N1561 Assignment 1 FAQ

N1561 Assignment 1 FAQ

This is a summary of some of the various questions I’ve been asked either in person, via email or in class.

Should I submit a hard copy of the assignment?

No, just an electronic copy via Turnitin. The instructions were written before the decision to move to all electronic submissions.

Should I include a reference list and should it be in the order included on the slides, or in alphabetical order?

Please include a reference list at the end in Harvard style (not included in the word count). If you refer to a source several times on one slide, it’s enough just to refer to it once on the slide.

What should I include for question 1?

Question 1 should describe the type of workers employed at EY. We did a similar exercise in class. You can draw on relevant models/frameworks in answering this or just describe them. You should refer to the EY website to see what type of people they employ.

What should I include for question 2?

Question 2 is where you should draw on relevant theories/frameworks especially those covered in weeks 3-5. You should include an overview of different possible approaches to managing people strategically and a recommendation for EY. This should be based on your analysis for question 1, ie what type of people are employed? You should not include any reference to EY’s existing HR strategy, this is not necessary. You do not need to focus on the process of developing an HR strategy to any great extent, a focus on the content issues will be enough. It is Ok to mention the process briefly but don’t make it the main point of your answer. I can’t tell you which models/theories to include in your answer, you need to read the course materials and decide for yourself which are most relevant.

What should I include for question 3?

For question 3 you should refer to what was discussed in week 2. You do not need to make any assumptions about EY’s current HR department, just assume that they are considering having a strategic department. What are the advantages? If you look back at the materials covered in week 2 you will see what the difference is between a strategic vs an administrative department and you can draw on this in your answer.

Do I need to include any references in my answer?

Yes you do need to have read the textbook and ideally also some of the relevant extension reading, in order to get a good mark. Just referring to the lecture slides won’t be enough.

Should I put my name on the assignment?

No don’t put your name on it, it is being marked anonymously. Include the normal coversheet.

How should I allocate the wordcount?

Allocate the word count on the basis of the percentage for each question ie 20%-40%-40%.

Which weeks’ materials are relevant to the assignment?

You should refer to weeks 2, 3, 4 and 5. The material covered in week 5 on HRM and performance may give you some useful background in answering questions 2 and 3. Make it clear which slides refer to which questions.

Should I write in bullet points or full sentences?

You can write in a mixture of styles including both of these and also including models/frameworks. However, just copying and pasting material from the slides won’t be enough to pass. You have to show you have understood the material and shown their relevance to answering the questions. The main thing is that the reader can understand what is meant. It is possible to use the powerpoint format to your advantage to convey ideas succinctly without many words. Just make sure you read back your assignment before handing it in from the perspective of the recipient so that you are happy that your meaning is clear.

Also, don’t include ‘notes’ to the slides, just the slides themselves.

Also, don’t spend ages creating beautifully crafted slides; by all means do ensure they look presentable but I will be focusing on the content when I mark them. Diagrams and pictures can help convey meaning but don’t spend all your time on drawing these but focus instead on understanding and presenting the relevant content!

Is there =/- 10% on the wordcount?

Yes, 1,000 words +/- 10%.

Should I include the word count on the first slide?

Yes.

Do I need to have any specific knowledge of EY to do this assignment?

No, this isn’t necessary. I will be marking you based on your answers to the questions which essentially focus on your analysis and interpretation of the course materials as they are applied to EY. You only need to look at the website as indicated on the assignment brief.