Unit 4.4 People in Organisations
Level 4 15 Credits
Sample Assignment
A medium sized local company, Century Ltd, has recently become aware of increasing problems with staff. They have noticed an increase in absenteeism, staff turnover as well as poor morale and a drop in sales.
The middle managers are all relatively inexperienced and the Managing Director has asked you to guide them so that they can review their own practices in order to help them establish the cause of their problems. He has asked you to provide a formal report that he may present to the board.
Your report will draw on your understanding of workplace practices and procedures and their impacts on the workforce. You will provide exemplification of current practices in a range of organisations.
Task 1 - Research
You will need to research workplace practices in order to gather information on:
- Communication practices including, communication policies and procedures, organisational charts and relevant legislation
- Team working practices and leadership styles. This should include remote working practices and how the remote workers are managed
- Support structures for staff, including HR department, policies and procedures
You may also wish to use organisations that you know well for example where you have been or are currently employed or where you work in a voluntary capacity. Or you may be able to gather some information through a workplace visit. You may be able to interview people, review documentation and observe working practices to gather information. Alternativelyyou can carry out desk research using company reports, press releases and the company website or other parts of the internet particularly related to HRM.
Task 2 - Report
Prepare a formal report for the Managing Director of Century Ltd... This will be a substantial piece of work in which you present theories and best practice with exemplification from the organisations you have researched.
You must make sure you include the following sections in your report:
Report Section A - Communication practices
I. An analysis of the benefits of effective communication (AC 1.1)
II. The policies and procedures that are used to enhance communication within organisations (AC 1.2) with examples from the organisations you have researched (AC 5.1)
III. An outline of legislation relevant to communication within organisations (AC 1.3)and their impacts on people within organisations (AC 5.1)
IIII. An evaluation of how organisational structures impacts on the communicationmethods used (AC 1.4) with examples (AC5.1)
Report Section B - Teamwork
Consider theories of teamwork and provide examples of best practice with which you are familiar. Include
I. An assessment of the benefits of teamwork (AC 2.1) to both individuals’ and employees and to the organisations. Are these benefits apparent in the organisations you have researched (AC 5.1)
II. An analysis of why teams might fail to meet their objectives (AC 2.2). Where possible, provide examples (AC 5.1).
III. An evaluation of the impact of leadership styles on teamwork (AC 2.3) with examples (AC 5.1)
Report Section C - remote working
Consider the issues associated with remote working, providing examples of best practice with which you are familiar. Include
I. An explanation of the different ways in which people work ‘remotely’ (AC 3.1An evaluation of common working practices used by those working remotely with examples of appropriate use in different contexts (AC 3.2)
II. An analysis of leadership styles appropriate for remote working (AC 3.3) and an assessment of those used in organisations you have researched (AC 5.1)
Report Section D - Support structures
Consider the support structures designed to support people within workplaces, providing examples of best practice with which you are familiar and the organisation you have researched. Include
I. An explanation of how Human Resource departments can provide support to people within the workplace (AC 4.1)
II. An assessment of the policies and procedures designed to support people (AC 4.2)
III. An assessment of practices used to support people in the workplace (AC 4.3, AC 5.1)
Report Section E - recommendations
Based on your knowledge and understanding of workplace practices- theory and practice - make recommendations to improve staff and managers’experience of the workplace (AC 5.2)
Guidelines for assessors
The assignments submitted by students must achieve the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by the assessment criteria for the unit. The suggested evidence listed below is how students can demonstrate that they have met the required standard.
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Task
number
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Assessment criteria
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Suggested evidence
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1.
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Notes from research
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2.
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1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
2.1, 2.2, 2.3
3.1, 3.2, 3.3
4.1, 4.2, 4.3
5.1
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A well-structured formal report in a style
appropriate for a Managing Director. The
report will address the requirements of all of
the command verbs. Through the examples
of workplace practices used in organisations
the learner will be able to develop a selection
of recommendations to improve staff and
managers’ experience of the workplace.
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3
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5.2
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Report
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