4 Global Imaging is a fast growing high tech company with some 100 employees which aims to double in size over the
next three years. The company was set up as a spin out company by two research professors from a major university
hospital who now act as joint managing directors. They are likely to leave the company once the growth objective is
achieved.
Global Imaging’s products are sophisticated imaging devices facing a growing demand from the defence and health
industries. These two markets are very different in terms of customer requirements but share a related technology.
Over 90% of sales are from exports and the current strategic plan anticipates a foreign manufacturing plant being set
up during the existing three-year strategic plan. Current management positions are largely filled by staff who joined in
the early years of the company and reflect the heavy reliance on research and development to generate the products
to grow the business. Further growth will require additional staff in all parts of the business, particularly in
manufacturing and sales and marketing.
Paul Simpson, HR manager at Global Imaging is annoyed. This stems from the fact that HR is the one management
function not involved in the strategic planning process shaping the future growth and direction of the company. He
feels trapped in a role traditionally given to HR specialists, that of simply reacting to the staffing needs brought about
by strategic decisions taken by other parts of the business. He feels even more threatened by one of the joint managing
directors arguing that HR issues should be the responsibility of the line managers and not a specialist HR staff
function. Even worse, Paul has become aware of the increasing number of companies looking to outsource some or
all of their HR activities.
Paul wants to develop a convincing case why HR should not only be retained as a core function in Global Imaging’s
activities, but also be directly involved in the development of the current growth strategy.
Required:
Paul has asked you to prepare a short report to present to Global Imaging’s board of directors:
(a) Write a short report for Paul Simpson on the way a Human Resource Plan could link effectively with Global
Imaging’s growth strategy. (12 marks)
