George DeCaro, a human resource manager of Bobcat International, a manufacturer of bobcats, has just received a directive from the president of the company. The directive reads: "We have just completed our strategy for the year. The thrust of this strategy is to increase our market share by 22 percent over the next three years."

It continues: "We must be ready for this challenge by increasing production, and the human resource department must staff the organization with 37 new jobs." George's task is to forecast job requirements each year for the next three years. George recognizes that both internal and external recruiting will have to be undertaken. The firm's philosophy is to promote from within whenever possible. This procedure promotes high morale and contributes to the overall success of the organization.

However, most of the 37 jobs will have to be filled externally. He ponders the sources for recruiting potential job candidates for semiskilled plant jobs that pay an hourly rate. Another consideration for George is diversity. Bobcat is currently not very diversified, and George contemplates whether the externally filled positions should be used to increase Bobcat's diversity. George works well with the firm's president and wants to request a meeting to demonstrate how the human resource department will perform a vital role in helping the firm meet its objectives.

Questions

1. What is the human resource plan in this case? Discuss its major tasks.

2. What is job analysis in general? How should it be used in this case.

3. Discuss George's sources for recruiting potential employees for the plant jobs.