BPP Coursework Cover Sheet

Please use the table below as your cover sheet for the 1 st page of the
submission. The sheet should be before the cover/title page of your submission.
BSc Business Management and Business
Programme

Management with Finance

Module name

Human Resource Management.

QAA Level

Level 4

Schedule Term

Summer 2016

Student Reference Number

(SRN)
Human Resource Management Case Study
Report/Assignment Title

Assessment

Date of Submission
(Please attach the confirmation
of any extension received)

Declaration of Original Work:

I hereby declare that I have read and understood BPPs regulations on plagiarism
and that this is my original work, researched, undertaken, completed and submitted
in accordance with the requirements of BPP Business School.
The word count, excluding contents table, bibliography and appendices, is 2000
words.
Student Reference Number: xxxxxx

Date:

xx/xx/xxxx
By submitting this coursework you agree to all rules and regulations of BPP
regarding assessments and awards for programmes. Please note, submission
is your declaration you are fit to sit.
BPP University reserves the right to use all submitted work for educational
purposes and may request that work be published for a wider audience.
BPP Business School

BSc Management with Streams

BSc Business
Management
BSc Business Management with Finance

Human Resource Management

Coursework Assessment Brief
Summer Term 2016
Submission deadline: 23.59hrs on Tuesday 16th
August 2016
Submission mode: Turnitin online access

1. General Assessment Guidance

Your summative assessment for Human Resource Management is a

Coursework submission.
The deadline for submission is 23.59 hrs on Tuesday 16th August 2016
You are required to submit your assessment via Turnitin online access. Only
submissions made via the specified mode will be accepted and hard copies or
any other digital form of submissions (like via email or pen drive etc.) will not
be accepted.

For coursework, the submission word limit is 2000 words. You must comply
with the word count guidelines. You may submit LESS than 2000 words but
not more. Tables, diagrams, bibliography, appendices, annex and headings
are NOT included within word count calculations. You must specify total word
count on the front page of your report.

For coursework, please use font size 12 for body text and the typeface (font)

should be Arial or Times New Roman with minimum 1.5 spacing.

For headers and titles, please use font size 14. Your submission must have

standard margins and page numbers.

Please use English (UK) as your language in the submission.
Do not put your name or contact details anywhere on your submission. You
should only put your student identification number (SRN) which will ensure

your submission is recognised in the marking process.

A total of 100 marks are available for this module assessment and you are

required to achieve minimum 40% to pass this module.

You are required to use only Harvard Referencing System in your submission.
Any content which is already published by other author(s) and is not
referenced will be considered as a case of plagiarism.
You can find further information on Harvard Referencing in the online library
on the VLE. You can use the following link to access this
information:
http://my.bpp.com/vle/mod/data/view.php?
d=223&rid=596

BPP University has a strict policy regarding plagiarism

and in proven instances of plagiarism or collusion,
severe punishment will be imposed on offenders. You

are advised to read the rules and regulations regarding plagiarism and
collusion in the GAR and MOPP which are available on VLE in the Academic

registry section.
You should include a completed copy of the Assignment Cover sheet. Any
submission without this completed Assignment Cover sheet will be considered
invalid and not marked.

2. Assessment Brief
2.1.

Case Study

Connectacom:
Connectacom is a European telecom company that has interests and employs
staff in 10 countries across the continent, so has a diverse range of employees. It
has recently sold a significant proportion of the company through two high profile
flotations on the London Stock Exchange. During the flotations, city analysts and
investors were impressed by Connectacoms strong leadership team and
comprehensive global strategy. It employs 800 people in total, with the majority
being based in London at the Head Office, where there is a large call centre. The
staff employed there are typically young and from a wide number of
backgrounds and heritages. The culture is demanding, with a strong focus on
delivering exceptional customer service, especially for the front line staff who
have specific targets to meet and are paid accordingly. There is no union
representation within Connectacom and management are experienced and long
serving technical experts that perhaps dont reflect the diversity of their teams.
The Human Resources department is seen as integral to the business and has a
good reputation with both managers and staff. However, the Head of Human
Resources in the UK, Amir Khan, has noticed that Connectacoms front line staff
rarely stay with the company for more than a year. Exit interviews have shown
that a high proportion of talented front line employees left the company because
they were not happy, for the duration of their employment, in the sales,
operations and administration departments.
Among the criticisms of these departments were:

the development of blame culture

no potential for promotion

unsociable environment

detached senior management

lack of resources provided by line managers

old-fashioned working conditions and attitudes to work

Khan is keen to stem the outflow of talented individuals since it is becoming a

point of contention with the board. The board feel that it is adversely affecting
performance and increasing training costs unnecessarily.
END OF CASE STUDY

2.2.

Questions

Q1. As Head of Human Resources, describe what sort of activities would Amir
Khan and his team be responsible for within Connecticom.
Q2. Explain what ethical issues might be a problem for Connecticom and what
the implications for each could be.
Q3. Evaluate how HR practices can create a positive work place for employees in
an organization.
Q4. Make HR focused recommendations to stop the flow of talent out of
Connecticom.

2.3.

Assessment Submission Structure

Your finished report should compromise:

BPP cover sheet, fully completed.

Title Page.
Table of Contents.
Introduction.
Q1. What does HRM do?
Q2. What are the ethical issues and implications?
Q3. How can HR have a positive impact on a workplace?
Q4. Recommendations x 3
References
Appendices (if required and only as necessary)

2.4.

Assessment Marking Scheme (Student Version)

The assignment is marked out of 100. The following table shows the mark
allocation and the approach required.
Assignment Part

Mark

Q1. As Head of Human

Resources, analyse what
sort of activities would
Amir Khan and his team

25

Analyse, using the module content as a

guide, key areas of HRM in an organization
like Connecticom. What would Amir Khan
and his team be delivering for the business.
Explain the range of areas you feel are
most important and what the role of the
Director and his HR team is within them.

be responsible for within

Connecticom.
Q2. Explain what ethical
issues might be a
problem for
Connecticom and

Approach

20

explain what the

The case study gives a number of points

made in the exit interviews conducted.
What ethical issues might there be that
could contribute to the problems faced by
staff in Connecticom and what are possible
implications other than them leaving?

implications for each

could be.
Q3. Evaluate how HR
practices can create a
positive work place for
employees in an
organization.
Q4. Make HR focused
recommendations to
stop the flow of talent
out of Connecticom.

Use of relevant
structure,
introduction,
contents tables and
Harvard referencing

20

25

10

Explain a range of examples from the wider

world of work (not just the case study)
about what types of HR activities and
actions can have a positive contribution to
a positive workplace for everyone.
Ensuring you dont duplicate your answers,
give 5 HRM focused recommendations on
what Amir Khan can do to stop the drain of
talent from the organisation? Remember to
justify your answers please.
For an excellent mark, students will use
Harvard referencing and clearly structure
their paper, with appropriate titles, subtitles
and a reference page.
The language used should be appropriate

to the academic context and business

communication as outlined, avoiding
colloquialisms informal terms and jargon.
Answers should be well balanced and HR
focused throughout.
Total

100

Appendix A - General Grading Criteria

PASS

FAIL

Criterion

80-100%

70-79%

60-69%

50-59%

40-49%

30-39%

0-29%

Knowledge
&
Understan
ding

(a) Thorough,
explicit
knowledge &
understanding
of the topic
with some
clear
understanding
of, and explicit
links to, some
aspects of a
wider field of
study.

(a) Very good

knowledge
and
understanding
of central
topic issues
explicitly
identified with
some
appreciation
of, and explicit
links to, a
wider field of
study.

(a) Good,
partially
implicit,
knowledge
and
understanding
of central
topic issues
with some
appreciation
of a wider field
of study.

(a) Evidence
of a sound
factual and/or
conceptual
knowledge
base and the
ability
accurately to
use
appropriate
terminology.

(a) Some
indications of
a limited
ability to
identify
appropriate
ideas,
concepts and
principles.

(a) Signs of an
emerging
knowledge
and
understanding
of topic issues
but unable
always to
select or apply
them
appropriately.

(a) Little
knowledge or
understanding
of any of the
central topic
issues with
numerous
factual errors
and use of a
great deal of
irrelevant
material.

(a)
Systematic
Understandi
ng

(b)
Emerging
thought

(b) Excellent
usage of
recent
emerging
thought
and/or
practices from
a range of
appropriate

(b) Application
of recent
emerging
thought or
practices from
the discipline

(b) Some clear

evidence of
the
application of
thoughts and
practices at
the forefront
of the

(b) Clear
evidence of an
understanding
of thoughts
and practices
at the
forefront of
the discipline.

(b) Some
evidence of
the
understanding
of the
thoughts and
practices
related to the
discipline
indicated.

(b) Not clear

or precise
understanding
of thoughts
and practices
related to the
required
discipline
indicated

(b)Significant
gaps in the
understanding
of practices
related to the
discipline
indicated

PASS
Criterion

80-100%

FAIL
70-79%

disciplines
Argument
(a) Analysis,
Synthesis &
Evaluation

(b)
Numerical
Analysis

(c)
Independent
Research

10

(a) Sustained
and fully
substantiated
analysis
including
contrary
perspectives.
(b) Numeric
analysis that
is complete
and free from
errors with
application of
methods that
may be
insightful or
original
(c) Evidence
of an
innovative or
original use of
extensive
personal

60-69%

50-59%

40-49%

30-39%

0-29%

(a) Some
ability to
analyse within
guiding
principles.
Some
evidence of
critical
thought.

(a) Largely
descriptive
but with some
limited
evidence of
significant
thought and
with a growing
awareness of
assumptions.

(a) Generally
descriptive
and
indecisive.

(b) Numeric
analysis that
is mostly
complete but
contains
errors that
have some
limited effect,
or methods
that are not
applied
wholly
appropriately

(b) Numeric
analysis that
is incomplete
or contains
errors which
have critical
effect, or
methods that
are applied
inappropriatel
y

(a) Wholly
descriptive
and
insignificant
with many
generalisation
s, assumptions
and illogical
claims.
Discussion
irrelevant to
the task set.

discipline
(a) High level
of awareness
and the
questioning of
assumptions.
(b) Numeric
analysis that
is complete
and mostly
free from
errors with
fluent and
appropriate
application of
methods.
(c) Substantial
research and
evidence of an
innovative use
of a wide
range of
personal
research with

(a) Ability to
analyse
drawing on a
range of
perspectives.
Some
questioning of
assumptions.
(b) Numeric
analysis that
is complete
and mostly
free from
errors with
relevant and
effective
application of
methods
(c) Clear
evidence of
considerable
personal
research and

(b) Numeric
analysis that
is complete
and mostly
free from
significant or
critical errors
with
appropriate
application of
methods.
(c)
Appropriate
use of a wide

May include
generalisation
s and
assumptions
and may lack
coherence.

(c) Over
reliance on

(b) Numeric
analysis is
almost nonexistent and
also incorrect
(c) Generally
only a very
restricted
range of
personal
research which

PASS
Criterion

Presentati
on
(a)
Structure

(b)
Referencing

11

FAIL

80-100%

70-79%

60-69%

50-59%

40-49%

30-39%

0-29%

research
which has
been
thoroughly
evaluated
conceptually

clear and
consistent
evaluation
conceptual

the use of a
diverse range
of appropriate
sources but
may contain
problems with
consistency in
the
conceptual
evaluation

range of
personal
research
which is
critically
evaluated for
key
conceptual
issues
although this
may not be
consistent
throughout

(c) Evidence
of a consistent
argument but
may have
weaknesses or
be
unconvincing.
Clear use of
information
gathered but
may not be
sufficient to
sustain he
argument.

very restricted
range of
personal or
secondary
research much
of which may
not be
evaluated and
may not be
directly
related to the
question or
area

is not
evaluated and
is not directly
related to the
question

(a) Excellent
structure and
presentation

(a) Excellent
structure and
presentation

(a) Good
structure and
presentation

(a) Adequate
structure and
presentation

(a) Adequate
structure and
presentation

(a) Poor
structure and
presentation

(b) Precise,
full and
appropriate
references
and notes.

(b) Precise,
full and
appropriate
references
and notes.

(c) Subtle use

of language

(c) Precise use

of language

(b) Full and

appropriate
references
and notes with
minor or
insignificant
errors

(b) Good
references
and notes with
minor or
insignificant
errors or
omissions

(b) Competent
references
and notes but
may contain
inconsistencie
s, errors or
omissions

(b) Poor
references
and notes with
multiple
inconsistencie
s, errors or
omissions

(a) Very poor

standard of
basic English.
Much more
care needed
with language
construction
and checking
of the text.
Very
imprecise/
non-academic
writing style.

PASS
Criterion
(c) Use of
Language

12

FAIL

80-100%

70-79%

60-69%

50-59%

40-49%

30-39%

0-29%

expressing a
high degree of
thought with
clarity and
precision to a
level
appropriate
for submission
for
publication.

expressing
complex
thought with
clarity,
accuracy and
precision
which furthers
and enhances
the argument

(c) Clear and

precise use of
language
allowing a
complex
argument to
be easily
understood
and followed

(c) Generally
clear use of
language
sufficient for
arguments to
be readily
understood
and followed

(c) Generally
understandabl
e use of
language but
significant
errors in
expression
affecting
overall clarity

(c) Serious
errors in the
use of
language
which makes
meaning
unclear or
imprecise

(b) Very
limited or nil
referencing
with numerous
errors and
omissions
(c) Extreme
errors in use of
language and
an extreme
lack of clarity