Title of unit/s                                                  Using Information in Human Resources

Unit No/s                                                          UIN

Level                                                                5

Credit value                                                     4

Assessment method(s)                              Report

Learning outcomes:

1  Understand the research process and different research approaches.

2  Be able to conduct a critical review of information sources in an area of HR/business practice and analyse the findings.

3 Be able to draw meaningful conclusions and evaluate options for change.

4 Know how to deliver clear, business-focused reports on an HR issue.

Assessment brief/activity                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Assessment

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 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 secondary sources relevant to the area of practice you have chosen. You should include a mix of narrative and diagrammatic forms, a description of your stakeholders and their needs from this report.               4.1

You should:                                                                                                                                                                                                      2.1

• Select an area of HR practice and justify your choice
• Undertake a critical review of three secondary sources e.g. research digests, academic and professional literature, online databases, and key texts relevant to the selected area of practice.                                                                                                                                                  2.2

• Summarise the stages of the research process.                                                                                                                                         1.1

• Highlight some of the different primary research approaches and comment on the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches.

• Summarise the findings and draw meaningful conclusions from your review of the different                                                                          3.1

secondary sources and make justified recommendations for sustaining and/or improving practice, including costs and time frames for implementation. Explain how you would present these to the identified stakeholders.

Further guidance on assessment method: Your report 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 where appropriate to present their findings.
• Conclusion (including recommendations for change)
• Reference list
  • Appendix if used i.e. information supporting their analysis but not essential to its explanation.

Evidence to be produced/required

A written business report for stakeholders of a 2,500 words (+/- 10%)

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).

UIN Learning Outcomes

Assessment Criteria

1      Understand the research process and different research approaches.

1.1 Summarise the stages of the research process and compare different data collection methods.

2      Be able to conduct a critical review of information sources in an area of HR/business practice and analyse the findings.

 2.1 Identify an area of HR practice for investigation.

 2.2 Conduct a critical review of different information sources relevant to the chosen area of HR/business practice.

3      Be able to draw meaningful conclusions and evaluate options for change.

3.1 Draw meaningful conclusions from the review and make justified recommendations for improvements in practice.

4      Know how to deliver clear, business-focused

4.1 Formulate a business report for identified