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
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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.

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