Task Description:

According to Chambers et al (1998: 50), creating an employment value position superior to those offered by a firm’s competitors is crucial for gaining a competitive advantage in the talent market:
The ability to define, develop, and deliver a superior employee value proposition will be especially critical … Small companies offer employees a chance to satisfy their desire for meaning, excitement, flexibility, impact, and reward. … Large companies … possess natural advantages of their own: magnitude of impact (be a big fish in a big pool), depth (the resources to take risks, particularly with people), capital (the resources to support big decisions), and variety (a range of experiences over the course of a career).

There is a large body of academic research about the ‘Talent War’ and its importance for the recruitment of talent in all organisations and for all levels of employees. For example, Hiltrop (1999: 422) suggests:
As we move into the 21st century, the need for (and shortage of) people possessing the wide range of skills and abilities needed to meet the fast-growing requirements of international corporations will almost certainly expand. As a result, many organisations will have to develop new strategies to attract and keep talented employees.

Your task is twofold: firstly, to review and critically analyse the articles by Chambers et al and Hiltrop (copies of the articles are available for download from the ‘Assessment’ section of the course website); and secondly, to compare and contrast the ‘Employment Value Proposition’ (as presented via the websites) of two (2) of the following organisations:
• IBM in Australia

http://www-07.ibm.com/employment/au/

• Apple in Australia

http://www.apple.com/jobs/au/

• Hewlett-Packard in Australia

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/jobs/index.html