1. http://www.perdue.com

In 1920, Arthur W. Perdue founded the Perdue Farms organization in Salisbury, Maryland. The company was established on the simple principles of honesty, integrity, trust, and hard work. Perdue has maintained a reputation that was built on quality and has continued to grow in the industry through its innovative products. Today, Perdue Farms is a leading quality food and agricultural products company with annual sales exceeding $2.7 billion. The organization is privately held and is one of the 100 largest family-owned businesses in operation.

The Perdue organization claims the most important ingredient to its success is the "associate" of the business. With almost 20,000 employees at operations located in several states, Perdue maintains that while its annual goals do center on people, products, and profitability, the people involved are always the most vital aspect.

Examine the information available on this Website. Prepare a two-page report indicating your responses to the following questions. Be prepared to share and discuss your findings with the class. How does Perdue facilitate its relationship with its employees? Identify three ways this organization empowers its associates. Identify how this company utilizes human resource management as a key strategic partner within the organization. How do competitive challenges influence this organization’s human resource management practices? How has Perdue’s human resource practices contributed to its global success?

2. www.merck.com

Sixty years ago, the first package of brown powder called Penicillin left the Merck Lab for a Hospital in New Haven , CT. It resulted in saving the life a young woman whose temperature chart since entering the hospital and after taking the penicillin treatment now resides at the Smithsonian. Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health. By the end of 2003, Merck employed over 63,000 employees.

Explore the site in detail to prepare a two-page report indicating your responses to the following questions. What value does Merck place on employees and diversity? Explore the workforce demographics at Merck as of 2003. How does it compare with the U.S. demographics? Explain.