Incorporating metrics into human resource management, a novel approach used by few, sealed the win for students from the College of Business’ MSHRM program at the HR Florida Case Competition.
The winning case was designed to solve absenteeism and turnover rates at a Florida-based resort call center.
Marianne Joseph, Anjani Raj, Zhongyan Chen, and Ana Ortiz, enrolled in MSHRM’s Cohort 27, based their case on a fictitious company modeled after the Kona Vacation Club Resort in Orlando. The company’s challenge, boost employee engagement as well as increase productivity and competitive advantage.
“We highlighted risks and the need to establish a human resources practice that would deliver results, show savings and increase the business’ return on investment,” said Ortiz.
The students pointed out that data analysis was a key component to developing their hypothesis about employees wanting to learn, and those findings led to insight about the necessary actions for the company.
The competition required that students prepare and submit a two-page written analysis and a 15-minute oral presentation. The combined written analysis and presentation scores determined the final winners.
Metrics: a key component.
MSHRM participants used metrics to develop the logistical landscape of the case as well as for guiding their analysis of the case. “The judges said we were the first school to use metrics in a case competition,” Joseph noted.
Developing the case required intense collaboration between the students and their mentor, MSHRM student Manny Pallango, to establish clear links between the metrics that would indicate the company’s challenges.
“That was key to solving the meat and potatoes of the case,” said Pallango, who didn’t participate in the competition.
In this year’s finals, FIU’s MSHRM students faced off against Rollins College. The winning teams – one graduate and one undergraduate – receive $2,500 towards the SHRM Regional State Games Competition in March and complimentary registrations to the next HR Florida Conference & Expo.
“We’re all fired up because between now and the next conference we’ll have taken more classes, gaining knowledge and skills,” Raj said. “Now we have to focus on team-building.”
