Human Resource Management in Context BEQM706 Coursework Assignment

Submission Deadline: Word Limit:

12:00pm (mid-day) on Wednesday 7th November 2012 1,800 2,200 words

This is an individual research-based assignment and you must answer one of the two briefs given below. Your assignment must apply the concepts and perspectives from the module learning material. Please include a list of references as appropriate. The use of data is encouraged. Please attach a Coursework Coversheet (form CA1 available to download from the WBS Registry website) to the front of your assignment prior to submission. Brief 1: Individual Case Study based on experience in an organisation Using information about your own experience in an organisation, appropriate sources and the module learning material: a) Conduct a STEEPLE analysis of the industry or market in which the organisation operates and evaluate which of these contexts are the most important to the organisation.

This section should include a focus on the microeconomic environment (the product market, the labour market and the competitive structure and nature of competition). (50% of total mark) b) Select and describe two examples of how human resource management in the organisation has been influenced by and responds to changes in its environmental contexts as outlined in a). (50% of total mark)

Brief 2: The UK Motor Car Market or the UK Supermarket Sector Using the module learning material and appropriate sources: a) Conduct a STEEPLE analysis of the UK motor car market or the UK supermarket sector and evaluate which of these contexts are the most important to the organisations involved.

This section should include a focus on the microeconomic environment (the product market, the labour market, the competitive structure and nature of competition). (50% of total mark) b) Research two examples of how human resources management in car manufacturing or supermarket retailing has been influenced by and responds to changes in the organisations environmental contexts as outlined in a). (50% of total mark)

Assignments will be marked within three weeks of submission. Individual written feedback will be provided online.

Advice for Coursework Preparation

Suggested Structure: Very short introduction outlining what your assignment contains Part a) STEEPLE analysis followed by discussion of any linkages between the contexts and an overall evaluation of the most important STEEPLE factor(s). Part b) Example 1/Example 2 Very short conclusion References/Bibliography

No need for Executive Summary, List of Contents, Objectives, etc. Write approximately 1,000 words on part a) (including 200 words on the linkages and evaluation of the most important contexts) and 1,000 words on part b).

Style: Use Arial font type at size 11. Double-space each line (select Format, select Paragraph and change from Single line spacing to Double). Submission Checklist: Have I provided a word count (select Tools, select Word Count)? Have I numbered the pages of my assignment (select Insert, select Page numbers)? Part a) STEEPLE analysis We do not want simple lists/bullet points for each of the 7 environmental contexts of the STEEPLE framework. Part a) should focus on factors affecting organisations at the market/industry level rather than the factors affecting just your (Brief 1) or just one organisation (Brief 2), unless it is a monopoly or an organisation within the public sector without rivals. Using the key drivers given in Seminar 1, for each context of the STEEPLE framework think about a list of factors, gather evidence and decide which factor(s) is/are the most important, then write about it/them, using the evidence (data/facts with sources). Less important factors within a particular context may be referred to but be careful about sourcing your points. If you think any of the contexts are unimportant then say so and explain why. We want you to consult sources including trade journals, professional associations publications, in-house publications, regulatory agency reports, company reports and websites, government reports, CIPD publications, newspaper articles and articles from academic HRM journals. See also the reading lists in the module specification in the module guide. You are also free to contact and quote your manager(s) in your organisation (for Brief

1) or car/supermarket companies HR departments (for Brief 2) when it comes to selecting and describing HRM examples for part b). Your assignment should utilise the concepts and perspectives from the module learning material. Expand upon the Economic context since sessions 2, 3 and 4 look generally at economic concepts and perspectives. Out of the 1,000 words in part a) you should aim to write at least 200 words on the Economic context. You are also advised to also look at all the modules lecture material to draw inspiration. Once you have completed all the STEEPLE contexts, comment on any linkages between the environmental contexts. Finally, evaluate (judge) which of the contexts is/are the most important overall to your organisation, at the corporate level if you are doing Brief 1 or at the corporate level for the firms in the UK motor car market or UK supermarket sector if you are doing Brief 2.

Part b) HRM examples For Brief 1 consider your organisations HR practices and policies to see how they have been influenced by/responded to the STEEPLE environmental contexts, including any appropriate data, facts and evidence. Describe how two practices/policies have addressed changes in the contexts and provide any evidence of how successful the examples have been. You may use written or spoken evidence, perhaps from a HR manager, as long as whatever you refer to can be properly sourced. For Brief 2 you will be very lucky to find two examples of HR practice/policy from the same organisation in the motor car or supermarket industries so you may have to visit numerous company websites or contact their HR departments if you are struggling to find any examples. Select and describe the examples and comment on how they show that HRM in the car or supermarket industries has been influenced by and has responded to changes in the different contexts of their external environment. For both briefs the two examples do not necessarily have to relate to the most important STEEPLE context(s) as given in part a) BUT you may find that the examples possibly do reflect what is/are the important context(s) to the organisation(s). The use of tables and/or diagrams is encouraged in parts a) and b) but be sure that you accompany any information with the source and year. Any facts and figures should be as up-to-date as possible. All sources used should also appear in full in your References/Bibliography section.