The HR department in your chosen organisation has been criticised for failing to add value. Key issues include poor recruitment, insufficient staff training, and inability to respond effectively to societal changes, technology trends

Assignment Overview

As part of the formal assessment for this module, students are required to submit a People Management assignment.

Learning Outcomes (LOs):
After completing this module, students should be able to:

1. Explore theoretical approaches to the effective management of the employee lifecycle in various contexts.
2. Identify links between people management policies and organisational strategies to inform vertical and horizontal integration.
3. Analyse the roles of people professionals and line managers in effective people management.
4. Apply skills needed to be effective as a line manager and/or People Professional.
5. Reflect critically, undertake evidenced analysis, and contribute problem-solving and innovative solutions.

Guidance for Assignment Preparation

Your submission should include:

Title Page: Student number, module name, submission deadline, exact word count.

Anonymous Marking: Do not include your name; include your STU number.

• Up to 10% over the word limit is permitted without penalty.
• Work exceeding the maximum limit will receive no marks.

Assignment Task

Task 1: Formal Report

Scenario:

The HR department in your chosen organisation has been criticised for failing to add value. Key issues include poor recruitment, insufficient staff training, and inability to respond effectively to societal changes, technology trends, and globalisation.”

Requirements:

• Write a formal report to senior executives.
• Identify specific people management issues around the factors above.
• Suggest contemporary people management practices the HR department can adopt.
• Analyse the implications of these practices for the organisation.

Task 2: Reflective Statement and CPD/PDP Plan 

• Write a reflective statement based on Task 1.
• Provide a CPD/PDP plan using an appropriate template.
• Support development of people management skills and knowledge for yourself and the organisation.

Formative Feedback

• Opportunity to submit a draft for feedback.
• Feedback helps you develop skills as an independent learner.
• Distance learners: submit drafts via email at least 2 weeks before submission.
• Blended learners: follow tutor-specific deadlines.
• Formative feedback will not be given for late submissions.

Referencing Guidance

• Use AU Harvard referencing system.
• Support your analysis and evaluation with appropriate academic research.
• Referencing guides are available via the Arden Library.

Submission Guidance

• Late submissions will receive 0%.
• Submit as a single Word or PDF file, or as multiple files (name each file with the question/part and STU number, e.g., 
• Ensure all work is your own; correctly attribute all sources.
• Penalties apply for academic unfair practice (see Student Handbook on iLearn).

Assessment Summary

The BUS4014 People Management assignment is designed to evaluate students’ understanding of effective people management practices and their application in organisational contexts. The assessment is split into two key tasks:

Key Pointers:

1. Learning Outcomes (LOs) to be addressed:
   • LO1: Explore theoretical approaches to managing the employee lifecycle.
   • LO2: Identify links between people management policies and organisational strategies.
   • LO3: Analyse the roles of people professionals and line managers.
   • LO4: Apply skills to be effective as a line manager/People Professional.
   • LO5: Reflect critically, demonstrate problem-solving, and develop innovative solutions.
2. Task 1 – Formal Report (1,500 words):
   • Scenario: HR underperformance, including poor recruitment, inadequate staff training, and ineffective adaptation to societal, technological, and global trends.
   • Requirements:
     • Highlight specific people management issues.
     • Suggest contemporary HR practices to address these issues.
     • Analyse implications for the organisation.
     • Target audience: Senior executives.
3. Task 2 – Reflective Statement and CPD/PDP Plan (500 words):
   • Reflect on insights gained from Task 1.
   • Develop a CPD/PDP plan to enhance people management skills.
   • Demonstrate personal and organisational learning.
4. Formatting and Submission Guidelines:
   • Include title page with STU number, module name, deadline, and word count.
   • Anonymous marking – do not include your name.
   • Word count flexibility: up to 10% over allowed; exceeding maximum limit results in no marks.
   • Submission formats: Word or PDF files; multiple files should be named correctly.
   • Referencing: AU Harvard system; proper attribution required.
   • Late submissions: 0% mark.
5. Formative Feedback Opportunity:
   • Drafts can be submitted for feedback before deadlines.
   • Helps develop independent learning and improve assessment quality.

Approach Guided by Academic Mentor

The academic mentor guided the student through a step-by-step process to ensure all assessment requirements and learning outcomes were met:

Step 1: Understanding the Scenario

• Mentor explained the HR scenario and contextualised it within contemporary organisational challenges.
• Student identified key issues: recruitment gaps, training deficiencies, and adaptation to global trends.

Step 2: Structuring the Formal Report (Task 1)

• Introduction: Overview of the organisation and context for HR issues.
• Problem Analysis: Detailed assessment of HR shortcomings using theoretical frameworks (e.g., employee lifecycle, talent management).
• Proposed Solutions: Contemporary HR practices such as digital recruitment, training programs, diversity initiatives, and employee engagement strategies.
• Implications: Evaluated impact on organisational performance, employee satisfaction, and alignment with strategic goals.
• Conclusion: Summarised findings and reinforced recommendations.

Step 3: Reflective Statement and CPD/PDP Plan (Task 2)

• Mentor guided the student to:
  • Reflect on learning from Task 1 and personal experiences.
  • Identify skill gaps and development needs.
  • Develop a structured CPD/PDP plan to improve both personal competencies and organisational HR practices.

Step 4: Referencing and Submission

• Student ensured all analysis was supported with AU Harvard references.
• Mentor reviewed draft for compliance with word count, formatting, and academic integrity requirements.

Outcome Achieved

• Formal Report: Comprehensive identification of HR issues, recommended contemporary practices, and clear implications for the organisation.
• Reflective Statement & CPD/PDP Plan: Demonstrated critical self-reflection, actionable development strategies, and alignment with organisational needs.
• Learning Objectives Covered: All LOs (1–5) were successfully addressed through both analytical and reflective components of the assessment.
• Skill Development: Student improved understanding of HR theory, practical application, reflective practice, problem-solving, and strategic alignment.

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