The article highlights the different challenges that managers face in working with their staff for the smooth operation of the firm. It elaborates when the firm should hire permanent or temporary staff, where to find the right personnel and what to look at in the staffing firm. It clearly gives the effects of having less or excess staff at a firm and recommends the right blend of permanent and interim staff. In a nutshell, the article tackles reducing staff management costs while maintaining the high quality of consumer services (Hosking, 2009).
After careful analysis of Hosking’s article, I approve the approach and tact he puts across on managing a firm’s expenditure in various economic situations, I agree with his strategies and opinion. For instance, appropriate staffing is a vice that has affected most business firms and many administrators find it difficult to maintain their staff during a low economic period due to financial constraints. The firms face a labor shortage crisis during peak economic times. Hosking explains in the article the strategies to avoid when hiring and overspending during high economic periods as well as retrenching during low economic times while maintaining high customer service (Hosking, 2009).
This information concurs with my earlier understanding of staffing in organizations. A common trend in many organizations is where managers strain to maintain high standards of customer service while incurring a minimal cost. As a result, they hire a small number of permanent staff which is cost effective, although it leads to over-utilization of the staff (Bechet, 2008).
Consequently, the same managers spend heavily when trying to hire new staff to meet the shift in the firm demands or lay off several staff depending on the change in customer demands. Hosking’s argument for having the correct blend of staff concurs with my prior knowledge of its relevance to resolving staffing issues. For instance, a firm may only hire extra temporary staff when it requires a certain specialized skill. Such occurs when a member of staff is on sick leave or off duty on medical grounds and the main aim is to help curb fatigue caused by over-utilization (Hosking, 2009).
The staff usually feels appreciated, and sense of job security when the company does not lay them off. The article explains that using staffing firms to hire not only helps cut down on expenses and but also saves time, it also exposes the manager to a wide range of skills and increases their chances of getting the best employees. Thus, it is reasonable to consider the reputation of the firm and its procedures of recruiting before engaging with it. Good staffing firms do not charge their skilled personnel for consideration (Hosking, 2009).
The analysis of the article has placed me in a position to incorporate the knowledge into my career. The approach discussed is simplified, cost friendly and quite an elaborate approach in coming up with economic changes in terms of staff management while maintaining the required firm standards. Applying the approach makes sure managers spend minimal time in supervision and managerial obligations hence leaving room for them to engage in other duties (Bechet, 2008).
Finally, I would recommend that any other person especially those in management positions, and human resource personnel should read this article. It offers a simple, practical and an elaborate approach towards staffing requirements. The article highlights methods for hiring both permanent and interim staff, when to hire, how to hire and where to hire. It also touches on how best to maintain the current staff, and how to hire without unnecessary causing upheaval amongst the current staff. The article goes on to explain the various roles of a manager in maintaining the best working environment for staff, avoiding under-utilization and over-utilization, and how best to trim staff so as to achieve maximal production. Hence, it will be of immense value to others who read this article.
References
Bechet, P. (2008). Strategic Staffing: A Comprehensive System for Effective Workforce Planning. New York: Amacom. Web.
Hosking, R. (2009). Cost Effective Staffing strategies For a Difficult Economy. Oxford: Office Pro. Web.