Assignment Task
NEGOTIATED ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
To maximise your learning from this module, we give you the opportunity to negotiate a topic which is of particular interest to you as we believe you will learn more from something that interests you. Your proposal and essay must together meet the learning outcomes of the module as below.
Module Learning Outcomes:
1. Critically analyse the aims of International Human Resource Management (IHRM) and its contribution to international organisational strategy and effective performance within a global context
2. Identify, analyse and articulate key challenges associated with managing people in global organizations
3. Critically evaluate organisational strategies for managing people in global organisations
4. Critically discuss practices and interventions utilised to effectively, efficiently and ethically manage people in global organisations.
To give you the opportunity for feedback prior to the submission of your final coursework there are two elements to the assessment (Table 1).
Table 1 Assessment Schedule
Submission Date Form of assessment Weighting
Monday 1st March 2021 500 Word Proposal 15%
Tuesday 4th May 20212500 Word Essay 85%
2. ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
You are asked to critically discuss an IHRM issue from the perspective of two different countries (ideally on different continents). Whist not barring you from including your own country, your focus should ideally be on other countries to maximise your own learning. Please ensure you do not select a topic which could overlap significantly with your dissertation, as you cannot be assessed for the same piece of work twice. If you don’t have a clear idea of your own, we have provided some suggestions.
All students should critique/apply:
a focus on International HRM theory, e.g. IHRM models, convergence/divergence debates etc.
one specific HRM topic area with attention to relevant literature on that specific topic in an international context (e.g. one out of: managing multicultural workforces; employment relations; global talent management; human resource development; performance management; leadership; management styles etc. – please look at the module syllabus for ideas);
two separate national cultures / contexts from different continents with attention to cultural and environmental analysis models;
one case study organisation, industry or sector as appropriate for contextualisation.
You may select/adapt one of the following questions for your coursework if you cannot generate your own question. You can change the countries in the question as long as they are in different continents, and you can also change the sector/industry and specific HRM topic area.
Critically evaluate how far Japanese employment relations strategies can be transferred to the UK utilising a case study (e.g. a MNC of your choice), and providing organisational recommendations. Given the growing global importance of BRICS and MINT countries, critique the human resource development challenges facing a specific industry in Russia and Nigeria, providing and justifying recommendations which a MNC of your choice can take to address these.
Public service organisations throughout the world during this current ‘era of austerity’ are facing major workforce planning and talent management challenges. Critically analyse the challenges faced by the public sectors of South Africa and France, advising how they might deal with these challenges.
International organisations such as the UN (and its agencies e.g. UNICEF), ASEAN (South East Asia), the World Bank, and the International Olympic Committee face significant diversity management issues. Critically analyse how an international organisation of your choice might effectively manage and support a multicultural and expatriate workforce with reference to two specific national cultures.
Identify and critique the various approaches to performance management strategies that a US multinational company of your choice could adopt when operating a Chinese subsidiary, providing recommendations.
WRITING THE COURSEWORK:
500 Word Proposal
You must write a 500 word (+/- 10%) proposal introducing and justifying the content and approach to be taken in your final essay. Weeks 1-4/5 of the programme are designed to give you the foundations of IRHM issues and you are expected to draw on your learning from Weeks 1-4/5 in your proposal where appropriate. Additionally, for your proposal, you are expected to carry out further individual reading on your preferred IHRM topic area / countries by a) engaging with the core or recommended textbooks and relevant chapter(s), and b) carrying out a literature search using the GCU Library search facilities to identify and read the abstracts / introductions of peer-reviewed journal articles. Your proposal should reflect both taught and self-directed learning.
For your proposal, please use the marking criteria provided and write to these five sections:
Working Title
Introduction
Aim and Objectives
References 1 (sources used in your introduction – not included in word count)
References 2 (preliminary list of additional sources to be used in preparing your final essay – not included in word count)
Proposal Marking Criteria %
Working Title and Introduction
Written introduction develops a rationale for the IHRM topic, countries, and case study chosen with references to academic literature. Title and rationale are clearly set at Masters level. 40%
Aim and Objectives
Specific and clear aim with supporting objectives set at Masters level incorporating literature/theory, analysis, integration and conclusions / recommendations. 30%
References 1 & 2
Has identified appropriate literature including monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and where appropriate policy reports and company documentation.
20%
Structure, Presentation & Writing Style
Recommended structure observed. Professional presentation: grammatically correct; formal; and analytical with a flow of argument and mature writing style observed. Correctly cited within text using name, date convention and includes page reference for direct quotations. Harvard referencing style used correctly in reference lists. 10%
TOTAL 100%
2500 Word Essay
Based on feedback from your proposal, you must write a 2500 word (+/- 10%) structured essay. Weeks 1-4/5 of the programme are designed to give you the foundations of IRHM issues and you are expected to draw on your learning from Weeks 1-4/5 in your essay where appropriate. You are also expected to draw on your learning from weeks 5/6-11 of the programme – although these weeks focus on distinct IHRM topic areas, certain aspects of the different topics and the theoretical input are interlinked. It will therefore be insufficient for you to use only one week’s lecture materials for your essay, no matter what your topic. The theoretical and conceptual linkages will become clear as the module progresses and students are expected to be highly selective in their essay writing, demonstrating integrative links in critically analysing, synthesising and evaluating a range of information and theory while still retaining depth and focus on one chosen IHRM topic area. Again, your essay should reflect both taught and self-directed learning.
You must write your structured essay using the following sections:
Title
Introduction
Literature Review
Contextual and Comparative Analysis
Conclusions and Recommendations
References (not included in word count)
Whilst we have provided section headings for you, underneath these headings we expect you to write in paragraph structure with appropriate links and flows of argument between paragraphs and sections, i.e. essay writing style. Please use the marking criteria below when writing your essay.
Essay Marking Criteria %
Literature Review
Full discussion of the relevant body of theory, policy and knowledge in relation to IHRM in general, as well as the chosen HRM topic area within an international context. Relevant key IHRM debates are identified and critiqued. Discussions are theoretically robust, well scoped, logically structured, appropriately detailed and show evidence of wider reading and engagement with theoretical concepts. Evidence of ability to synthesise information and present a lucid exposition of core concepts. Expertise of the body of theory including the implications of recent developments is evident. Progressive argument/idea development. 30%
Contextual and Comparative Analysis
There is clear evidence of knowledge and understanding of the relevant national and organizational contexts for the two chosen countries, with relevant cultural and environmental analysis and critique as appropriate in relation to the IHRM topic area chosen. Clear consideration of convergence and divergence issues between/across national contexts. The discussion is appropriately detailed and scoped, relevant and theoretically robust. 40%
Conclusions and Recommendations
Conclusions are soundly grounded in the preceding discussion. Recommendations are sensible and practical, showing cultural sensitivities. Awareness of potential challenges and limitations evidenced. 15%
Structure, Presentation & Writing Style
Recommended structure observed. Professional presentation: full and competent introduction; grammatically correct; formal; and analytical with a flow of argument and mature writing style observed.
Citation and Referencing
Correctly cited in text using name, date convention and
includes page reference for direct quotations. Harvard
referencing style used (Single list of references ordered
alphabetically regardless of source). 15%
TOTAL 100%
FEEDBACK & MASTERS LEVEL MARKING CRITERIA
While we endeavour to provide you with formal feedback on your proposal as well as guidance on both pieces of coursework, module teams will not do a review of full draft coursework. Full reviews of pre-submitted drafts will not be considered or commented on by the module team.
You are encouraged to use the guidelines given with this coursework document and on GCULearn, as well as attend any assessment clinics and support sessions that are provided by the module team.
Nevertheless, by providing formal feedback on your proposal you are getting the opportunity for feedback prior to your final essay submission which should help you significantly. Please think of your aim and objectives very carefully as these will guide the direction and content of your final essay and we will tailor our feedback accordingly.
Your feedback will be available online and you will be able to access it via the assignments tab in GCULearn. Generally, module tutors will annotate your coursework and provide a feedback summary. It is your responsibility to access GCULearn and obtain the feedback.
Essays are marked with reference to the above marking criteria for each element as well as the general Masters’ marking guidelines (Appendix 2).
The overall pass mark for the module is 50%. Successful completion of the written coursework will demonstrate a student’s fulfilment of the module learning outcomes. Any student who fails the module is permitted to resubmit at the resit diet.
Please note that all assessments are sampled and cross-marked, and are subject to final confirmation by the External Assessor who will moderate both coursework and exam scripts to ensure standards are equivalent to other Universities in the UK. Exam scripts are not returned to students however Module Leaders can provide feedback on exam performance if required; please ensure you give your Module Leader adequate notice when asking for feedback.
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK
This module makes use of the Grade Mark online assessment system in GCULearn. This means that all assignments must be submitted electronically and all feedback will be provided electronically via GCULearn.
Accordingly, you must submit your work as outlined below:
You must submit an electronic copy on the GCULearn site (via the assignment tab) for the relevant module, and
Your electronic submission must include the following:
a completed coversheet (Appendix 1) and
an Avoiding academic irregularity: plagiarism/ghost-writing checklist (Appendix 1)
Both of these items will be available on GCU Learn for you to download and incorporate into your electronic coursework document.
Module staff will not accept coursework directly from students. Please do not hand/ email your coursework directly to your tutor.
Course work should be submitted by 4.30pm on or before the date advised, unless an extension has been agreed beforehand with the Module Leader.
Extensions are generally only granted for 3 reasons;
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