Assignment Brief Academic Year 2020-21

Module code Managing People Module leader: Denny Omoregie

and title:

Assignment Case Study Report 2,500 Words Assessment 100%

No. and type: weighting:

Submission Monday 10th January 2022 2pm Target feedback 3 weeks from the date of final
time and date: time and date: submission

Assignment task

The assignment requires a written report that provides a solution to a Human Resource contemporary
issue within a new business that has seen rapid growth within the first year of operating. The report must
include relevant models, theories, and concepts from which a solution will be offered.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your
achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1 Define theories, models and concepts relating to the study of human behaviour in the workplace;

LO 2 Demonstrate an understanding of how these theories can explain the way that people behave and
interact at work;

LO 3 Identify and explore the role of HRM in managing the employment relationship through policy and
practice.

Task requirements

OVERVIEW

Report, 2,500 words

As a recruitment and selection specialist consultant you are required to assess your clients’ current
recruitment and selection process to identify potential issues, and produce a report that uses relevant
models, theories, and concepts to provide a solution that will also increase productivity for the firm.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK – WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO?

Case Study Report - 2,500-word document 100% weighting

“Strategic resourcing is a key part of strategic human resource management i.e., matching human
resources to the strategic and operational requirements of the organisation and ensuring the full utilization
of those resources. It is concerned with not only obtaining and keeping the number and quality of staff
required but also with selecting ... people who ‘fit’ the culture and strategic requirements of the
organization.” (Armstrong, 2012. P.204)

According to Fels (2020) many new businesses that experience rapid growth can experience unexpected
problems, two of the most common are operational inefficiency due to poorly trained staff, and employees
being overworked and getting ready to leave.

FarmBox is a company who grow and distribute fresh food produce directly to customers via an online
ordering platform, based in Cheshire, UK. The company started in 2019 and began as a family run
business that was staffed by 4 family members plus two farmhands, with the use of one delivery van.

As the Covid pandemic struck in 2020 the business experienced unexpected rapid growth with orders
tripling almost overnight, whilst the firm has the product to meet the demand of customers, investment was
needed in equipment and more importantly, the number of staff needed to increase immediately if
productivity was to remain effective.

To address this the owner placed an online advert for farmhands requiring CV’s to be emailed to the
business. Candidates that FarmBox were interested in took part in a 20-minute online video interview that
aimed to determine their skills and suitability and then successful candidates began work once they were
able to evidence that they were free of the Covid virus. Upon starting the role, each new member of staff
was given a tour of the farm and worked side by side with existing staff members for a day before being
given individual responsibilities. – this whole process took two weeks to complete.

Shortly after recruitment, selection and onboarding was completed the operational productivity for the firm
decreased, orders were late or incomplete and for the first time since opening, customer complaints were
received. Staff are now working longer hours than contracted and many are looking to leave the company
once they have secured alternative employment.

FarmBox has decided to employ your specialist HR firm to help identify the issues and rectify them, with
the hope of retaining employees and effective productivity returning.

Case Study Sources:

• Armstrong.M (2012) Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice 12th Edition, Kogan Page Ltd.
• Fel.E. (2020) Dangers of Rapid Business Growth and What To Do About Them.
https://www.businessknowhow.com/money/rapidgrowth.htm (Accessed 19/11/21)

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Report Tasks
1) Define HRM recruitment and selection models, theories, and concepts (AMO Theory, Human Capital
Theory, Michigan Framework, 5 P Model etc.) that FarmBox currently have in place and explain how
these can affect the behaviour of the staff within the workplace, that may also be affecting the company
productivity.

2) Assess the appropriateness of the HRM models, theories and concepts that have been deployed by
FarmBox and identify the positive elements and any areas of the procedure that may need to improve.

3) Identify and recommend HRM models, theories, concepts, policies, and procedures for FarmBox to
adopt to improve their operational productivity and employee relations through more effective HRM
talent management.

You must reference all information used in the report, using the Harvard Referencing Guide.

See attached grid for grade descriptors.

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style; you can access guidance on this here:
https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/academic/referencing/Harvard

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning
outcomes for this assignment (see above) and against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s
institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject area,
a proportion of your marks will also depend upon your use of academic referencing conventions.

This assignment will be marked according to the grading descriptors for Level 4

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Submission details

This assignment should be submitted electronically via Moodle (module tutors will discuss this process with
you during class time).

• Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format (Microsoft Word, Excel
or PowerPoint, or PDF are the most widely used; Google Docs is also accepted). Your file must
also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in
size.

• You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit
your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

• Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which
will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this
receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment

• You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on
the University website: https://www.uos.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In
submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these
regulations

Submission date and time

This assignment should be submitted before 14:00 UK time on Monday 10th January 2022.

You should submit all work for summative assessments by the above deadline. Work submitted up to three
working days after the deadline will be accepted and marked, but the mark will be capped at the pass mark
(40%) unless there is a valid reason for the late submission (i.e., having been granted an extension to the
deadline or a deferral under the terms of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy).

Work submitted more than three working days after the deadline without a valid reason will not be
accepted and will be recorded as 0% RN (refer, no work submitted).

For more information, please refer to: http://studenthandbook.uos.ac.uk/index.php/student-

guides/assessment-the-basics-undergraduate

Feedback and marks for this assignment will be available in three weeks from the deadline.

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General Grading Criteria

Level 4

In accordance with the FHEQ, at the end of Level 4 students will be expected to have a sound knowledge of the basic underlying concepts and principles
of a subject, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within the context of that area of study. They should be able to present, evaluate and interpret
qualitative and quantitative data in order to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of their
subject(s) of study. They will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems and will be able to communicate the results of their
study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments.

Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

Knowledge and High quality work Work of solid Adequate work Simple factual Weak work Unsatisfactory Highly
understanding showing detailed quality showing showing approach showing showing limited, work showing unsatisfactory
of the basic understanding of competent and understanding of limited fragmentary weak and flawed work showing
underlying the basic consistent the basic understanding of understanding of understanding of major gaps in
underlying understanding of underlying the basic the basic the basic understanding of
concepts and concepts and the basic concepts and underlying underlying underlying the basic
principles of principles of the underlying principles of the concepts and concepts and concepts and underlying
the subject(s) subject(s). concepts and subject(s), but principles of the principles of the principles of the concepts and
principles of the lacking depth and subject(s). Narrow subject(s). Work subject(s), for principles of the
subject(s) breadth. or misguided characterised by example through subject(s).
selection of inaccuracies, serious Inclusion of largely
material, with irrelevant material inaccuracies, irrelevant material,
elements missing and/or absence of inclusion of a absence of
or inaccurate. appropriate significant amount appropriate
information. of irrelevant information and

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Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

material and/or significant

absence of inaccuracies.
appropriate
information.

Cognitive and Excellent Good presentation, Adequate A limited use of Largely descriptive Descriptive work Work is largely
intellectual presentation, interpretation and presentation, concepts or evidence work, with limited with no effort made irrelevant or
skills interpretation and evaluation of interpretation and to support emerging effort made to use to use concepts or inaccurate,
evaluation of concepts or evaluation of judgements or concepts or evidence evidence to develop characterised by
concepts or evidence, facilitating concepts or arguments, although to develop judgements or descriptive text and
evidence, a logical and evidence, facilitating not always logical or judgements or arguments. Views unsubstantiated
facilitating a highly coherent a largely logical and coherent and with arguments. expressed are often generalisations.
logical, coherent development of coherent inaccuracies. Information illogical, invalid or Complete lack of
and balanced judgements or development of accepted irrelevant. Minimal evidence to back up
development of arguments that judgements or uncritically, with or no use of views.
judgements or shows awareness of arguments. An unsubstantiated evidence to back up
arguments. Strong other stances. emerging awareness opinions evident. views.
awareness of other of other stances.
stances.

Application of Excellent Sound application of Consistent and Relevant theoretical Limited Weak Very weak
theory to application of theory to practice, accurate application knowledge and understanding of the understanding of theoretical
practice (for theory to practice, with the student of theory to practice, understanding application of theory the application of knowledge and
courses with a with the student making appropriate, with the student applied in practice, to practice, with the theory to practice, understanding, with
professional making highly well-developed and making appropriate but with students student often not with only occasional no evidence of
practice appropriate, articulated links links between the not always making making appropriate evidence of the appropriate
element) developed and between the two. two. student making

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Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

articulated links logical links between links between the appropriate links application in
between the two. the two. two. between the two. practice.

Reading and Critical engagement Engagement with a Engagement with an Evidence of reading, Poor engagement Limited evidence of No evidence of
referencing with a wide range of wide range of appropriate range of largely confined to with essential texts reading and/or reading or
relevant reading, relevant reading. reading beyond essential texts, but and no evidence of reliance on engagement with
including research- Sound application of essential texts. mainly reliant on wider reading. inappropriate taught elements.
informed literature referencing, with no Referencing may taught elements. Heavily reliant on sources. Limited Absent or
where relevant. inaccuracies or show minor Referencing may taught elements. engagement with incoherent
Consistently inconsistencies. inaccuracies or show inaccuracies Inconsistent and taught elements. referencing.
accurate application inconsistencies. and/or weak use of Very poor use of
of referencing. inconsistencies. referencing. referencing.

Presentation, Highly effective Competent Work is structured in Ordered Work is loosely, and Work is poorly Work is extremely
style and presentation of presentation of work a largely coherent presentation in at times presented in a disorganised, with
structure * work that is in terms of structure manner and is for which relevant ideas incoherently, disjointed and much of the content
coherently and clarity of the most part clearly / concepts are structured, with incoherent manner. confusingly
structured and expression. expressed. reasonably information and Information and expressed. Very
clearly expressed expressed. ideas often poorly ideas are very poor English and/or
throughout. expressed. poorly expressed, very inappropriate
with weak English style.
and/or
inappropriate style.
* Work that significantly exceeds the specified word limit may be penalised .

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