probationary period agreement which includes training and performance management to determine the satisfactory work capabilities (Bartlet 2002.) Apple closely monitors its new project manager`s performance as a large portion of responsibility is rested on the shoulders of a manager of iTunes, which also controls a number of other departments in the organization. Apple may terminate a contract during this probationary period in case of unsatisfactory performance of the candidate.
2.3 Link with Human Resource Management
Job descriptions supply the essential details for internal assessment that include availability of positions, number of jobs and the strategic importance of the jobs. Human resource specialists can redesign jobs to eradicate redundant tasks and integrate responsibilities on the basis of a clear identification of the current functions being performed and the time spent on performing them. The fundamental aim of human resource management is to provide for the presence of a compliant and accommodating team in an establishment. There are four major aspects of the human resource management, namely operational, organizational, personal and societal (Project Management Institute 2006).
• Societal Objectives: The project manager should be morally and communally prepared to meet the wants of, and tackle the issues plaguing society, while simultaneously reducing the negative effects of these charges upon the establishment.
• Organizational Objectives: To acknowledge the function of a project manager, in the field of human resource management, in generating organizational efficiency. In short, this branch essentially exists for the sole purpose of benefiting the establishment and ensuring its progress.
• Functional Objectives: The project manager should supervise and ensure that the department caters to the needs of the establishment in a stable and steady manner.
2.4 Link with Apple`s Goals and Strategies
Apple has predefined certain objectives for its project managers such as portfolio management, business planning, project planning and execution. A perfect alignment of these activities leads to the portfolio element being fed by strategy, the project management element being fed by the portfolio and the team`s execution is fed by the project manager. In certain cases, establishments handle all enterprises and undertakings in a similar manner, irrespective of the entrepreneurial tactic or stratagem that the establishment opts for (Pinto 1989 & Covin 1989). Therefore, if the enterprise’s business tactic is converted into project related objectives, its .Thus, when the organization 's business strategy is translated into project-level goals, its specialized rareness and exclusivity is amplified multifold. (Mathis & Jackson 2007).
3. Recruitment
Recruitment is the practice of attracting a collection of eligible candidates for an available post through particular measures like publicity, broadcasts and announcements (Dessler et al 2007, p.168). Apple has its recruitment in accordance to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), along with a strong implementation of Equal Pay Act (1963), Civil Rights Act (1991), Congressional Accountability Act (1995) and other legislations laid down by the US government (See Appendix 9). It is rather note-worthy that Apple has shown its capability in demonstrating such a cohesive branding know-how all through their commodities, promotion, vending and distributing, assisting clients, and hiring or appointing candidates.
3.1 Commence Recruitment
The Director of Human Resources at Apple Headquarters in Cupertino completes the following documents before there is an announcement for a position:
• Recruitment request form
• Job description
• Job classification and suggested salary range
• Interview questions
• Test/Skill evaluation tools
• Criteria for evaluating candidates
3.2 Announcement of Positions
The Human resource department announces the open position and draft advertisements. The job descriptions are circulated to about 340 agencies, universities and organizations. The Hiring Unit has to bear the cost of all other advertising expenses.
3.2.1 Advertisements
Advertising is a prominent source to build a pool of Candidates:
• Print media – Newspapers: State, national or local; Other: specialist magazines/journals (See Appendix 8)
• Other media – radio, television
• Decisions must be made as to which media to use and how the advertisement should be designed to target suitable applicants.
Receiving complete Application/Resume and begin the Review Process
Applicants are accepted or rejected on the basis of their qualifications and experience in the field of engineering management. The criterion for selection is determined before the actual screening takes place. Once the screening is complete using the criteria of performance and experience, the Hiring Unit interviews at least three applicants.
4.2 Committee/Face to Face Interviews
The interview includes questions that are relevant to the job under focus. The interviewing panel members have to fill the interview evaluation form for each applicant interviewed which is submitted to the Human Resource department. The COO reviews the search committee for all new hires for Project manager level.
Sample Questions:
• What is most important to you in a job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Technical Interview:
• Are you familiar with OS 9?
• If a customer asks you to sync music from their iPod to computer, what do you say?
• How do you answer a customer who wants to share music with his friend via iTunes?
4.3 Reference Check
Before an offer can be made to the selected candidates a reference check has to be done by the Hiring Manager. This manager would personally contact all the references to complete the Candidate Reference Check.
• Academic references
• Prior work references
• Financial references
• Law enforcement records
• Personal references
4.4 Compliance Review
Once the desired aspirant has been chosen by the department manager, certain documents to be assessed must be handed over to the human resources director, namely:
• Request to recruit form – offer section completed
• Affirmative action compliance report
• The rationale behind selecting the final aspirant
4.5 Medical Examinations
The applicant must endure a fitness assessment test. Often, the job is offered to an applicant only once it has been confirmed that he is physically stable and enjoys good health after having taken the test. The physical examination/test is done for following purposes:
• To detect if individual is carrying any infectious disease.
• Determines whether the applicant is fit to perform work.
• Determines if there are certain physical capabilities, which differentiate successful and less successful employees.
• Medical check-up protects the applicant from undertaking work that would be hazardous to his health (Stone 2005).
4.6 Appointment of Candidate
The Hiring Department forwards the Non-Academic Appointment Form to the Human Resources Department. The newly hired project manager has to complete all the forms and return them to the Human Resource Department before joining. The induction program cannot commence till all these formalities have been completed (San Jose State University Research Foundation 2004).
4.7 Induction Program
The induction program provides a planned introduction of the job, organization and the environment. It is a quintessential part of recruitment as it provides familiarity with the roles and responsibilities within the rules and norms of the organization`s culture (Stone 2005). Induction programs have been found to contribute to improved socialization and to increase organizational commitment. Helps to reduce new employees’ stress levels and assist them to settle into their new role more quickly. Apple uses the buddy system – a method of linking every new employee with an existing employee who then assists them to settle into the workplace (San Jose State University Research Foundation 2004).
5. Remuneration Management
Remuneration implies the pay packet given to any staff member for the work done by them, their efforts and services. Sum total of the remuneration comprises of all the ways of payment and gratuities and incentives that may be both fiscal and non-fiscal, and that are presented to the staff. Two types of remuneration are direct remuneration that basically consists of monetary rewards such as a pay packet or other value add-ons, and indirect remuneration that are non-monetary rewards such as reimbursements or such other services, that although are fiscal in nature, yet cannot be accepted in the form of money. However, these benefits can be traded with money (Dessler 2004). The strategies and policies have to be implemented for a just and balanced reward management system where the rewarding would be fair and consistent without any bias (Armstrong & Murlis 2007).
5.1 Methods of setting pay rates
• Collective agreements (EBAs)
• Individual arrangements (AWAs or common law contracts)
• Awards
5.2 Determining Pay rate
• Salary Surveys - Government and commercial salary surveys can provide useful information
• Job evaluation - Determines ‘worth’ or ‘value’ of job through systematic comparison of one job relative to another
• Grouping jobs into pay grades - After determining the relative worth of each job, jobs are grouped into pay grades. A pay grade is made up on jobs of approximately equal difficulty or importance
• Pricing each pay grade - Pay rates are assigned to each pay grade
Remuneration plans at Apple are built on four principles:
• Salary
• Trust
• Few classifications
• Pay-for-performance (PFP)
Apple has one of the most well balanced remuneration policies in the corporate world today. They have been well established as an employees` company, where good salary packages, insurance and a well structured superannuation program have established it as a fair and balanced organization for its employees. Remuneration comprises of reserve procuring schemes, 401k and adjustable and formative health and wellness schemes. Furthermore, apple allows its staff member’s rebates on its commodities, along with incentives such as paid vacation schemes, and other education – related alternatives. (See Appendix 2)
Rationale behind Apple`s Compensation Program
• Engage and absorb the coveted class and combination of staff workers.
• Encourage their staff to enhance their efficiency and efforts in a steady manner.
• Strengthen the establishment’s strategic standards and principals and the coveted system of operating within the establishment.
• To be just and unbiased towards its staff members.
• Offer customary and periodic reimbursement and efficiency audits.
HR FUNCTION OF APPLE COMPANY
1. EMPLOYMENT CONDITION
The successful candidate has to fulfill certain needs before becoming a part of the organization officially, which means before finalizing the selection the following conditions have to be fulfilled.
2. PROBATIONARY PERIOD
The successful candidates would have to sign a 12 month probationary period agreement which includes training and performance management to determine the satisfactory work capabilities (Bartlet 2002.) Apple closely monitors its new project manager`s performance as a large portion of responsibility is rested on the shoulders of a manager of iTunes, which also controls a number of other departments in the organization. Apple may terminate a contract during this probationary period in case of unsatisfactory performance of the candidate.
3. RECRUITMENT
Recruitment is the practice of attracting a collection of eligible candidates for an available post through particular measures like publicity, broadcasts and announcements (Dessler et al 2007, p.168). Apple has its recruitment in accordance to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), along with a strong implementation of Equal Pay Act (1963), Civil Rights Act (1991), Congressional Accountability Act (1995) and other legislations laid down by the US government (See Appendix 9). It is rather note-worthy that Apple has shown its capability in demonstrating such a cohesive branding know-how all through their commodities, promotion, vending and distributing, assisting clients, and hiring or appointing candidates.
4. COMPLIANCE REVIEW
Once the desired aspirant has been chosen by the department manager, certain documents to be assessed must be handed over to the human resources director.
• Request to recruit form – offer section completed
• Affirmative action compliance report
• The rationale behind selecting the final aspirant
HR PROBLEMS OF APPLE COMPANY
1. STAFF TRAINING
Employees at Apple stores are banned from saying negative words such as “unfortunately” or “problems” to customers while managers have to use buzz words like “I’ll reach out to you”.
2. APPLE LEARNING SYSTEM
Apple 's new employee in the company will take a long time to learn work skills. They should have the skills to deal with the problem of improving the quality of work.
3. THE PROBLEM OF HIGH STAFF TURNOVER IN A SMALL COMPANY
Apple Company first encounters workers in small companies. The layoffs will occur if a small company experiencing problems redundancy. When too many employees in a company, they will have problems to give salaries to the employees.
4. TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
Every employee should have the skills and need to know about information technology as a product of the company. Technology is very important for the company to increase the quality of an item. Employees have no knowledge of information technology.
REFERENCE http://www.apple.com/ APPENDIX
References: iPad On January 27, 2010, Apple introduced their much-anticipated media tablet, the iPad, running a modified version of iOS On October 22, 2013, Apple introduced the iPad Air. It added the new 64 bit Apple-A7 processor. The iPad mini with Retina Display was also introduced, featuring the Apple-A7 processor as well. iPod On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod digital music player
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