Faculty of Design, Media & Management

Assignment Brief

Module Title: Strategic Human Resource Management Module Code: MG622

Assignment No/Title:CW1: Individual/paired research based briefing paper

Assessment Weighting:

30%

Submission Date: Week 11: Friday 11th December 2015Feedback Target Date:

3 weeks Friday 18th January

Module Co-ordinator/Tutor:

Dave Clarke Course Area BAM

Submission Instructions:

This assignment is to be submitted electronically using Blackboard

1. This assignment must be submitted electronically by 2pm on the submission date2. To submit electronically you must upload your work to the e-submission area within the respective module

on blackboard. Click Submit> Browse (find the correct file to upload) Upload> Submit3. Multiple drafts can be submitted up to the submission date. 4. Please remember you must leave at least 24 hours between submissions if you make changes to your

work. Each submission will overwrite the previous one until the due date and time has passed.5. You will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission. This will be sent to your Bucks e-mail address;

please keep this for reference.6. You are reminded of the University’s regulations on cheating and plagiarism. In submitting your assignment

you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations.7. Late submission within 10 working days of the deadline will result in the mark being capped at a maximum

of 40%. Beyond this time the work will not be marked.8. You are reminded that it is your responsibility to keep an electronic copy of your assignment for future

reference.

Instructions to Students:

This is an individual/paired research based assignment on a topical strategic HR initiative. A word-processed report should be prepared of between 2000 and 2500 words. No more than six sides of A4 should be included as appendices.

This assignment tests the following Learning Outcomes for the module:

LO1 - Critically analyse the context, challenges and issues facing the management of people at work

LO3 - Critically review and analyse the application of strategic HRM models, theories and approaches in practice

LO4 – Critically evaluate the impact that a strategic approach to people management can have in contemporary organisations.The Assignment Task:

In the 2014/15 Winter edition of HR Outlook, the CIPD research showed some interesting points relating to the design and structure of HR functions:

approximately 4 in 10 HR functions saw themselves as a single HR team with a mix of expertise and that only 27% saw themselves as using “The Ulrich Model”.

17% of senior HR professionals thought that they should be “prioritising business issues over what matters to HR” whereas 43% thought that they should be “challenging inappropriate behaviours and actions”.

The most common area of focus for HR professionals was reported to be to “work with the organisation to drive change”.

(CIPD (2015) HR Outlook – Views of our Profession, London, CIPD)

Critically review the above statements in light of academic and professional literature in order to discuss how common these themes are in the modern HR professionals’ work.For an organisation with which you are familiar:

assess the role and priorities of the HR function analyse the different internal and external influences which have brought these about. discuss the changes you envisage for this organisation over the next three years and the

impact these will have for the structure of the HR function.

A paired assignment should also include some comparative analysis between two chosen organisations and be accompanied by a diary/log of work undertaken within the pair.

ReflectionReflection is an important aspect of the learning process. Please submit an individual reflection (one each if a paired report) of no more than one side of A4 concerning this assignment, considering the following issues:-What are the strengths of this piece of work, what did you do well?What are the weaknesses of this piece of work, what bits did you do not quite so well?How could you improve this piece of work?

Notes for Guidance A range of research needs to be used, incorporating both academic texts and

journal/newspaper articles. The internet can be used as a source but all web sites must be fully listed in the bibliography (See the Reference guidelines in the Student Handbook).

It is important to give consideration to the implications of the HR role and value across all the key areas of Strategic Human Resource Management.

The marks for the report will be allocated across a number of key areas: Research skills Knowledge and understanding Analysis and application Evaluation Assignment parameters

These headings are explained on the attached assessment matrix, and should be read in conjunction with the marking and feedback sheet provided.

The report format should comprise:-

A. Front page with student ID, title and word countB. An overall Summary (executive summary, not included in word count)

C. Contents PageD. Introduction E. Methodology – how you went about the task (brief summary of secondary and primary

research undertaken)F. Findings – theoretical ideas and models relevant to the topic, benchmark examples, and the

situation in your chosen organisation. Remember to use the theory and benchmarks as tools to analyse and evaluate your chosen organisation.

G. Conclusion – drawing the key points together with reference to good practice and how it links to HR activities. No new material to be introduced at this stage of the report.

H. Recommendations suggesting what could be developed in your own organisation, with an Action Plan as an appendix highlighting resource implications (possible headings could be: why this action?, timescales?, responsibilities?, resource benefits? etc)

I. Bibliography of all books, journals and websites consulted in the Harvard formatJ. Appendices for any additional data you feel will add value to the overall report.

One should be a short summary of your organisation’s business and size An Action Plan to expand on the Recommendations (located at Appendix 1) A completed Assignment Reflection NB Appendices should be NO MORE than 6 pages

Include the word count on the title page – target 2000 – 2500 words (NOTE: the normal “+/- 10%” principle does not apply)

Assessment Criteria:

See attached grid.

Quality Assurance Record

Internal Approval: External Approval:

Strategic Human Resource Management MG622 – Assessment Criteria

Criteria % 70% + 60-69% 50-59% 40-49% Fail

Research Skills

10 Evidence of wide research using primary and secondary research and an imaginative range of sources

Evidence of good research. Some primary and secondary research though more limited in range

Evidence of solid research though limited to secondary research but from a range of prescribed texts and sources

Some evidence of research though perhaps limited to secondary research

Little evidence of any research; little reference to appropriate secondary literature

Knowledge and understanding

20 Excellent critical discussion of key concepts and underpinning theory supported throughextensive secondary research findings

Demonstrates a thorough understanding of HR models and key concepts through discussion using good secondary research

Demonstrates some understanding of HR models with a range of secondary research utilised to support the discussion

Demonstrates a limited view and reference to models and concepts is weak. Limited use of secondary research to underpin discussion.

Superficial understanding demonstrated through minimal secondary research and lack of integration of models and concepts.

Analysisand application

40 Excellent analysis of the models and concepts with an extensive comparison utilising primary research. Excellent explanation and evaluation.

Good analysis of the models and concepts with a good comparison utilising primary research. Good explanation and some evaluation.

Some analysis of the models and concepts with some comparison utilising primary research. Effort made to explain though tended to describe.

Presents partial analysis of the models and concepts with minimal comparison utilising primary data. Limited attempt to explain; largely descriptive.

Limited or no analysis of the models and concepts with superficial comparison utilising incomplete primary data. No effort to explain or evaluate..

Evaluation 20 Excellent evaluation of the impact of different models on organisational practice.Reflective and detailed evaluative conclusions

Good evaluation of the impact of different models on organisational practice. Good evaluative conclusions

Some evaluation of the impact of different models on organisational practice. Conclusions drawn but less convincing.

Limited evaluation of the impact of different models on organisational practice.Limited conclusions drawn.

Fails to address all parts of the task – key issues not identified, conclusions inappropriate.

Assignment parameters

10 Brief met fully. Within word count. Clearly written and presented. Professional style, structure and referencing. Excellent use of appendices to support the report.

Within word count. Meets brief fullyClearly written and presented. Logical structure and good attempt to reference material. Good use of appendices to support the report.

Sometimes writing style and structure unclear. Referencing sometimes incomplete. Appendices generally used appropriately.

Poor structure and presentation. Problems with writing style. Sources not fully referenced. Over use of appendices.

Brief not fully met. Far too long or too short. Unclear structure and poor presentation. Inappropriate referencing and use of appendices.