Assignment

Faculty Name: Commerce and Law

Module Code: COHRA1-B22
Module Name: Human Resource Management 1
Module Leader: Anna Cloete
Internal Moderator: JP Wessels
Copy Editor: Ingrid Viljoen
Total Marks: 100
Submission Date: 20 June 2022, 16:00
This module is presented on NQF level 5.
5% will be deducted from the student’s assignment mark for each calendar day the assignment is
submitted late, up to a maximum of three calendar days.
Assignments submitted later than three calendar days after the deadline or not submitted will get
0%.1
This is a group assignment.
Groups should consist of 3–5 members.

This assignment contributes 30% towards the final mark.

Instructions to Student
1. Please ensure that your answer file (where applicable) is named as follows before
submission: Module Code – Assessment Type – Campus Name – Student Number.
Kindly note only one member per groups submits the assignment on myLMS.
2. Remember to keep a copy of all submitted assignments.
3. All work must be typed.
4. Please note that you will be evaluated on your writing skills in all your assignments.

1
Under no circumstances will assignments be accepted for marking after the assignments of other students have been marked and returned to
the students.
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Eduvos (Pty) Ltd (formerly Pearson Institute of Higher Education) is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private
higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 101, of 1997. Registration Certificate number: 2001/HE07/008
5. All work must be submitted through Turnitin.2 The full originality report will be automatically
generated and available for the lecturer to assess. Negative marking will be applied if you
are found guilty of plagiarism, poor writing skills, or if you have applied incorrect or
insufficient referencing. (See the table at the end of this document where the application of
negative marking is explained.)
6. You are not allowed to offer your work for sale or to purchase the work of other students.
This includes the use of professional assignment writers and websites, such as Essay Box.
If this should happen, Eduvos reserves the right not to accept future submissions from you.
7. Group participation percentage needs to be 100% for students to all receive the final group
mark. Students who did not contribute equally will get a mark less than 100% based on their
participation percentage, this will result in a student getting a different mark, less than the
final group mark.

Assignment Format
You must fulfil the requirements when writing and submitting assignments as follows:
• Use Arial, font size 12.
• Include a title page, a table of contents, and page numbers.
• Include the completed Assessment/Project Coversheet (available on myLMS).
• Write no more than the maximum word limit.
• Ensure any diagrams, screenshots, and PowerPoint presentations fit on the page, is clear and
are referenced correctly.
• Use the correct referencing method throughout the assignment.
• Include a bibliography based on the applicable referencing method at the end of the
assignment.
• Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Run the assignment through Turnitin software.

Essential Embedded Knowledge and Skills Required of Students

• Report-writing skills
• Ability to analyse scenarios/case studies
• Understanding of subject field concepts and definitions
• Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to propose solutions to real-world problems
• Referencing skills

2 Refer to the Eduvos Policy for Intellectual Property, Copyright and Plagiarism Infringement, which is available on myLMS.

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Resource Requirements
• A device with internet access for research
• A desktop or personal computer for typing assignments
• Access to a library or resource centre
• Prescribed reading resources

Delivery Requirements (evidence to be presented by students)

• A typed assignment3
• A Turnitin originality report

Minimum Reference Requirements

At least five references for first year are required.

Additional reading is required to complete this assignment successfully. You need to include the
following additional information sources:
• Printed textbooks/e-books
• Printed/online journal articles
• Academic journals in electronic format accessed via ProQuest or other databases
• Periodical articles, e.g., business magazine articles
• Information or articles from relevant websites
• Other information sources, e.g., geographic information (maps), census reports, interviews

Note
• It is crucial that students reference all consulted information sources by means of in-text
referencing and a bibliography, according to the applicable referencing method.
• Negative marking will be applied if a student commits plagiarism, i.e., using information from
information sources without acknowledgement of and reference to the original source.
• In such cases, negative marking, also known as ‘penalty scoring’, is the practice of
subtracting marks for insufficient/incorrect referencing.
• Consult the table at the end of this document, which outlines how negative marking will be
applied as well as the way in which it will affect the assignment mark.

3 Refer to the Conditions of Enrolment for more guidance (available on myLMS).

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Section A

Learning Objective
Human Resource Management is a crucial point for organisations in the management of their
employees. The objectives of this assignment include exposure of students to aspects relating to
our current business environment (LO1/LO5). It also encourages students to investigate aspects
related to individual differences and abilities among employees. (LO2)

Assignment Topic
Investigate stress within the workplace, as well as individual differences and abilities among
employees.

Scope
Students need to research the causes of stress in organisations, the moderators, the
consequences of stress, as well as individual and organisational coping strategies. After
completing this essay, individual differences, mechanical abilities, and the evaluation of their own
mechanical abilities, as well as emotional intelligence will be researched and applied to everyday
situations.

Technical Aspects
Apply technical aspects as described previously in this document.

Marking Criteria
Clear evidence of student engagement is expected.

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Question 1 50 Marks

Study the scenario and complete the question that follows:

COVID-19 Stress Among Your Workers? Healthy Work Design and Well-Being Solutions Are
Critical

Experiencing an infectious disease outbreak can cause fear, anxiety, and stress. Along with
overwhelming uncertainty and new behavioural ‘norms’ (e.g., cloth face covering or mask wearing,
physical distancing), the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we meet our daily needs, how we
socially interact, and whether, how, and where we work. Millions of workers have lost their jobs. Some
workers have continued to report to a physical workplace, while others have transitioned to full-time
telework, and for many, the demands of work have changed or intensified. The nature of each situation
is unique, but undoubtedly some of these changes are contributing to increasing levels of economic
insecurity and occupational stress.

Source: Adapted from: Nigam, J.A.S., Streit. J.M.K., Tapas, K.R. & Swanson, N. 2020. COVID-19 Stress Among Your Workers? Healthy Work
Design and Well-Being Solutions Are Critical. NIOSH Science Blog. Web log post. 12 June. [Online] Available at: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-
science-blog/2020/06/12/covid-19-stress/ [Accessed on: 26 January 2022]

Write an essay, exploring the concept of ‘workplace-stress’, with special reference to Covid-19.
Ensure that the essay meets the requirements as provided in the rubric in Section B. Pay
attention to the sources used for research and application to the concepts. Use at least three (3)
credible sources when answering this question. 50 Marks

End of Question 1

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Question 2 40 Marks

2.1 Selection and placement has always been an important element within the field of Human
Resource Management. It is important to select individuals who have the work potential to
fit into the job.
Investigate the possible dimensions related to differences in work potential within the
context of the current South African environment. (12 Marks)

2.2 Emotional intelligence is deemed of more importance than rational intelligence for leaders
and managers. Conduct research and identify world leaders or influencers that, according
to your opinion, have displayed some of these characteristics as depicted by Goleman’s
model. Provide clear examples. Make sure to address all the characteristics as depicted by
Goleman’s model even if more than one world leader or influence must be researched to
achieve this. (15 Marks)

2.3 Abilities within an organisation are related to an individual’s performance as well as the
organisation’s attainment of goals. To investigate this further, answer the following
questions:
a. Discuss the concept of mechanic abilities as it relates to human abilities. (6 Marks)
b. Each group number should do the following mechanical abilities test:
123test®. n.d. Mechanical reasoning test. [Online] Available at:
https://www.123test.com/mechanical-reasoning-test/ [Accessed on: 10 May 2022].
Insert a print screen of each member’s total score received into the assignment. Each
member of the group should interpret their results with special reference to individual
differences that had an influence on their overall scores. (5 Marks)
c. From all the responses, identify the individual whom you might appoint as a supervisor
overseeing a mechanical workshop if you are a Human Resource Manager. Support
your answer with the evidence from the mechanical abilities test results. (2 Marks)
[Sub Total 13 Marks]

End of Question 2

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Section B

Marking Rubric
Introduction
Criteria 0–1 2–3 4–5
• State the aim and scope No aim and Aim and scope Satisfactory and
• Define the topic that will be scope given given but can be met required
discussed elaborated or on expectations
corrected
Mark allocated: ____/5
Body of the essay
Criteria 0–2 2–3 4–5
• Logical order of the information Not done or Satisfactory and Above average,
lack of basic met required excellent
information expectation
Criteria 0–5 5–10 10–15
• Quality of the content – Value Not done or Satisfactory and Above average,
clearly determined lack of basic met required excellent
information expectation All needed
information
included

Criteria 0–5 5–10 10–15

• Understanding of the topic – Not done or Satisfactory and Above average,
Workplace stress lack of basic met required excellent
• Includes: information expectation All needed
o Causes of stress information
o Moderators of stress included
o Effects of stress
o Coping strategies
o Application on each aspect to
Covid
o Examples provided
Mark allocated: ____/35

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 Conclusion
Criteria 0–1 2–3 4–5
Indicate your own perspectives and Not done or Satisfactory and Above average,
new insight based on the essay lack of basic met required excellent. All
information expectation needed
information
included

Mark allocated: __/5

Bibliography
Criteria 0–1 2–3 4–5
Consulted at least 3 sources Minimum Used less than Used 3 sources
Correctly referenced these sources in adherence to 3 sources Correctly
text and in bibliography requirements Inconsistencies referenced in
in referencing text and in
and bibliography bibliography
Mark allocated: ___/5
Question 1 subtotal ___/50
Question 2 subtotal ___/40
Mark Allocation for overall presentation of assignment

Criteria Description Mark allocation

Table of content • Correct table of content ___/2

• Alphabetical list of references not

used in essay
• Correct referencing for different
Bibliography ___/5
sources
• Number and quality of works
consulted

• Page numbers
Overall • Headings and sub-headings
___/3
Presentation • Numbering
• Length

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 • Language and grammar

Total ___/10

GRAND TOTAL FOR ASSIGNMENT ___/100

Participation penalties (Participation

If Applicable: % × Group mark) = Individual ___/100
student’s final mark

Negative marking penalty ___/100

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Section C

Plagiarism and Referencing

Eduvos places high importance on honesty in academic work submitted by students and adopts
a zero-tolerance policy on cheating and plagiarism. In academic writing, any source material, e.g.
journal articles, books, magazines, newspapers, reference material (dictionaries), or online
resources (websites, electronic journals, or online newspaper articles), must be properly
acknowledged. Failure to acknowledge such material is considered plagiarism; this is deemed an
attempt to mislead and deceive the reader and is unacceptable.

Eduvos adopts a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism; therefore, any submitted assessment that
has been plagiarised will be subject to severe penalties. Students who are found guilty of
plagiarism may be subject to disciplinary procedures, and outcomes may include suspension
from the institution or even expulsion. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to familiarise
themselves with referencing techniques for academic work. Students can access the Eduvos
referencing guides on myLMS.

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Negative Marking

First-year Students
• A minimum of 5 additional credible sources must be consulted and correctly cited as per the
Eduvos referencing guides.
• First-year students are given an opportunity to consult with the lecturer and the academic
support office with a draft before the final submission date.
• Markers must apply the penalties for Category A for insufficient sources and incorrect
referencing style.
• To determine the actual overall similarity percentage and plagiarism, markers must interpret
the Turnitin Originality Report with reference to credible sources used and then apply the
penalties as per the scale in the Policy for Intellectual Property, Copyright and Plagiarism
Infringement.
• The similarity report alone is not an assessment of whether work has or has not been
plagiarised. Careful examination of both the submitted paper/assignment/project and the
suspect sources must be done.

Category A
Minimum Reference Requirements Deduction from Final Mark
a. No additional credible sources have been used or
5%
referenced.
b. One additional information source has been used and
4%
referenced.
c. Two additional information sources have been used and
3%
referenced.
d. Three additional information sources have been used and
2%
referenced.
e. Four additional information sources have been used and
1%
referenced.
f. Poor spelling, grammar, and sentence construction. 1–3%

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