LONDON SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDIES

ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management

Module: Strategic Resource Management

Assignment

JUNE 2013 SESSION

DUE DATE: Thursday, 9th January 2014, 5:00 PM

ONE HARD COPY must be submitted by hand to the Academics Office, Cheam Campus, by the above deadline ONE ELECTRONIC COPY must be emailed to academics@lsasuk.com by the above deadline You must read the associated Assignment Guidelines including those on Plagiarism

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Assignment Questions
SCENARIO Tesco is one of the largest retailers in the world and a leading supermarket in UK. Tescos core business in the UK is retailing which provides 60% of all sales and its profit. Tesco operates using four strategic business units - Core UK, which handles United Kingdom grocery operations, International, which handles international holdings, Non-Food, which handles sales of electronics, home goods and other non-food items sold in Tesco Extra and other stores, and Retailing Services, which manages financial services, the Tesco.com web site, and Tesco Telecoms services (Tesco, 2008). (http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_18_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzE4L2Z1b GwucGRmfHw=) You have recently applied for the job of Resource Manager at Tesco and you along with 3 other candidates have been successfully shortlisted for the role. All four of you have been invited to an Assessment Centre which involves completing a series of tasks/assignments below designed to analyse Tesco as a company and assess your knowledge of Strategic Resource Management. The candidate that successfully completes each of the tasks will be hired as the Resource Manager. Task 1: Investigate how human resource management contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives AND strategy. Then analyse the effectiveness of Tescos HRM strategies in supporting its overall organisational strategy. Note: HRM Strategies include recruitment and selection, training and development, reward and recognition. These different HRM Strategies should be linked to the organizational strategy and purpose. First you need to understand the organisational strategy of Tesco, and then investigate its HR strategy, then analyse the HRs effectiveness for achieving the organisational strategy. (http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_13_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzEzL2Z1b GwucGRmfHw=) AC 1.1., 1.2, 2.4 Task 2: Human resource planning is a core function of HRM in any organization. Appraise the process that Tesco uses to plan for its HR requirements. Note: While Appraising the Tesco HR Planning Process both internal and external factors must be taken into account. Successful Planning requires a complete environmental scanning (http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)1/Version_3/H0216368.pdf) AC 1.3 Task 3: Learning organisations always emphasise the need for continuous engagement and development of their employees.

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Critically assess the different employee development techniques used at Tesco and evaluate how these HR techniques ensure employee engagement in the business. Also evaluate how recruitment and selection strategies are used at Tesco, and how they support the overall organisational strategy. Note: Different employee development techniques like Coaching, Training and Mentoring can be considered. Moreover the concept of managing people or people performance can be linked in this scenario. Discussing different retention and employee engagement techniques specifically by the organization can be very helpful. (http://www.cpdopportunity.com/resources/delivering%20success%20tesco.pdf) AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4

Task 4 An effective physical resource strategy supports the strategic management of the business. A recent piece of research shows that a competitive physical resource strategy helps an organisation achieve its strategic objectives and it develops a partnering environment for the employees creating an overall value for the business and its customers. i. Critically evaluate the purpose of a physical resource management strategy in Tesco and appraise at least two processes Tesco may use (or is using) to plan the requirements for its physical resource management strategy

ii. Investigate how the physical resource management process at Tesco helps it to achieve its organisational objectives. NOTE: To respond to the above task you will need to first understand what is the physical resource management strategy of Tesco. The following Aspects can be consider while making physical resource analysis: What is the use of the resources to deliver outputs? Output delivered within allocated resource Waste minimisation Ensuring resource efficiency

(http://www.acquaint.me.uk/SOW/SE/A-Marway_M1.pdf) (http://www.tescoplc.com/files/pdf/reports/tesco_and_society_2013_ipad.pdf) AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 Task 5 Assuming the market share of Tesco is falling. You are liaising with the Director of Marketing for Tesco. You have both decided to launch an aggressive new marketing initiative to increase sales and profit. i. Investigate AND then Critically evaluate how marketing activities (e.g. Market segmentation, Buyer behaviour, Branding, Product positioning and Marketing mix) can help achieve Tescos objectives of increasing sales and profit

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ii. Systematically appraise at least two processes (e.g. Product strategy, Price strategy, Relationship marketing, logistics and Ethical issues in marketing) that Tesco may use (or is using) to develop its markets. Supporting resources:

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/brands/tesco/
http://elearning.sbta.com.au/www/content/lessons/2242/Marketing%20entry%20plan%20for%20Tesco%20in %20Switzerland.pdf AC 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 Task 6 Information technology has proven to be a source of revolutionary change in any organisation, for example online business, where Tesco was the first supermarket in 1996 to launch home shopping online. In addition, for most businesses, there are a variety of requirements for information. Senior managers need information to help with their business planning, middle management needs more detailed information to help them monitor and control business activities, etc. As a result, businesses tend to have several "information systems" operating at the same time. (Jim Riley, 2012). Large global business further need their businesses to be managed a standard IT system and so companies such as Tesco use the software of external companies. Critically evaluate the role of information systems management at Tesco and investigate how at least two systems are helping Tesco achieve its organisational objectives. Moreover, appraise the processes that Tesco has used to plan its information systems requirements. Note: ICT, Tesco Online Sales, Tesco Club Cards, Tesco Self Check Counters and other different technological aspects can be considered in order to assess the role of information technology in organisational development and achievements.

Supporting resource(s): http://www.tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_information_system_types.htm http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/people/staff/udf/CO321_assess1/Class5Group4/infoprod.html http://www.cio.co.uk/news/strategy/technology-helps-tesco-beat-crunch/

AC 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Mapping to Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Assignment Marks: PASS or FAIL. There are no grades. SCENARIO
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Tesco is one of the largest retailers in the world and a leading supermarket in UK. Tescos core business in the UK is retailing which provides 60% of all sales and its profit. Tesco operates using four strategic business units - Core UK, which handles United Kingdom grocery operations, International, which handles international holdings, Non-Food, which handles sales of electronics, home goods and other non-food items sold in Tesco Extra and other stores, and Retailing Services, which manages financial services, the Tesco.com web site, and Tesco Telecoms services (Tesco, 2008). (http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_18_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzE4L2Z1b GwucGRmfHw=) You have recently applied for the job of Resource Manager at Tesco and you along with 3 other candidates have been successfully shortlisted for the role. All four of you have been invited to an Assessment Centre which involves completing a series of tasks/assignments below designed to analyse Tesco as a company and assess your knowledge of Strategic Resource Management. The candidate that successfully completes each of the tasks will be hired as the Resource Manager.

Question Assignment Topic

Task 1: Investigate how human resource management contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives AND strategy. Then analyse the effectiveness of Tescos HRM strategies in supporting its overall organisational strategy. Note: HRM Strategies include recruitment and selection, training and development, reward and recognition. These different HRM Strategies should be linked to the organizational strategy and purpose. First you need to understand the organisational strategy of Tesco, and then investigate its HR strategy, then analyse the HRs effectiveness for achieving the organisational strategy. (http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retri eve_tesco_13_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaW VzLzEzL2Z1bGwucGRmfHw=) AC 1.1., 1.2, 2.4 Task 2: Human resource planning is a core function of HRM in any organization. Appraise the process that Tesco uses to plan for its HR requirements. Note: While Appraising the Tesco HR Planning Process both internal and external factors must be taken into account. Successful Planning

Learning outcome LO1. Understand the role of human resource management in supporting business strategy

Assessment Criteria 1.1 Investigate how human resource management contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives 1.2 Critically evaluate the role of human resource management within an organisation 1.3 Appraise the processes that an organisation uses to plan its human resource requirements

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requires a complete environmental scanning (http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)1/Version_ 3/H0216368.pdf) AC 1.3 Task 3: Learning organisations always LO2. Know how to emphasise the need for continuous engagement develop human resources in organisations and development of their employees. Critically assess the different employee development techniques used at Tesco and evaluate how these HR techniques ensure employee engagement in the business. Also evaluate how recruitment and selection strategies are used at Tesco, and how they support the overall organisational strategy. Note: Different employee development techniques like Coaching, Training and Mentoring can be considered. Moreover the concept of managing people or people performance can be linked in this scenario. Discussing different retention and employee engagement techniques specifically by the organization can be very helpful. (http://www.cpdopportunity.com/resources/deli vering%20success%20tesco.pdf) AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 Task 4 An effective physical resource strategy supports the strategic management of the business. A recent piece of research shows that a competitive physical resource strategy helps an organisation achieve its strategic objectives and it develops a partnering environment for the employees creating an overall value for the business and its customers. i. Critically evaluate the purpose of a physical resource management strategy in Tesco and appraise at least two processes Tesco may use (or is using) to plan the requirements for its physical resource management strategy
Page 6 of 10 LO3. Understand the role of physical resource management in supporting business strategy 3.1 Investigate how physical resource management contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives 3.2 Critically evaluate the role of physical resource management within an organisation 3.3 Systematically appraise the processes that an organisation uses to plan its physical requirements 2.1 Evaluate the recruitment and retention strategies used in an organisation 2.2 Critically assess the techniques that are used for employee development in an organisation 2.3 Evaluate the contribution of human resource development techniques in ensuring employee engagement 2.4 Systematically analyse the effectiveness of human resource management strategies in supporting organisational strategy AC 2.4 is covered in Question 1

ii. Investigate how the physical resource management process at Tesco helps it to achieve its organisational objectives. NOTE: To respond to the above task you will need to first understand what is the physical resource management strategy of Tesco. The following Aspects can be consider while making physical resource analysis: What is the use of the resources to deliver outputs? Output delivered within allocated resource Waste minimisation Ensuring resource efficiency

(http://www.acquaint.me.uk/SOW/SE/AMarway_M1.pdf) (http://www.tescoplc.com/files/pdf/reports/tesco _and_society_2013_ipad.pdf) AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 Task 5 Assuming the market share of Tesco is falling. You are liaising with the Director of Marketing for Tesco. You have both decided to launch an aggressive new marketing initiative to increase sales and profit. i. Investigate AND then Critically evaluate how marketing activities (e.g. Market segmentation, Buyer behaviour, Branding, Product positioning and Marketing mix) can help achieve Tescos objectives of increasing sales and profit
LO4. Understand the role of marketing in supporting business strategy 4.1 Investigate how marketing activities contribute to the achievement of organisational objectives 4.2 Critically evaluate the role of marketing operations within an organisation 4.3 Systematically appraise the processes that an organisation uses to develop its markets

ii. Systematically appraise at least two processes (e.g. Product strategy, Price strategy, Relationship marketing, logistics and Ethical issues in marketing) that Tesco may use (or is using) to develop its markets. Supporting resources:
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http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/brands/tes co/
http://elearning.sbta.com.au/www/content/lesso ns/2242/Marketing%20entry%20plan%20for%2 0Tesco%20in%20Switzerland.pdf AC 4.1, 4.2, 4.3

Task 6 Information technology has proven to be a source of revolutionary change in any organisation, for example online business, where Tesco was the first supermarket in 1996 to launch home shopping online. In addition, for most businesses, there are a variety of requirements for information. Senior managers need information to help with their business planning, middle management needs more detailed information to help them monitor and control business activities, etc. As a result, businesses tend to have several "information systems" operating at the same time. (Jim Riley, 2012). Large global business further need their businesses to be managed a standard IT system and so companies such as Tesco use the software of external companies. Critically evaluate the role of information systems management at Tesco and investigate how at least two systems are helping Tesco achieve its organisational objectives. Moreover, appraise the processes that Tesco has used to plan its information systems requirements. Note: ICT, Tesco Online Sales, Tesco Club Cards, Tesco Self Check Counters and other different technological aspects can be considered in order to assess the role of information technology in organisational development and achievements.

LO5.Understand the role of information systems management in supporting business strategy

5.1 Investigate how information systems management contributes to the achievement of organisational objectives 5.2 Critically evaluate the role of information systems management within an organisation 5.3 Systematically appraise the processes that an organisation uses to plan its information systems requirements

Supporting resource(s): http://www.tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_in

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formation_system_types.htm http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/people/staff/udf/C O321_assess1/Class5Group4/infoprod.html http://www.cio.co.uk/news/strategy/technol ogy-helps-tesco-beat-crunch/

AC 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Meaning of Command Words Used in Assignment Questions

The command words in an assignment question indicate to students the nature of the answer they should give, and also give an indication of the skills being tested. Below are some examples of command words and what the mean. Students should answer their question accordingly.

Command Word
Analyse

Meaning
Here you need to provide a detailed comparison of the causes and effects of how something has happened / developed. Wherever possible use examples, especially if the stimulus material has some within it. Sometimes the word "critically" is inserted before analyse. This means that you must make suggestions as to why / why not something would / would not, in your opinion, be appropriate to the issue being analysed. As ever, it's best to offer support to your findings/opinions. Make an idea, situation or problem clear (to someone) by describing it in detail revealing relevant data or facts. Explain (why) This needs a detailed response with reasons about HOW something will, for example, benefit or improve a particular situation. Explain (how) This needs a detailed response that gives reasons WHY something might help / hinder the central issue of the question. You are being asked to judge / assess /, using whatever information is available, the probable outcome / worth / advantages / disadvantages / success of whatever is central to the question. Form an idea of the amount, number, or value of someone or something.

Explain

Evaluate

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Assess Discuss

Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something This asked for a DETAILED explanation considering the possible outcomes and where possible offering support to your descriptions. Think carefully about something, typically before making a decision Establish or indicate the origin, nature or definitive character of something Show or prove why something is right/reasonable or wrong/unreasonable. This calls for you to explain why or give reasons for why something should happen or not happen. A general plan giving the essential features but not the detail. Only the main features or general principles of something. Give an account in words of (someone or something such as a theory) including all of the relevant characteristics, qualities or events. Estimate, measure or note the similarity or dissimilarity between one thing and another(compare something to) draw an analogy between one thing and another for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Apply your knowledge of, say the marketing mix, to a particular situation. You need to relate your specific knowledge of the syllabus area to the situation you have been given. Inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine the nature or condition. The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association. Put forward for a/your view point for consideration. Cause one to think that (something) exists or is the case. You must give the PRECISE meaning of what you are being asked. State or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of something

Consider Identify Justify Outline Describe Compare

Apply Examine Contrast Suggest Define

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