Human Resource - 3 papers, 3000 words each

Assignment structure

Note: You are asked to analyse an organization of your choice. For part-time students, this means your own organization, for full-time students you need to identify an organization that you have knowledge of, or that you have worked in. Whilst it is permissible to use case studies, as you have already been told, case studies from text books do not provide you with enough in-depth organisational analysis for you to do a comprehensive assignment. If this is all you can do, however, then you must check with your tutor about the appropriateness of the case study BEFORE you start to do any work on it. Also, you must not do a whistle-stop tour of every topic that you have covered on the module. Select one or two topics, that are of interest to you, or are relevant issues within your organization. Remember that certain topics do go together very well, e.g. structure and culture, power and culture, gender and power, ethics and gender. I know that it is difficult to confine yourself to one or two topics – as you read and study about one topic, then naturally others come in – that’s the nature of organization theory, but you need to remain focused.

Cover page

· Surname, Initials; Student number; Title of assignment

Table of contents

· Heading; Page numbers

1. Introduction

· The purpose of an introduction is to introduce the reader on ‘what to expect’ in the assignment.

· It is normally no longer than two paragraphs. In the first paragraph you need to briefly discuss concepts such as ‘What you are analysing , what is your paradigm’ (if you are including one) etc. In the second paragraph inform the reader how your assignment is structured. For example: In this assignment I will briefly discuss the paradigmatic perspectives, then I will outline the literature on....

2. Paradigmatic Perspectives: My paradigm

Note: Perhaps the most challenging aspect of this assignment is how to integrate a paradigmatic perspective into your analysis, if you want to include a paradigm. In class you were asked to look at the paradigms of Burrell and Morgan. However, if after your reading, you are more comfortable with other paradigmatic approaches then please use these. For example, you were given the article by Meyerson and Martin, who identify three paradigms of culture and change. You could take one of these paradigms if you were looking at these topics. The text by Mary Jo Hatch called Organization Theory, assesses literature from 3 other perspectives – the modernist, postmodernist and symbolic interpretivist. Jackson and Carter in Rethinking Organizational Behaviour and also in your customised text book again have different perspectives such as the post-structuralist. The important thing to remember is that if you include a paradigm, whatever your approach you need to always maintain this approach throughout your work, including how you analyse the organisation – do not mention your paradigm at the beginning of the assignment, and then never refer to it again. You have to analyse, use theories, concepts, opinions etc that are appropriate for your approach. For example, if you are a radical humanist you cannot say that management theories on how to manage culture and control people are necessary, relevant and effective. You may be anti-management, or for performativity (organisations working better for all members not just managers). This mean you may see organisations as modes of domination, preventing people from reaching their full potential etc. Or you may be critical of and challenge managerial focus in organisations and imagine how could be more inclusive of all workers needs and aspirations. As interpretivists you are exploring symbol and meaning – trying to understand what is happening and being experienced so that you can ‘interpret behaviour’. As functionalists you fundamentally believe in the structure of organisations and their necessity, seeking solutions to problems. As radical structuralists, you don’t really like organisations at all other than as showing further evidence of the dominant discourse of capitalism! There is no getting away from it – if you are going to include a paradigm in your assignment you will have to read the relevant chapter in Burrell and Morgan’s text to fully understand the implications of your paradigm. It is not sufficient to use the slides that have been given to you. Ensure that you understand the assumptions, implications of the different paradigms and especially your own selected paradigm

Note: In this section you need to discuss your selected paradigm in more depth. This means that you need to discuss your paradigm in terms of how it views science (ontological assumptions, epistemological assumptions, assumptions about people, Ideographic vs Nomothetic debate) and how it views society. It is not sufficient to list words that describe your paradigm e.g. subjective, anti-positivist; voluntarist and ideographic and stability and order. You need to explain what it means, what are the implications of this in terms of your data collection methods and analysis etc.

3. Company background

Note: In terms of analysing the organization, if your organization is a large one, then you can narrow it down to your department. This section should be brief and the purpose of this section is to understand the context of your analysis. Therefore, briefly indicate the type of organisation (production, service etc), products/ services rendered, number of employees etc.

4. Methodology

Note: Please remember however, that you do not need to do questionnaires or interviews for your assignment – you just need to be able to tell us that you understand whether you prefer objective or subjective methods and why.

5. Literature review:

Note: This section is very important as it creates the context for your analysis. In class we discussed the importance of using a model/ theory or framework in your analysis. Whatever topic you have selected, you need to define the concept, briefly discuss its purpose in an organisation, characteristics etc. Study different models, briefly describe the literature you have reviewed (providing an overview of the topic and relevant theories often used) and then select a model/theory or integrate different models/theories that you are going to use in your analysis – your selected model/theory has to be discussed in more detail (as you will be applying this model/theory in the analysis of the organisation you chose). Use different academic sources, analyse the literature and form your own synthesis. Remember, the assignment cannot exceed 3000 words – therefore do not waffle – know what you want to say and make sure that it is relevant to the topic. Use sub-headings to structure your literature review – make sure your headings relate to the content! Be concise and to the point.

6. Organisational analysis

Note: This is what your assignment is all about! Now you need to apply your paradigm – using the model/ theory/ framework you discussed in you literature review. For example: let’s assume I am a radical humanist and have decided to analyse culture in my organization. We know from our understanding of our paradigm that we are anti-management (or at least we challenge the view that only management views are important)– we see organisations as modes of domination, or we want to challenge management that prevents people from reaching their full potential etc. If I use Schein’s layered conceptualisation of culture as my framework (which will have been discussed in some detail in my literature review), I will try to find out how artefacts and creations (norms; language, symbols etc.) are used as modes of domination, preventing people from reaching their full potential, and how these artifacts reflect values and beliefs and basic assumptions within the organisation.

Figure 1: Schein’s layered conceptualisation of culture

Example of analysis: You might argue that culture in the organization can be compared to an iron cage (Morgan, 1997) which traps the average employee as they are forced to accept the norms of the organization. The norms i.e. behavioural rules (Schein, 2004) are created and imposed by management to ensure compliance. This is clearly evident in the company as employees are required to sign a behavioural compliance form in which they agree to be fired if they break any rules. Deviance is therefore defined by those in power; therefore, what is deviant, is whatever offends the powerful, or whatever causes them to believe that they are losing power and control over employees (Marx, 1952). The implication of this enforcement clearly disempowers employees and could impact on employee morale.

In the above example I tried to explain the way rules are used to dominate employees using a Radical humanist perspective. Take note of the following:

· I used my framework to analyse one element of artefacts and creations i.e. norms – I will do the same for all the other components of artefacts and creations;

· I used my paradigm to analyse the one element i.e. from an anti-organisational perspective

· I used an example i.e. ‘behavioural compliance form’ to substantiate the result of my analysis

· Given my ‘result’ I also explained the possible implication of this i.e. disempowerment of employees and the possible impact on employee morale.

As previously explained, if you include a paradigm it is important to use it in a consistent manner – you cannot be a radical humanist in one section and become a functionalist in the next section! Remember, paradigms are broad viewpoints or perspectives that permit a social scientist to have a range of tools to describe society/ organisations. Paradigms don’t do anything but describe! They analysed based on their descriptions. That is all they do. They are scientific tools. Paradigms cannot occur or happen. Societies or organisations are not functionalists, radical humanists etc. People and social events are not based on paradigms: a paradigm is a viewpoint, a perspective, a guiding principle, a belief system.

7. Conclusions

The purpose of your conclusion is to summarise your key insights (basically the same as the identification of key insights in the reading log)

8. Recommendations

This is usually only applicable if you are a functionalist. But, if you are a interpretivist, radical humanist or radical structuralists, you are also welcome to make recommendations. The basic question you need to be able to answer is ‘given my results and conclusions’ what can I suggest to help the organisation to overcome the identified problems

List of references

General comments

· Get somebody to read your completed assignment before you submit it. Ask the person to read the assignment for clarity etc

· You need to submit all you reading logs as an Annexure to your assignment

· If you experience any problems, use your resources.

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