It's not all perfection at Paradise Retail: HR problems surface in the Indian hand-loom industry

Purpose - Observes a number of human-resource management problems in the Indian hand-loom industry. Design/methodology/approach - Considers what gave rise to the problems and considers how they may be solved. Findings - Highlights the need to: attract talented designers with the right values and alignment to the company vision; refine training strategies to make them need-based and relevant; attract the right artisans; enhance productivity levels; standardize pricing and quality of products; and preserve art and craft to sustain the business. Practical implications - Presents a number of review questions. In what way can a firm like Paradise differ from other retailers? Define some realistic strategies to combat the problems of Paradise Retail. Which will be cost-effective? What can be gauged about the organizational culture of Paradise Retail? What are its values? Originality/value - Deals with some of the problems of poorly paid workers in a traditional industry in a developing country.