Stringtown Iron Works Discussion

Please reply by 9/1/2021 so I can send you my peers posts

Please read the case and answer the questions at the end. Please respond to two of your peers. Do you agree or disagree?

Stringtown Iron Works is a small fictional shipyard on the East Coast dedicated to shipping overhaul. It focuses on obtaining government contracts for overhauling naval ships. These overhauls require Stringtown to maintain a quality workforce that is capable of rapid production. The position of pipefitter is particularly critical for success.

Pipefitters are responsible for repairing and installing the piping systems onboard the vessels. Employees in the pipefitter classification may also be called on to work in the shop, building pipe pieces that are ultimately installed on the ships. Like most union jobs in the yard, pipefitters are predominantly white men between the ages of 30 and 45. As part of the most recent bargaining agreement, work is primarily done in cross-functional teams.

Job Description

Job: Pipefitter

Pay: $12.00 to $20.00 per hour

A pipefitter must:

1. Read and interpret blueprints and/or sketches to fabricate and install pipes per specifications.
2. Perform joint preparation and fit-up to fabricate and install brazed and welded piping systems.
3. Perform layout and calculations to fabricate and install the pipe.
4. Fabricate pipe pieces up to 10” in diameter and up to 10′ long to support shipboard pipe installation.
5. Install ship’s piping, such as water, drains, hydraulics, lube oil, fuel oil, high-temperature air, etc. on location and within tolerances per design.
6. Inspect and hydro test completed piping systems to ensure compliance with the ship’s specifications.
7. Use a variety of hand and power tools to perform joint preparation, assembly bolt-up, and positioning during fabrication and installation.
8. Utilize welding equipment to tack-weld pipe joints and to secure pipe supports to ship’s structure.

Completion of the above tasks requires pipe fiT1tters to do the following:

• Frequent lifting and carrying of 25–50 pounds
• Occasional lifting and carrying of over 50 pounds
• Occasional to frequent crawling, kneeling, and stair climbing
• Frequent pushing, pulling, hammering, and reaching
• Frequent bending, stooping, squatting, and crouching
• Occasional twisting in awkward positions
• Occasional fume exposure

Questions:

1. Which of the overall HR strategies would be best for Stringtown Iron Works?
2. Should Stringtown focus on job fit or organization fit?
3. Should Stringtown hire based on achievement or potential?
4. What selection methods would you recommend for Stringtown? Why?

First peer below

1. The promised expert human resource strategy will be the best human resource strategy of String town Iron Works. The main objective of the Committed Expert HR strategy is hiring and retaining employees who have specialized job skills. Since Pipefitters have specialized skills and they are critical for the organization’s success, they need to be retained by the organization. Therefore, the Committed Expert HR strategy is the most suitable HR strategy for String Town Iron Works.

2. String town should focus on job fit as the Pipefitter’s job is a very specialized and critical job. The job requires skills in multiple activities.

3. Since the Pipefitter’s job is critical and requires specialized skills, String town should hire based on achievements. Experienced Pipefitters would be the ideal fit for String town. The organization may develop its junior employees who show potential, as Pipefitters. These employees could work under the experienced Pipefitters and learn the skills required for the job.

4. The selection methods should include:

Skill test – To ascertain the skill levels of the candidates

Physical fitness test– As the job involves activities like frequent lifting, carrying, hammering, the ideal candidate should be physically fit.

Personal Interview- The interview would help the see how well the candidate can read and interpret blueprints, perform layout calculations, understand the specification, etc. 

Second peer below

1. Which of the overall HR strategies would be best for Stringtown Iron Works?

   Due to the nature of the work being done. A HR strategy that would work best for the company is using the Long-Term Specialist Strategy. This job takes a certain type of knowledge and skill. Not any candidate can be selected. Ideally you would want these candidates staying onboard long term because over time they will learn what the company needs. They will become specialized in the company as well. If the HR team works on making sure that the employees have proper training, benefits, pay, etc. the workers will be happy to stay. Also, when a company produces long term strategies for its workers such as “growth benefits” or “incentives”. It makes the worker feel more confident that the company truly cares about there well being.

2. Should Stringtown focus on job fit or organization fit?

   The company is specifically looking for a pipe fitter. This tells me that they need to find a specialist so the company needs to focus on having a “job fit” search. There are many physical demands in the job criteria that need to be met. HR will need to carefully pick out those they believe will be able to withstand the job conditions. Some jobs have physical tests that need to be completed. Stringtown Iron Works should definitely implement those types of tests as well.

3. Should Stringtown hire based on achievement or potential?

   Stringtown needs to hire based on potential. The candidate can hold a lot of achievements but can they carry out the duties as well as another candidate? This job is physically demanding, They need workers that can meet all the criteria and specializes in this type of work.

4. What selection methods would you recommend for Stringtown? Why?

   Physical testing should be apart of the recruitment process. They should also be required to take a competency test specialized toward pipe fitting. These test could include basic knowledge, situational questions, technical expertise. When hiring candidates that need to meet certain criteria you want to take your time to make sure that they are eligible. Especially in a company working within the Federal government. This is not a job that a candidate can be easily replaced. 

Second peer below

1. Which of the overall HR strategies would be best for Stringtown Iron Works?

   Due to the nature of the work being done. A HR strategy that would work best for the company is using the Long-Term Specialist Strategy. This job takes a certain type of knowledge and skill. Not any candidate can be selected. Ideally you would want these candidates staying onboard long term because over time they will learn what the company needs. They will become specialized in the company as well. If the HR team works on making sure that the employees have proper training, benefits, pay, etc. the workers will be happy to stay. Also, when a company produces long term strategies for its workers such as “growth benefits” or “incentives”. It makes the worker feel more confident that the company truly cares about there well being.

2. Should Stringtown focus on job fit or organization fit?

   The company is specifically looking for a pipe fitter. This tells me that they need to find a specialist so the company needs to focus on having a “job fit” search. There are many physical demands in the job criteria that need to be met. HR will need to carefully pick out those they believe will be able to withstand the job conditions. Some jobs have physical tests that need to be completed. Stringtown Iron Works should definitely implement those types of tests as well.

3. Should Stringtown hire based on achievement or potential?

   Stringtown needs to hire based on potential. The candidate can hold a lot of achievements but can they carry out the duties as well as another candidate? This job is physically demanding, They need workers that can meet all the criteria and specializes in this type of work.

4. What selection methods would you recommend for Stringtown? Why?

   Physical testing should be apart of the recruitment process. They should also be required to take a competency test specialized toward pipe fitting. These test could include basic knowledge, situational questions, technical expertise. When hiring candidates that need to meet certain criteria you want to take your time to make sure that they are eligible. Especially in a company working within the Federal government. This is not a job that a candidate can be easily replaced.