International Human Resource Management: Different Conditions of the Market

Module Code: MGT670

Coursework Code:

Module Title: International Human Resource Studies

Date Available: Coursework approved by SEO on 27 April, 2021

Submission details:   Coursework deadline 2 June 2021, 12pm (noon) –UK TIME

Electronic submission only through Blackboard

Students are now allowed to submit one Turnitin Check per assignment, which will close 24 hours before the assignment deadline.  This allows students to generate an originality report and use this to improve their referencing and citation skills. Turnitin Check is NOT the final submission – students still need to submit their work to the Assignment Link, otherwise it will be marked as Not Submitted.

Students should note that the time of submission is taken from once the document has been successfully uploaded and confirmed – this may take more than five minutes during busy periods. Late penalties will be applied to any work submitted from 12.01pm on 15-5-20 onwards. Details of how to calculate a late penalty can be found in the PG Handbook. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the document/file has uploaded successfully.

When submitting students must:

1. Include a completed cover sheet (available from Blackboard)

2. Use ‘Student Number, MGT670-1’ (e.g. 150011001 MGT670-1) as the document’s file name and also as the Assignment Title in Turnitin.

Students will be penalised by 5 marks if they do not comply with this. This penalty will be applied when the work is marked.

Contribution to Final Mark for Module: 100%

Maximum Word Length: 2,500 words

The word count is for the main body of the text and ignores the reference list and appendices.  If you exceed the word length you will be penalised.  For details see the Management School Handbooks. Please note that SUMS does not have a word count tolerance - it is a stated maximum. The word count penalty will be applied when the work is marked. 

Requirements: Consultancy Report

The assignment should be presented in the form of a consultancy report, and should include reference to relevant theoretical frameworks and empirical data. The report should show evidence of carefully developed arguments, and follow academic conventions including proper use of the Harvard System for referencing, and avoiding plagiarism.

Consultancy brief

Grow-to-munch is a manufacturing firm that specialises in making wooden boxes in which to grow vegetables such as carrots and lettuces, and is located in the South of the UK. Currently, the head office employs 200 people (including marketing, HR, operations management and financial specialists). It also has one manufacturing plant located in the South of England and one in Norway, each of which employs around 100 people. Each plant specialises in the manufacture of different types of painted boxes, but uses wood as the main material.  

The company has recently decided to extend its operations to another country, in order to tap into local markets and utilise local labour. In order to evaluate its options, different departments at head office are responsible for producing feasibility reports of the various aspects that need to be considered in taking forward this ambitious plan. The HR Office has been charged with producing a brief report that outlines the key opportunities and challenges involved in locating operations in another country, from an employment perspective. They have already determined the key areas that they wish the report to cover, and although these may not seem to be comprehensive, they address previously identified gaps in knowledge. They have contracted this work out to you.

In order for the report to be focused, the wordcount should be 2,500 words (excluding references and appendices). The following subheadings should be used for the individual sections, but the word counts for each section should be used only as a guideline.

● Executive Summary (around 200 words, and briefly summarising the key findings of each section of the report)

● Introduction (around 200 words, briefly covering relevant country facts not covered elsewhere in the report and justifying what will be covered in the rest of the report)

● The main political parties, level of unemployment and the growth rate in GDP in the host country (around 300 words)

● Attitudes of the host country government toward the informal economy and immigration, illustrated by government policy (around 500 words)

● Employment legislation and government policy relating to discrimination and the extent to which ILO conventions on discrimination appear to have been followed in the host country (500 words)

● The likely impact of globalisation on the company’s ability to attract workers from other countries in the region or from the majority world (developing countries) (500 words)

● Conclusion (including cost benefit analysis of locating a subsidiary in this location, from an employment perspective) (around 300 words)

Students can choose the country where the company might set up a new manufacturing plant. Countries for 2021 will consist of: France, Denmark, Germany and Spain.

Sources

In the first instance, please see the sources listed in the module handbook. To access relevant information on legislation and statistics you may wish to use online sources such as the World Bank, IMF, OECD, CIA World Factbook or ILO.  Relevant sources will include empirical evidence, legislation, and relevant data sources (such as those outlined within the module guide). The conclusion and cost benefit analysis should draw together the key findings of the report and provide recommendations for the company to follow.

This assignment does not require primary research, which is research collecting data from first-hand sources, using methods such as interviews or questionnaires. Research involving human participants or personal data requires research ethics approval. 

Better answers will show evidence of the students carefully weighing up the evidence for and against the company investing in the country concerned in relation to each of the areas required, within each section. Where evidence is not available they will have explained the sources that have been consulted, and formulate and justify assumptions based on the evidence that is available.

Assessment criteria

Hard Fail

(0-39)

Soft Fail

(40-49)

Pass

(50-59)

Merit

(60-69)

Distinction

(70-79)

Distinction

(80+)

Criteria 1 Coverage of each of the constituent parts (aspects) outlined within the coursework specification

Does not cover each of the aspects required.

Covers most or all of the aspects, but is very weak in some areas.

Covers all of the relevant aspects, but some are only covered in general terms, and do not show careful reflection on the company’s needs

Covers all of the relevant aspects. Relates these specifically to the company’s needs.  

Covers all of the relevant aspects. Relates these specifically to the company’s needs.  Shows careful balance between the aspects covered. Draws careful linkages between the aspects covered, showing how these lead to the recommendations.

Fully comprehensive coverage of each of the aspects with insightful analysis of how they relate to the company.

Criteria 2 Reference to relevant empirical evidence, legislation and statistics

Lacks sufficient empirical evidence- or data from reputable sources

Includes reference to some relevant evidence but does not go far in covering aspects required.

Refers to some relevant evidence from credible sources and critically evaluates evidence.

Draws on relevant evidence. Critically evaluates the strength of the evidence presented. Relates evidence to the company’s needs.

Draws on relevant evidence. Critically evaluates the strength of the evidence presented. Relates evidence to the company’s needs. Demonstrates detailed searches of evidence, with wide scope yet appropriate sources.

Outstanding and  in-depth consideration of each aspect, with skilful interpretation and use of an extensive yet carefully selected range of empirical evidence

Criteria 3 Reference to relevant theoretical frameworks

Lacks sufficient reference to theory or relevant concepts

Refers briefly to relevant concepts but not to theory and does not carefully relate these concepts to the aspects covered

Refers briefly to theory or relevant concepts and broadly shows how they are relevant to the aspect covered.

Briefly explains relevant theory and shows carefully how it is relevant to the aspect covered.

Explains and critically evaluates relevant theory, relating it to each of the aspects covered

Demonstration of outstanding ability to show how theory is used to interpret key areas.

Criteria 4  The conclusion and cost benefit analysis should draw together the key findings of the report and provide recommendations for the company to follow

Brief conclusions that do not clearly cover the aspects within the report.  Lack of clear recommendations.

Brief conclusions and/ or recommendations that do not go far in drawing on the key findings of the report.

Attempts are made to formulate conclusions based on the evidence provided and reflect on potential costs and benefits.

Formulates conclusions that clearly draw on each of the key findings and reflects on appropriate costs and benefits. Provides brief recommendations.

Formulates conclusions that clearly draw on each of the key findings and reflects on appropriate costs and benefits. Careful linkage of recommendations to conclusions, with some reflection on short term and long term options.

Critical and imaginative thinking, and full and comprehensive examination of  management implications, taking into account the costs and benefits of potential strategies.

Criteria 5 Presentation

Unclear written English and grammatical errors.

English is understandable, but some aspects could be explained more clearly.

English is clearly written. Sections are clearly presented.

English is clearly written. Sections are clearly presented. Use of English reveals careful synthesis of findings.  Uses relevant figures and tables.

English is clearly written. Sections are clearly presented. Use of English reveals careful synthesis of findings. Uses relevant figures and tables.  

Uses persuasive but academic language to convince the reader of the weight of evidence for and against each of aspects, and of the value of the recommendations presented.

Superb skills in communicating knowledge and understanding and in the presentation of complex ideas with well developed figures and tables that help to justify arguments presented.

Criteria 6 Referencing

Inadequate reference to sources.

The referencing is quite carefully carried out but not consistently.

Referencing is quite carefully carried out, but there are a small number of minor mistakes.

Referencing is carefully carried out.

Referencing is very carefully carried out.

Excellent use of the Harvard referencing system and an outstanding level of competence

Referencing: you must reference your work correctly using the Harvard method.  Failure to do so will result in the deduction of marks and possible proceedings under the University's Regulations as to the Use of Unfair Means

Independence of working: You are reminded of the University's Regulations on the Use of Unfair Means and academic integrity which are outlined in the School's Handbooks.  If there is a suspicion that your work is not your own and that you have used unfair means or there is suspicion of a breach of academic integrity in writing this assessment then you may be referred to our unfair means officers to consider your work. Therefore, you are advised to ensure that you undertake the relevant guidance on the module site or programme level sites that you have access to. If you cannot access these, please contact the Student Experience Office.

Other Submission Details: Reports can use colour or simply black ink. Use 12pt font Times Roman or equivalent and 2 spaces between lines. Students should include maps, graphs, tables, or diagrams, but these should be discussed within the report.