| Title of unit/s | Using Information in Human Resources | |
| Unit No/s | ||
| Level | 5 | |
| Credit value | 4 | |
| Assessment method(s) | Written Business Report | |
| Expiry date | ||
| Learning outcomes: Understand the research process and different research approaches.Be able toconduct a critical review of information sources in an area of HR/business practice and analyse the findings.Be able todraw meaningful conclusions and evaluate options for change. 4 Know how todeliver 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 RecommendationsReference list/BibliographyAppendix if used i.e. information supporting their analysis but not essential to its explanation. Activity 2 Summarise the key stages of the research process. Compare two different research methods. | Assessment Criteria 4.1 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). | ||
Assessment Guidance
| Using Information in Human Resources – LOs 1, 2, 3 & 4 To pass, candidates should provide a written business report for stakeholders 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. Candidates 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). | |
| AC 2.1 AC 2.2, 1.1 AC 4.1, 3.1 | Candidates should identify an area of HR/business practice for the focus of their literature review e.g. good practice in employee engagement, recruitment and selection, pay and reward, learning and development, they should explain why they have selected the particular area e.g. to benchmark their own organisational practice against good practice reported in the literature Candidates should then review different information sources relevant to the area of practice with a justification for the information sources chosen. They should show evidence of engaging critically with each of the sources by: Summarising the focus of the sourceExamining the methodology used (quantitative or qualitative)Evaluating the conclusions from each source based on the methodology used and evidence presented. Candidates should write a business report for identified stakeholders e.g. CEO, executive team, shareholders. A typical structure would be: 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 where appropriate to present their findings.Conclusion (including major inferences and recommendations for change)Reference list using appropriate scholarly conventionBibliography if appropriateAppendix if used i.e. information supporting their analysis but not essential to its explanation. |