Biblical integration 643

BIBLICAL INTEGRATION ESSAY

Biblical Integration Essay

Hannah Wallace

Masters of Business Administration, Liberty University

BUSI 643: Workforce Planning and Employment

Dr. Mary Jo Odom-Dull

February 28, 2021

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BIBLICAL INTEGRATION ESSAY

In the beginning of time God created man and further employed him to be stewards of

His creation. In Genesis God mandated Adam and Eve to “…fill the earth and subdue it and have

dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing

that moves on the earth.” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Genesis 1:28b).

This employment of stewardship has been extended throughout mankind, with the intended

purpose of glorifying Christ on earth. In this regard, a Biblical worldview can be integrated into

numerous topics of workforce planning and employment. Such topics covered in this essay will

include: external recruitment, adverse impact, and retention strategies.

External Recruitment

The initial stage of workforce planning and employment is recruitment, which involves

workforce “identification and attraction activities by both the organization and applicant”

(Heneman III et al., 2019, p. 21). Once recruitment strategies and goals are put in place by an

organization, such activities can occur either inside or outside an organization. An external

recruitment strategy involves an organization identifying and attracting potential employees with

the proper knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) outside the

organization (p. 208). In implementing this strategy, organizations must determine whether to

employ a targeted or open recruitment approach to meet strategic goals. A targeted recruitment

approach segments the labor market to specifically target job candidates with desirable KSAOs

while an open approach limits market segmentation to ensure equal opportunity for all job

applicants (p. 211).

In determining whether to use a targeted or open recruitment approach organizations can

gain insight from Jesus’ ministry on earth which entailed the identification and attraction of

believers through an external recruitment strategy. Indeed, Jesus strategically utilized both

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BIBLICAL INTEGRATION ESSAY

targeted and open recruitment approaches to identify and attract believers. While Jesus often

taught large crowds about the saving grace found in the kingdom of God, He also took the time

to target certain groups of individuals who were commonly seen as outcasts in society. For

example, in the gospel of Luke chapter 19 Jesus takes the time to address the tax collector

Zacchaeus amidst a large crowd, bringing salvation to Zacchaeus through His targeted

identification and recognition of Zacchaeus (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Luke

19:1-10). Additionally, in Luke chapter 8 Jesus stops amidst a crowd to address an outcast

woman, ultimately healing her of a 12-year physical affliction and bringing her to salvation

(English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Luke 8:40-48). As Jesus sought out societal

outcasts within his salvation recruitment strategy likewise can an organization utilize targeted

recruitment to “seek out particular groups that would not respond in an open recruitment

environment” (Heneman III et al., 2019, p. 212), thereby achieving the equal opportunity goals

of open recruitment through a different mechanism. Therefore, an organization can benefit from

the combined utilization of both targeted and open recruitment approaches within an external

recruitment strategy.

Adverse Impact

When it comes to selecting applicants for employment, organizations must ensure that

discrimination in selection measures and procedures does not occur. Such discrimination is

entitled adverse (or disparate) impact, and often occurs unintentionally within an organization’s

workforce selection process (Heneman III et al., 2019, p. 355). While selection measures and

procedures should be measured for standardization and validity, organizations would be wise to

employ a Biblical worldview when determining the presence of equal opportunity within a

selection process. Indeed, the apostle Paul states that within the kingdom of God “there is neither

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BIBLICAL INTEGRATION ESSAY

Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for [we] are all one in

Christ Jesus” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Galatians 3:28). As every human is

equal in the kingdom of God, so should every human be equal in the workforce. Moreover,

Christ commands that “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…”

(English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Matthew 7:12). By upholding this Biblical

command organizations can ensure that selection measures and procedures abide by equal

opportunity outside of standardization and validity measurements.

Retention Strategies

Once a workforce is hired, an organization is further tasked with developing proper

retention strategies and tactics to maintain a motivated workforce and ensure against turnover

(Heneman III et al., 2019, p. 690). Such strategies and tactics revolve around improving job

satisfaction and include extrinsic and intrinsic rewards, proper work/life balance, and career

growth opportunities (pp. 709-713). However, as Heneman III et al. (2019) points out, “some

amount of employee turnover is inevitable” (p. 690); therefore, organizations must invoke a

careful consideration of the costs and benefits of retention strategies and tactics to ensure that

such initiatives “focus on not only how many employees are retained, but exactly who is

retained” (Heneman III et al., 2019, p. 690). Indeed, from a Biblical worldview Jesus instructs

believers to “count the cost” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Luke 14:28) when

determining whether to become a disciple of Christ as such a life includes both immense benefits

and costs.

Additionally, Christ uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to warn that those who

do not abide and grow in relationship with Him will be cut off from further growth. John 15:2

states, “Every branch in Me [Christ] that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that

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BIBLICAL INTEGRATION ESSAY

does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (English Standard Version Bible,

2001/2016, John 15:2). This metaphor of pruning a vine can be applied to an organization’s

instilment of retention strategies and tactics. Employees who do not succeed and grow within an

organization will either voluntarily or involuntarily leave the organization, which ultimately will

allow the organization to “prune” and invest in the growth and success of its remaining

employees.

Conclusion

While workforce planning and employment is a crucial step in the success of an

organization, one must never forget that ultimately success in this life is not determined by works

but rather through salvation and the subsequent glorification of Christ on earth. This

reemphasizes God’s original employment of mankind as stewards of His creation. As Matthew

5:16 states, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good

works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (English Standard Version Bible,

2001/2016, Matthew 5:16).

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BIBLICAL INTEGRATION ESSAY

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2016). English Standard Version Bible Online.

https://www.biblegateway.com/ (Original work published 2001).

Heneman III, H., Judge, T., & Kammeyer-Mueller, J. (2019). Staffing organizations (9th ed.).

McGraw-Hill Education.

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