Strategic human resource management means formulating and executing human resource policies and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company needs to achieve its strategic aims. L.L. Bean illustrates how companies do this. The heart of L.L. Beans strategy has always been offering great outdoor equipment with outstanding service and expert advice. As its company history said, L.L. Bean, Inc., quickly established itself as a trusted source for reliable outdoor equipment and expert advice. The small company grew. Customers spread the word of L.L. Beans quality and service. To provide such service, L.L. Bean needs employees with special, outdoors-skills performing in a special way. As its Web site says, L.L. Bean attracts a special sort of person. Like our customers, we are passionate about the L.L. Bean brand and our love for the outdoors. You already know the outstanding service L.L. Bean customers receive. Now imagine how we treat our employees. L.L. Bean's HR policies and practices attract and develop just such employees. For one thing, the company knows just who to recruit for. It wants sociable, friendly, experienced, outdoors-oriented applicants and employees. To attract and cultivate these sorts of employee competencies and behaviors, the company uses multiple interviews to screen out applicants who might not fit in. And L.L. Bean offers an outdoors-oriented work environment and competitive pay and benefits. To help encourage great employee service, L.L. Bean also provides a supportive environment. For example, when its Web sales recently for the first time exceeded phone sales, L.L. Bean closed four local call centers, but arranged for the 220 employees to work from their homes. And instead of sending jobs abroad, the company keeps 2 its jobs close to the town where Leon wood Bean started his company almost 100 years ago. L.L. Beans managers built the firms strategy and success around courteous, expert service. They know that having the right employees is the key to its success, and that it takes the right blend of human resource practices to attract and nurture such employees. I. Summarize the theme of this case and relate with human resource management strategies. II. Based on the main focus of the case, you need to suggest a strategy for the RMG organizations which will help them to attain competitive advantage in the global market.

Understanding Business
12th Edition
ISBN:9781259929434
Author:William Nickels
Publisher:William Nickels
Chapter1: Taking Risks And Making Profits Within The Dynamic Business Environment
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CE
icon
Related questions
Question

Strategic human resource management means formulating and executing human resource policies
and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company needs to
achieve its strategic aims. L.L. Bean illustrates how companies do this. The heart of L.L. Beans
strategy has always been offering great outdoor equipment with outstanding service and expert
advice. As its company history said, L.L. Bean, Inc., quickly established itself as a trusted source
for reliable outdoor equipment and expert advice. The small company grew. Customers spread the
word of L.L. Beans quality and service. To provide such service, L.L. Bean needs employees with
special, outdoors-skills performing in a special way. As its Web site says, L.L. Bean attracts a
special sort of person. Like our customers, we are passionate about the L.L. Bean brand and our
love for the outdoors. You already know the outstanding service L.L. Bean customers receive.
Now imagine how we treat our employees. L.L. Bean's HR policies and practices attract and
develop just such employees. For one thing, the company knows just who to recruit for. It wants
sociable, friendly, experienced, outdoors-oriented applicants and employees. To attract and
cultivate these sorts of employee competencies and behaviors, the company uses multiple
interviews to screen out applicants who might not fit in. And L.L. Bean offers an outdoors-oriented
work environment and competitive pay and benefits. To help encourage great employee service,
L.L. Bean also provides a supportive environment. For example, when its Web sales recently for
the first time exceeded phone sales, L.L. Bean closed four local call centers, but arranged for the
220 employees to work from their homes. And instead of sending jobs abroad, the company keeps

2

its jobs close to the town where Leon wood Bean started his company almost 100 years ago. L.L.
Beans managers built the firms strategy and success around courteous, expert service. They know
that having the right employees is the key to its success, and that it takes the right blend of human
resource practices to attract and nurture such employees.
I. Summarize the theme of this case and relate with human resource management
strategies.
II. Based on the main focus of the case, you need to suggest a strategy for the RMG
organizations which will help them to attain competitive advantage in the global
market.

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Job Specialization
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, management and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Understanding Business
Understanding Business
Management
ISBN:
9781259929434
Author:
William Nickels
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Management (14th Edition)
Management (14th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134527604
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter
Publisher:
PEARSON
Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…
Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…
Management
ISBN:
9781305947412
Author:
Cliff Ragsdale
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Management Information Systems: Managing The Digi…
Management Information Systems: Managing The Digi…
Management
ISBN:
9780135191798
Author:
Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon
Publisher:
PEARSON
Business Essentials (12th Edition) (What's New in…
Business Essentials (12th Edition) (What's New in…
Management
ISBN:
9780134728391
Author:
Ronald J. Ebert, Ricky W. Griffin
Publisher:
PEARSON
Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)
Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134237473
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter, David A. De Cenzo
Publisher:
PEARSON