Sinking in Sandy Dunes: A Case Study to Address HR Staffing and Seasonal Workers

One of the challenges for organizations operating in a predominant resort tourism industry is the seasonal nature of operations that can create staffing challenges and employee retention for sustainability. In this paper, we examine the challenges of a restaurant in the Grand Strand region of South Carolina experiencing some of the people management challenges inherent in the resort tourism industry. We present an instructor-developed case study of a restaurant for use as a pedagogical tool applicable in a variety of learning and training environments. The case highlights a fictional organization, Sandy Dunes, and is designed to engage learners in critical thinking and problem-solving for use in human resource management courses or principles of management courses, as it addresses people management issues associated with recruitment, selection, compensation, training, and performance expectations. Additionally, the case can also be used in organizational training sessions to address staffing and employee retention efforts. The instructional plan is presented over three class sessions but can be modified to fit any course schedule or modality. We provide a model for organizational analysis and problem-solving to address organizational issues. We also provide supplemental resources for instructors to facilitate class discussion and solutions.