Quick questions on HRM strategies: rewards and workplace dispute resolution (HSC Business Studies)

The syllabus names a set of strategies a business deploys across the HR function.

Autocratic, persuasive, consultative or participative. Different styles fit different contexts - autocratic suits emergency or compliance-critical environments; participative suits knowledge-work and creative environments.

General or specific tasks; job enlargement (more breadth); job enrichment (more depth and autonomy); cross-functional teams. Well-designed jobs match the worker's capability and motivation to the business need.

Internal v external; targeted talent pools; employer branding; diversity-targeted recruitment. Discussed in detail in HR processes.

Developmental v administrative; annual v continuous; objective-based v competency-based; 360-feedback. The trend is toward continuous, OKR-based, and outcome-focused systems.

Covered in depth below.

Sourcing skills internationally, managing expatriate assignments, and aligning HR policies across countries.

Direct discussion between the parties. Fastest, cheapest, lowest-stakes.

Most Australian businesses have a formal grievance procedure - the employee escalates the issue through their manager, then HR, then a senior leader. Provides documented evidence and a structured pathway.

Neutral third party facilitates discussion without making a binding decision. Useful when direct negotiation stalls.

Australia's national workplace relations tribunal. Handles:

Hears appeals from the FWC and significant employment cases. The 2023 Qantas baggage-handler outsourcing case (Federal Court found unlawful outsourcing) went to the High Court, which upheld the original ruling in 2023.

Final appeal court; hears matters of constitutional or major legal significance.

Direct negotiation between BHP and the MEU; bargaining facilitation by the FWC; the new agreement passed the BOOT test and was approved. Negotiations covered base pay, rosters, and the use of labour-hire workers under the "same job same pay" reforms.

Negotiated between Coles and the SDA (Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association). Covers around 100,000 retail and DC workers. Disputes have included contested clauses around penalty rates and casual conversion.