Minecraft Proposal

HRM455 – Portfolio

PROPOSAL 2

Abstract

Minecraft is one of the leading information system providers in the country. However, its

lack of a proper training program is slowing its growth in the IT industry. This is because its

employees have not been trained in the latest advancements in the IT industry as well as recent

management trends, and are therefore lagging behind. If this continues, Minecraft may be

rendered obsolete in the fast growing industry. This proposal is a training program that will be

implemented across the organization with an aim of providing all employees with the skills and

capabilities that they require to remain competitive.

PROPOSAL 3

Introduction

Training and development is important for the continuous performance of an

organization. An organization that seeks to improve the skills of its personnel by implementing

training programs will improve the productivity of its employees, and consequently boost the

productivity of the organization as a whole Zaidi(2009). This proposal has been prepared for

Minecraft Consolidated with the aim of developing a training program that will benefit the entire

organization.

Organizational Overview

Minecraft Consolidated is a leading information systems provider in Massachusetts

boasting of an asset base of over $450 Billion. It began operations in 1978, and has grown to join

the expanding list of Fortune 500 Companies. The organization consists of 1000 employees

stationed in its different branches across several states. Minecraft’s strategic imperative is

enabling the transformation to its clientele Marcelle (2004). For MineCraft to provide

transformation to its clientele there is a need for all organization’s resources to be aligned with

transformation in mind, this in turn calls for creating a culture that promotes continuous learning

among employees.

Training Program Overview

The proposed training program will involve all levels of the organization. This training

will be done conducted on the management, as well as the low level employees in the

organization; therefore, making the program comprehensive. The program will consist of

different modules that will be trained to different employees depending on the level in which

they belong on the organizational structure.

PROPOSAL 4

The main aim of this training is to ensure that all employees understand exactly how they

contribute to the organization’s success. This training will be done to all employees with the aim

of getting them to understand what the organization’s vision and mission is. This will help align

them with the organization’s strategic imperatives. The training program has also been designed

with the training needs in mind. After conducting the training needs analysis, it was discovered

that different departments require different training, and with this in mind, the training program

has catered for all these different needs, which will be addressed in the training process.

A Statement of the Problem

A company that relies on technology for its core business should ensure that its

employees are continually enhancing their skills in line with the advancements in the IT industry

Zaidi(2009). This not only ensures continued profitability, but also gives the company an edge

over the competition. Minecraft is a company that is growing at a very commendable pace, and

this growth has seen it join the ranks of leading technology providers in the United States.

However, there is lack of employee skills advancement, and this has led to Minecraft lagging

behind in terms of incorporating cutting edge technology in their products and services. For

instance, Minecraft failed to adopt Mobile money technology due to lack of qualified personnel

who could have led in its adoption and incorporation into the organization. This led to loss of

revenue and substantial loss of market share because Minecraft’s competitors had enough

qualified personnel who readily adopted Mobile Money Technology into their operations. If this

issue is not addressed, Minecraft will lose its customer base to its competitors who have

incorporated technology into their products successfully. Therefore, a training program that will

address the above concern is required in Minecraft.

PROPOSAL 5

A flowchart of the Process to Conduct Research and Collect Data for Decision

Making

Defining the research objectives. The first step in the process of conducting research is

the definition of the research objectives. This involves transforming the idea into a question. In

the case of MineCraft, we will determine the reasons why we are carrying out the research. This

will be done in form of a research question which will address the aims as well as the objectives

of the research. The importance of the research to the individual employees and the organization

as a whole will also be addressed in this question (Zikmund & Babin, 2007).

Planning a research design. After defining the objectives then comes the planning of the

research design. This refers to the master plan that describes the methods as well as the

procedures that will be used in collecting and analyzing the information. When determining the

research design for the Minecraft research process, we will consider the objectives so as to

ensure that the action plan that we select will help achieve the objectives of the research. The

aspects that we will consider are the techniques of data collection, the methodology of sample

selection, the cost of the research process as well as the schedule of the research (Zikmund &

Babin, 2007).

Planning a sample. Planning a sample is the third step in the research process, and it

involves procedures that draw conclusions based on measuring portions of the entire population.

To conduct our research process at Minecraft, we will pick random people from each department

across all the branches in the company. This will ensure that we get good representation of the

entire workforce (Zikmund & Babin, 2007).

PROPOSAL 6

Collecting the data. After formalizing a sampling plan, then the gathering of data is

started. In data gathering, we will collect information from the samples that we picked from all

the departments. Due to the geographical distances in some of the branches, the data will be

collected using electronic questionnaires. The people in the Head office will also be given

questionnaires so as to get a clear picture of their training needs (Zikmund & Babin, 2007).

Analyzing the data. After the gathering of the information, then the data are analyzed and

processed. This is necessitated by the need of having this data in a format that can be used to

assist in decision-making. The data that will be collected from the sampled employees will be

checked for any errors, then transferred to datasheets for further analysis. This analysis will be

performed based on departments so as to have an orderly way of getting the training needs across

the organization (Zikmund & Babin, 2007).

Formulating the conclusions and preparing the report. The conclusions of the research

are an important step in that this is the point where the researcher communicates the results of

the research. In this stage, the research results will be communicated. The training needs that

have been identified will be presented to management in form of a report. The recommendations

and further observations will also be documented. (Zikmund & Babin, 2007).

Training Needs Analysis

Needs analysis will be performed on three levels. There will be an analysis of the

organizational needs, the needs at the departmental level and at the individual level. On each

level, there are particular skills that are required. Minecraft’s needs as an organization will be

determined by using the SWOT analysis where the weaknesses and opportunities as well as

PROPOSAL 7

threats will be used to identify the areas that require improvement and training (McGuire &

Jorgensen, 2010).

The needs on the departmental level can be analyzed by using the skills that are required

in that department. For instance, Minecraft requires different skills in different departments and

the needs of the respective departments in terms of skills will be specific to those particular

departments. The individual level need can be obtained using the job descriptions for the

respective position that the person occupies. In addition, they can be obtained by using different

performance appraisal tools that are used in the organization (McGuire & Jorgensen, 2010).

Proposed Training Solution.

This training solution consists of the needs that were captured during the needs analysis

phase. They have been analyzed and grouped together depending on the department and the level

of skill required. They have further been clustered into modules. These modules will be

separated by the level of skills required. For instance, management will get a managerial course

that will run for a few days. The in-house trainers will get an intensive course that will cover all

aspects of the course, this will take more time than the rest of the groups. The rest of the training

will be performed on a departmental level so as to only train people in their relevant job areas

(Zaidi, 2009).

The proposed training solution is a program that has been tailored based on the skills and

abilities that were identified as lacking in the organization. This was established based on the

training needs analysis and will be the core of the training program that has been proposed. This

program has been divided into modules or subjects that address the various departments in the

PROPOSAL 8

organization, as well as some general modules that will apply to all employees in the

organization (Zaidi, 2009).

This solution includes all the needs that were identified as well as the core values and the

mission of the organization. This will be important, especially for employees who do not

understand what Minecraft’s mission and vision is, and how their job contributes to the vision

and the strategic imperative of the organization (Zaidi, 2009).

In addition to being divided according to the departments, this program recognizes that

there are different levels in the organization, and therefore, need to be trained on different issues.

Bearing this in mind, the training has further been divided into the decision-makers, the

implementors as well as the trainers. These different groups will receive different levels of

training on the different modules that have been created (Zaidi, 2009).

The training solution will involve various teaching methods. These teaching methods are

important in ensuring that all the individuals understand the content of the training in depth for

the purpose of their growth. Case studies will be used to teach some modules, in addition, some

of the more technical subjects will be facilitated by a presentation by the trainers, and this will be

followed up by discussions (Zaidi, 2009).

This training program will run over a period of 3 months and will be conducted in-house.

This implies that the facilitators will come to the organization’s premises and train the different

groups at different periods. It will be done in the offices that are situated in the states surrounding

Massachusetts. When the core teams have been trained, the trainers who have been trained will

then travel to the various offices in the other states to perform the same training. This is

PROPOSAL 9

especially important for Minecraft because it will have obtained its own employees who can

ensure the continuity of its training program over a long period of time (Zaidi, 2009).

This training program offers Minecraft an opportunity to expand the knowledge base of

its employees. It is important because the company operates in the IT industry, and hence has to

be up to date with all emerging technologies. By ensuring that its employees are trained on the

technological advancements as they happen, Minecraft will not be irrelevant in the IT industry

(Zaidi, 2009).

The Training solution provides the management of Minecraft with an opportunity to

improve their management skills. This has been made possible by the provision of training for

managers in this program. By addressing the skills that seem to be lacking in management, this

will ensure that Minecraft’s management is equipped with the skills it needs to steer the

company forward (Zaidi, 2009).

The training solution also provides the organization with a chance of building its own

internal capacity. This is done by training trainers who will be used by the company to impart the

knowledge they have obtained with others in the organization. This saves money for Minecraft

as it will not pay facilitators to train the other employees in the branches that are spread across

different states (Zaidi, 2009).

This solution will also assist the organization in succession planning. This can be done by

providing management training to people who were in the middle level. By doing this, some

employees can be prepared to enter into management positions, and this would in turn ensure

that they have the skill to manage the rest of the employees (Zaidi, 2009).

PROPOSAL 10

The training will be billed on a modular nature, and therefore, the more the modules

trained, the more the cost incurred. However, in spite of the costs of the program, the benefits

that will be obtained by participating in the program will outweigh the cost in the long run.

Therefore, while performing the cost benefit analysis, the benefits outweigh the costs (Zaidi,

2009).

The success of this training solution will be evaluated by using questionnaires to gauge

the reaction of the participants. In addition, behavioral change will be used to determine the level

of success of a program; this can be done by observing how the behavior of employees has

changed after the training. This can be assessed using performance appraisal tools. The amount

of information learnt will also be determined by using tests or quizzes that will be administered

to employees (Zaidi, 2009).

Conclusion

The implementation of a training program in Minecraft will be of great benefit to the

entire organization. This will ensure that employees’ skills and competencies have been aligned

to Minecraft’s main strategic imperative of providing transformation. When the resources have

been aligned with the main imperative, then the organization will be able to provide its

customers with products that will add value to their organization, and at the same time provide

its employees with opportunities for their personal career development.

PROPOSAL 11

References

Babin, B. J., & Zikmund, W. G. (2007). Exploring marketing research. New York: Cengage

Learning.

McGuire, D., & Jorgensen, K. (2010). Human resource development: Theory and practice. New

York: SAGE.

Zaidi (2009). Human resource management. India: Excel Books India.

Marcelle, G.(2004). Technological Learning: A Strategic Imperative for Firms in the Developing

World. Great Britain: Edward Elgar Publishing.