HRM at NUMBA

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Case Study 1

CASE STUDY: HRM AT NUMBA
You are a group of Human Resource Management consultants. You were contracted by NUMBA to audit and analyse their present compliance with SA labour laws, alignment with the SA HR management environment, HRM strategies, policies and practices. You were asked to identify specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in these areas. They expect you to provide a thorough overview of HR problems and opportunities in NUMBA, and to propose a comprehensive HR strategy for improving HR management in NUMBA. NUMBA currently employs 500 people and offers a range of shoes, handbags and various other vinyl and leather products to consumers and industry at competitive prices. NUMBA started producing durable shoes from a small factory in 1976. At this time NUMBA employed only thirty people and focused on providing durable shoes for use in school and industrial environments. It grew to one hundred employees in 1980. By the end of 1990 NUMBA employed 380 people, expanded its production facilities, and opened up a wholesale retail outlet on the factory premises. They also created a sales division that employed sales representatives who operated throughout South Africa. By the end of 2001 the company employed 700 people and was manufacturing a range of vinyl and leather products, and certain clothing items in a modern production facility in Midrand. The clothing line never reached expected sales volumes and was subsequently discontinued in 2004. Two hundred employees were retrenched when the clothing line was discontinued. During 2002 the company entered into an agreement with PEP Stores to sell their consumer merchandise throughout South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. NUMBA now focuses all their energy on the production and distribution of durable leather and vinyl products to customers in the