HRT & Human Resource Management – MBA Assignment Pointers

MBA TOP UP – (Falcons), Subject: HRT & Human Resource Management – Assignment Pointers.

Q: Discuss and critically evaluate the view that, in a globalised economy, an organisation must ensure that it recruits and retains the most skilled, qualified and talented staff possible.

Recruitment on merit and objective measures is a key feature of HRM

Retention: Some key stands within HRM perspectives and characteristics

  • Motivate (Engagement Theory)
  • Develop (Human Capital Theory)
  • Reward on contribution (HPWS)
  • Flexibility ( contracts/ Hours)

Most skilled, qualified and talented suggests:

  • Effective recruitment selection
  • Performance Appraisal / (HPWS)
  • Portfolio management of the Human Resource. (Beardwell and Claydon p372 5 Ed.) I.e. Get rid of dead wood (Dogs), Support your high potential problem children with additional guidance e.g. coaching (? marks), Invest strongly in your rising stars (Current high potential and high performance) and maintain your workhorses- experienced / plateaued managers by using them on special projects and as mentors. (Cash cows )
  • N.B Employee development means investing in all to maintain the operation and to motivate and reward.
  • Effective job related training and development and management of a diversified workforce
  • Talent management

Generic:

Impacts of these issues on key functions of HRM: Acquire, Retain, Develop and Redeploy and the CIPD Partnership model.

N.B. Be aware of Strategic HRM and some contradictions in the various perspectives on HRM and its evolution. E.g. Engagement vs. HPWS (See Armstrong; Beardwell and Claydon)

You should consider: 

The concept of ‘globalisation’

The increasing diversity of the workforce

The changing nature of the workplace 

This assignment forms 100% of your overall mark for this module.

Core texts:

Use essay or report format

  • · Guide length: 2,500 words (excluding references) 

Marking Criteria

1. Evidence of background reading, research. 15%

2. Use and application of academic theories, models, quotes, etc 20%

3. Discussion, evaluation and analysis of key topic areas as listed 35%

4. Validity of conclusions and recommendations 20%

5. Sound presentation in required format 10%

Introduction

Overview of HRM and global environment and economic conditions prevailing in UK and any specific sector and company you may be looking at. 

Main body

What is HRM? Address evolution and key perspectives/ strands within it and HRM generic core characteristics. 

Explain HRM functions and levels 

Define diversity and its context. Explore impact on HRM functions 

Diversity drivers: Competitive advantage via better ideas; recognition, motivation and engagement of talent; representative of stakeholder groups and EQ. The need to comply with the law. N.B Difference between Diversity and  EQ 

Consider diversity impacts in brief on key HRM functions ( Acquire, Retain, Develop and Redeploy) 

Focus in on one or two HRM systems and apply analysis in depth relating to globalisation, diversity and key HRM perspectives e.g.  Performance appraisal (HRPS) 

If applied to recruitment and selection: 

Diversity includes:

  • Having an appropriate diversity policy
  • Advertisement content and tone welcoming a diverse workforce.
  • Attracting candidates from different groupings and having an outward looking mentality
  • Considering people from non-standard backgrounds
  • Drawing up questions that don’t discriminate on cultural and other grounds and assessing diversity issues at interview.
  • Using objective and culturally sensitive screening and selections criteria and tests
  • Training managers in carrying out interviews and to be aware of diversity issues
  • Inducting people well to deal with cultural differences and awareness of diversity issues 

Conclusions / Recommendations

This means returning to the question, summarizing the key literature points and core issues and your findings. Recommendations are key action points relative to the conclusions and evidence presented in the main body. 

General:

  • Use Harvard based in-text referencing.
  • It is possible to use appendices for documents and surveys etc that would spoil the flow of the essay or report. Make sure you summarise the key elements in the main body and make an in text reference to it in the main body.
  • Utilise core texts and research articles. Do not just stick to the ones I gave. Put your own stamp on it. This is only my interpretation; you should interpret the question from your informed research as well.
  • If possible, you can utilise, interviews and surveys. Make sure you follow good practice.
  • Utilise mini-case examples, but be sure to evaluate these against theory to show good / poor practice.
  • Utilise CIPD website.
  • Define, explain, compare and contrast theory and then draw conclusions per subject/topic area.
  • DON’T Plagiarise.

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