Select an area of HR/business practice and give the reason for your choice

Title of unit/s

Using Information in Human Resources

Unit No/s

5UIN

Level

5

Credit value

4

Assessment method(s)

Written Business Report

Expiry date

September 2020

Learning outcomes:

1      Understand the research process and different research approaches.

2      Be able to conduct a critical review of information sources in an area of HR/business practice and analyse the findings.

3      Be able to draw meaningful conclusions and evaluate options for change.

4    Know how to deliver clear, business-focused reports on an HR issue.

Assessment brief/activity

Activity 1 

Your CEO has asked each departmental head to undertake a critical review of their systems, processes and practices as part of a major organisational change agenda.  You have been asked to review an area of HR/business practice and present a business report to key stakeholders with recommendations for improving practice.  To provide the basis for your report, you have been asked to conduct a critical review of information sources relevant to the area of practice. You should

• Select an area of HR/business practice and give the reason for your choice
• Undertake a critical review of different information sources (at least four) e.g. research digests, academic and professional literature, online databases, key texts relevant to the selected area of practice.
• Draw meaningful conclusions from the review of the different information sources.
• Make justified recommendations to named stakeholders for sustaining and/or improving practice.

Your report structure should include:

• Title page (report title and their name, submission date)
• Executive summary (overview, methods of analysis, findings, recommendations)
• Table of contents (list of numbered sections)
• Introduction (terms of reference)
• Main body (headings and sub-headings – these could be for each information source reviewed). Candidates should use a mix of narrative and diagrammatic formats to present their findings.
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Reference list/Bibliography
• Appendix if used i.e. information supporting their analysis but not essential to its explanation.

Activity 2

1. Summarise the key stages of the research process.
2. Compare two different research methods.

Assessment Criteria

2.1

2.2

3.1

4.1

1.1

Evidence to be produced/required

A written business report for stakeholders and written answers to activity two of approximately 2600 words.  The title page, executive summary, reference list and any appendices are excluded from the word count.

You should relate academic concepts, theories and professional practice to the way organisations operate, in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles and other publications and by using organisational examples for illustration.

All reference sources should be acknowledged correctly and a bibliography provided where appropriate (these should be excluded from the word count).

Checklist for: Using Information in Human Resources – LOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

Have you provided a written business report for stakeholders and written answers to activity two of approximately 2600 words which reflects the guidance given below?

(The title page, executive summary, reference list and any appendices are excluded from the word count.)

Have you related academic concepts, theories and professional practice to the way organisations operate, in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles and other publications and by using organisational examples for illustration?

Have you acknowledged your reference sources correctly and provided a bibliography provided where appropriate (excluded from the word count)

AC 2.1





AC 2.2,

AC 4.1, 3.1

Have you identified an area of HR/business practice for the focus of your investigation e.g. good practice in employee engagement, recruitment and selection, pay and reward, learning and development? Have you explained why you have selected the particular area e.g. to benchmark your own organisational practice against good practice reported in the literature?

Have you then critically reviewed at least four different information sources relevant to the area of practice?

Have you written a business report for identified stakeholders e.g. CEO, executive team, shareholders? A typical structure has been used, including:

• Title page (report title and your name, submission date)
• Executive summary (overview, methods of analysis, findings, recommendations)
• Table of contents (list of numbered sections)
• Introduction (terms of reference)
• Main body (headings and sub-headings –for each information source reviewed). You have used a mix of narrative and diagrammatic formats where appropriate to present your findings.(A good balance of words and diagrams)
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Reference list/Bibliography using the Harvard referencing system
• Appendix to include information supporting your analysis but not essential to its explanation.

AC1.1

Activity 2

a) Have you summarised the key stages of the research process?  Have you included setting terms of reference (setting a clear research aim and objectives), understanding what is already known about a topic by undertaking a literature review, developing a research methodology, carrying out primary research, analysing and writing up findings, drawing conclusions and making recommendations?

b) Have you selected two research methods to compare?

Have you chosen from interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and participant observation?