HR report

Background to Unit - Developing Professional Practice

This unit is designed to enable the learner to develop a sound understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by human resources (HR) professionals, whether in a generalist or specialist role, and as described in the CIPD Profession Map. The unit embraces the ‘thinking performer’ perspective and covers the competencies needed by the HR professional in a personal capacity, when collaborating and working with others, and when functioning efficiently and effectively in an organisational context. It will enable learners to assess their own strengths and identify a continuing professional development (CPD)

plan, based on the capabilities required for ethical, business-focused and interpersonal professional conduct.

Learning outcomes

1. Understand what is required to be an effective and efficient HR professional.

2. Be able to perform efficiently and effectively as an HR professional.

3. Be able to apply CPD techniques to construct, implement and review a personal development plan.

Assessment criteria

Your task (2,600 words)

This assignment is asking you to undertake four tasks, where you explore and investigate a variety of knowledge, skills and behaviours that are needed to be successful in the HR role. Each task should be answered fully and the word count distributed effectively across the activities.

Activity 1 (AC 1.1)

· Evaluate what it means to be an HR professional, making reference to at least one professional area and one behaviour in the CIPD Profession Map.

Activity 2 (AC 1.2)

· Briefly describe the elements of group dynamics and give at least two examples of conflict resolution methods within an HR context.

Activity 3 (AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)

With reference to a recent or current project which you have led (or been part of a project team):

· Provide evidence of using project management and problem-solving techniques in the course of the project.

· Explain how you successfully influenced, persuaded and negotiated with others in the course of the project (or other related activity).

Activity 4 (AC 3.1, 3.2)

· Undertake a self-assessment of one area of your practice to identify your professional development needs in that area and options to address these. (You should upload with your assignment the HR summary report from your chosen areas as supporting evidence).

· Produce a professional development plan (PDP) plan to meet your professional development needs (No word count limit for PDP)

· A template can be found on the Moodle and this initial plan should focus on the next 6 – 12 months and have 4-5 SMART objectives

· This will be a working document throughout the programme, which will be explained as you go through the programme

· Justify the options chosen for self-development.

(To be submitted at the end of the programme) (AC 3.3)

· During your programme, provide a reflective summary of your performance against the plan. You should also identify any future development needs and record these in your PDP.

In order for you to be able to complete Activity 4, you will start the process by taking an initial self-assessment using the CIPD profession map. (CPD Map)

Log onto http://www2.cipd.co.uk/cipd-hr-profession/cipd-hr-profession-map/default.html

You will need to read around the concept of the CIPD Profession Map to ensure you fully understand the idea of the professional areas, the behaviours and the bands (the concept will have been covered in overview in your Introductory Workshop). You should be clear on the difference between ‘knowledge’, ‘skills’ and ‘behaviour’;

1. Click the link for ‘My CPD Map’ (you will need to have logged in using your CIPD username and password);

2. Firstly, undertake an assessment for yourself in the professional areas in relation to your own current role (or if you are not in HR, an HR role you aspire to) for Knowledge and Activities.

· Each professional area assessment takes 5-10 minutes to complete. You do not need to complete all three in one sitting. The system will ‘bookmark’ where you leave an assessment to allow you to return to where you stopped the assessment):

3. Secondly, undertake an assessment against the behavioural areas for yourself in relation to your own current role (or if you are not in HR, an HR role you aspire to) against a minimum of three behaviours (each behaviour assessment takes 5 minutes to complete. You do not need to complete all of the assessments in one sitting. The system will ‘bookmark’ where you leave an assessment to allow you to return to where you stopped the assessment);

You do not need to print off the full report for the purposes of this assessment, but it is a robust document you can use to plan your HR career. In relation to this specific assignment you must attach a copy of the HR summary reports with your assignment submission. There is guidance on the Moodle that will support you to do this.

Evidence to be produced/required

A portfolio of evidence of approximately 2,600 words in total that responds to each of the four tasks.

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). Demonstrating evidence of wider reading through appropriate referencing will improve your answer and increase the likelihood of your work achieving a ‘Pass’.

___________________________________________________________________

Submission checklist

1. Assignment cover sheet

2. Main task (2600 words)