HR Assignment
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HRMWeek7AssessmentGuidance1.pptxPreparing for the Assessment
MN7367 Week 7 Lecture 1
Anne-marie Greene
1
Brewis, Jo (Prof.) (BJ() - Add module code and name here
Your assessment
Part 1
Essay Assignment
50% of overall mark
Part 2
Unseen Examination
50% of overall mark
A Two-Headed Monster?
Essay Assignment 2017
The ability of HRM to lead to improved organisational performance is contingent on achieving a fit between business strategy and HRM practice. Discuss the validity of this statement with specific reference to two HRM practices.
As a business operating in markets all around the world, we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. We want a connected workforce that reflects the communities where we operate and helps us meet the needs of customers from all walks of life. Different ideas and perspectives help us innovate, manage risk, and grow the business in a sustainable way…Diversity and inclusion is part of who we are at HSBC. It is vital to the future of our business (HSBC Bank). Consider this recent organisational statement on diversity and discuss the rationale for attention to equality and diversity issues within human resource management, reflecting on both business case and moral/social justice cases.
Sociologists tend to see conflict as normal part of organisational functioning. Consider the implications of this view for the management of people within organisations, with specific reference to two HRM practices.
Discuss whether you agree with the view which sees that ‘the importance of HRM lies not in the objective reality of its normative models and their implementation, but in the… reality of its rhetoric… redefining the meaning of work and the way individual employees relate to their employers.’ (Legge, 2005: 123)
Most mainstream HRM research starts from the premise of there being a generic, universal worker. Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement, reflecting on the factors that determine an organisation’s approach to HRM?
‘A core managerial belief appears to be that not only is managing through the payment system the most appropriate means of managing human resources, but that the existence of a payment system is also sufficient for managing human resources’. Discuss this statement, looking at the centrality of payment systems within, and the common problems faced in performance management.
Essay Assignment
3,000 word essay (+/- 10%)
Selection of ONE essay question ONLY from a possible selection of six.
Deadline Tuesday 12th December 2017.
A penalty of 10% of the available marks will be imposed if a student misses the above deadline
A further penalty of 5% will be imposed for every ten subsequent working days the submission is late.
Submit the Assignment via the Turnitin link on BB
Q from seminar 1: Turnitin: can I submit my essay and check for plagiarism?
A: No, this is not allowed. You must avoid plagiarism from the beginning and before you submit.
Answer the question!
Address the question as it has been set and clearly attempt to present an ‘answer’
However, there is no one right answer
How to approach your essay assignment
How to approach your essay assignment
Break the question down part by part
You will do this with a practice question in your seminars:
USE THIS OPPORTUNITY
Determine:
What are you being asked to do?
What are you NOT being asked to do?
What does the question indicate you MUST cover/address?
How not to answer the question…
Rewriting it (to something you would rather have been asked or to something the text books focus on …)
Seeing it as a vehicle to write all you know about a certain topic!
Misunderstanding it
(often by latching onto one word or phrase / not seeing the hints in the question)
Only answering part of it
Taking it too literally
(i.e. not questioning its assertions)
How to approach your essay assignment
Pay attention to the structure of your argument
Clear Structure
Could use explicit section headings derived from the question
Some students use these to structure it but then discard afterwards before submission
Can leave section headings in as long as it is not a report style document
How to write your essay: Structure
How to write your essay: Structure
Introduction and Conclusion are very important
Strong introduction provides an indication of the importance of the topic and defines key terms which are explored in the body of the essay.
The conclusion evaluates and summarises the arguments and provides an answer to the question.
The Conclusion is NOT A EUREKA MOMENT
DO NOT INCLUDE NEW MATERIAL IN THE CONCLUSION
Say what you are going to do (Introduction)
Say It (Middle)
Say what you did (Conclusion)
How to write your essay: Structure
Show understanding of the debates and relevant
literature:
Literature should be appropriate
We will expect to see literature from the module used, at least from the key readings set each week
Terms, trends, claims, arguments need to be substantiated with reference to literature and research
Think… how do I know what I am saying? What evidence is there?
How to write your essay: Content
How to write your essay: Content
Be analytical rather than descriptive
Show willingness to engage
critically with material.
Ability to marshal and
evaluate evidence and to
use it in support of
independently expressed
arguments.
Think about the legitimacy of your sources…Wikipedia is not appropriate!
Present arguments clearly, comprehensibly,
and economically
Writing style is clear, direct, and fluent.
Aim for simple and short sentences
BUT DO NOT USE unelaborated bullet points, which disrupt fluency
Sections are structured logically and within them paragraphs are used effectively.
How to write your essay: Style
How to write your essay: Style
Component sections are balanced and the answer overall is presented within word limits.
THINK!
Do I need that diagram/figure/graph?
Do I need that direct quote?
Ensure that you list all that you have cited.
A references list is essential, a bibliography is not required
Use Harvard referencing
https:// www2.le.ac.uk/projects/oer/oers/ssds/oers/harvard-referencing
How to write your essay: Referencing
Q from seminar 1: Referencing: can I quote 150 words and use it in my work as a direct quote?
A: No, quote no more than around 20-30 words and paraphrase the rest.
Markers are not impressed by your ability to copy out a reading list if that is not matched your ability to understand, present and evaluate its contents.
You will find it more rewarding to do so in the end.
Sources are usually richer than they seem from summary sources
17
How to write your essay: Referencing
Try to limit the amount of secondary citation
i.e. sources that you have not read yourself
If the source is central to your argument, it is preferable to read it for yourself
If you need to rely on someone else’s interpretation, then you MUST ensure that this secondary citation is clear
Smith argues that… (Smith, 1979 discussed in Newell and Shackleton, 2000: 42)
Command words in questions
| Command Word | What does it mean? |
| Describe Summarise Define Identify Compare Contrast Discuss Interpret Explain Account for Analyse Evaluate Calculate Criticise Critically… | Discuss in small groups what you think the meaning is |
Command words in questions
| Command Word | What does it mean? |
| Describe Summarise Define Identify Compare Contrast Discuss Interpret Explain Account for Analyse Evaluate Calculate Criticise Critically… | Say what something or someone is like Give the main points of an idea or argument Give a brief explanation of what something is Point out key points or features Focus on differences and similarities Show the differences between two or more things Write in detail, considering different ideas, opinions and viewpoints State what you take to be the meaning(s) of something Give reasons why something is as it is or how it works Offer an explanation of why something is as it is Identify and explain the key points or aspects Make a judgment about the quality of something using evidence Show the method arrive at a quantitative answer Analyse and make a judgement – take a position Showing that you have thought seriously about something, considering what is good/bad about it what evidence there is how persuasive it is whose perspective is included alternative viewpoints |
Counts for 50% of your overall mark for the module. Your exam grade will be added to your assignment grade and averaged to give you an overall mark for the module:
MN7367 Examination: Basic Details
64% (in the assignment) + 62% (in the exam)
= 63% final mark.
Pass mark for the module = 50%
There will be an opportunity to take a resit in whichever part/s of the module assessment (exam or assignment) in September is/are necessary, should a pass mark not be achieved.
The exam is 2 hours long.
You must write 2 essays.
You need to pick 2 essays from a choice of 4 possible essay titles.
Suggest taking 1 hour per essay.
10-15 minutes planning: write your plan out so that the markers can see.
45-50 minutes writing the essay.
Exam 2018: Rubric
Exam 2018: Rubric
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ANSWER 2 QUESTIONS!
2 average/weak essays are better than 1 distinction essay
For example: If you only wrote one essay in the exam, even if this was a distinction at 75%, when this is divided by 2 you would get a fail mark of 38%.
i.e. You would get a higher overall mark if you wrote two marginal passes e.g. 45+42=44%)
Don’t run out of time!
The same guidance for essays applies to the examination as it is essay based:
ANSWER THE SPECIFIC ESSAY TITLE!
Demonstrate your ability to construct an argument, organise and articulate ideas
Demonstrate understanding of the module: key debates, key concepts, key research, key empirical/’real world’ examples.
Be CRITICAL: interrogate the assumptions, provide alternative views, think of pros and cons.
Exam 2018: Content
Usual conventions of essay writing: clear intro, middle and especially conclusion.
Make your handwriting legible: if we can’t read it, we can’t mark it!
Better essays will include key authors and reference them.
Short citation is fine e.g. Jewson and Mason (1986)
Do NOT need a references list at the end.
This is an essay not a report.
No bullet pointed lists: narrative prose, connected paragraphs, proper sentences, attention to grammar.
Exam 2018: Format and Style
BUT: we know that this is under exam conditions and will mark accordingly.
We recognise that you are writing this under timed conditions.
We recognise that you do not have all your sources to hand.
We recognise that you do not know the essay titles in advance.
All the essay titles can be written from material covered on the module.
Exam 2018: Format and Style
The essay and examination are based on the material covered during the whole module
Theoretical topics
HRM principles and theories
Perspectives on the employment relationship
Approaches to conflict
Contextual topics
Rise of service and knowledge work
Demands for emotional labour
Globalisation /Gig economy
Demographic change
Practical topics
Organisational culture
Managing and planning work
Recruitment and selection
Performance and reward management
Managing diversity
Training and development
Assessment Topics
Exam 2018: Topics What should I revise?
You have to give yourself the best chance of being able to write 2 good essays.
Limiting yourself to only 2 topic areas would not allow you to do this
I would suggest revising more broadly:
Mixture across the 3 topic areas: theoretical, sectoral/contextual and practical
This gives you the best chance of being able to answer a broader range of essay questions and therefore selecting your best 2.
However, you should also bear in mind the key debates and themes that cross-cut.
THIS WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AVERAGE ANSWER AND A DISTINCTION ANSWER
Exam 2018: Topics
Rhetoric and reality gap
Unitarism
High involvement work systems
Bundles of practices
Performance related pay
360 degree feedback
Appraisal systems
Talent management
Discrimination cases
Best practice
Feminised labour market
Family friendly policies
Learning organisation
Employee voice
Flexible working
Pluralist
Worklife balance
Multi-national companies
Platform working
Collective disputes
Role of corporate strategy
Ethnic diversity
Best fit
Ageing workforce
Role of trade unions
Regulation and law
Radical
Career management
Cultural performance
Front line service work
Human resource function
Some possible ideas of topics/subjects
Theoretical
Contextual
Practical
Which belongs where?
