Coursework Assignment Brief Subject to external verification Semester C16 Module Code: PH212 Module Title: Employee Resourcing Programme BSc Honours – HRM Level Level 5 Awarding Body University of Plymouth Module Leader Harish Jyawali Format Blog format Presentation N/A Any special requirement All work should be submitted to the Student Portal along with an 'Turnitin' report. Word Limit 2000 words Blog ( with 10% plus or minus leeway) Deadline date for submission Wednesday 3rd August 2016 Learning Outcome 1. Assess the appropriateness of different methods of recruitment and selection techniques. 2. Identify and assess key issues involved in influencing employee performance. Percentage of marks awarded for the module This assignment is worth 50% of the total marks for the module. Candidates must clearly label their ID Number on additional separate reference, formula or answer sheets. Students to write a BLOG on the following topic; Scenario: Nearly one million retail jobs to go by 2025, warns BRC Up to 900,000 jobs in the retail sector are expected to go in the next 10 years as employers deal with the digital revolution, shop closures, and rising tax and wage bills, a report has warned. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that the UK's largest private sector employer is set to undergo an unprecedented period of change, with the national living wage (NLW) and the apprenticeship levy likely to have a significant impact on jobs in the sector. The study suggests that "economically fragile" regions in the UK will be hit the hardest, with the brunt of the job losses felt in the north of England, the Midlands, and Wales, further strengthening the UK's economic north/south divide. BRC suggests by the time the NLW reaches £9 an hour from 2020, it will cost the industry up to £3bn per annum. And while the apprenticeship levy is intended to encourage greater investment in the workforce, the report said: "Both [policies] have sound intentions but both could fail on implementation." The report, based on research and modeling across the industry, with insight from senior executives in retail businesses, suggests that although the workforce could contract by a third by 2025, the remaining jobs will be more productive and rewarding. Patrick Callaghan, parliamentary and campaigns manager at BRC, said: "Throughout this process the nature of jobs in the industry will change. Employers will require their workers to have new and different skills and that there will be a greater need for creative, service and analytical roles. In turn this will mean greater productivity and increased rates of pay; providing added motivation to improve the overall quality of the jobs in retail. Source: CIPD(2016) availiable at, http://www.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2016/02/29/n early-one-million-retail-jobs-to-go-by-2025-warns-brc.aspx, [Accessed online 10 May 2016] Following the above scenario, being an HR student, you are asked to write a 2000 words BLOG, which should cover the following four areas; 1) Introduction: Introduce the term, staffing and performance appraisal within the context of a retail sector. (200 words) 2) Following the above scenario, critically discuss any TWO suitable staffing methods for the retail sector? (200 words) 3) Analyse the way in which a performance appraisal can support the improvement of employees' performance in the retail sector. (800 words) 4) Conclusion and recommendation: Conclusion should include a summary of the key discussions. Recommendations should include the key areas that you would like a retail sector's management to consider in order to address the improvement of staffing and performance appraisal. (200 words) (Total word limit: 2000 words) In your blog, you should analyse the issues asked in the above questions. The total word limit for your blog should not be more than 2000 words. Your blog should be used as a vehicle to engage with your audience, and provide value to a well defined online community in the areas mentioned in the above questions. After completion of your blog, you should ask any of your two friends to comment on your blog. The comments should be critical and at least consists of 40-50 words. Thereafter, you should make a response on the comments made by your friends. Again, your comments shouldn't be less than 50 words. Submission: You should submit the content of your blog in a word format on to the portal. You don't need to include any responses and comments made by you and your friends. But, you should provide a link of the blog within the document that you will be submitting on to the portal. The submitted document should include your student Id no. on it. Structure of a blog:  Introduction (200 words)  Task 1 (800 words)  Task 2 (800 words)  Conclusion and recommendation (200 words)  Bibliography How to write a blog: Blogging has become one of the most popular ways of communicating and spreading information and news. The purpose of writing blogs could be promotion of a product or service, awareness about social issues, information sharing about any subject or purely passion for writing. There are literally millions of blogs online (don't worry, you can make yours stand out and get noticed!). It's a great way to express yourself and also a fantastic way to share information with others. You become a better person and a better writer. The best reason? You can make money doing it! Following link can help you to write your blog. Blogger: https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&hl=en_GB &passive=1209600&continue=https://www.blogger.com/home#identifier Blogger tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjL1oWA05ew There will be a session on how to write a blog in your week 2 tutorial class. Assessment guidance video: In addition, an assessment guidance video will be availiable to all studnets by week 2. The video will provide a guidance on how to write the given assessment. Marking criteria Marking will be done as per the followings: Criteria Marks allocation Marks Total Knowledge Knolwedge and understanding the topic in the areas of two methods of staffing and its appropriateness. 40% performance appraisal and its influence in employee performance. ( task 1 and 2) Application of relevant theories and and models. Cognitive/Analysis Critical analysis of issues. Logically developed argument. Organisation and communication of ideas and evidence, conclusion and recommendations 35% Skills Blog outline and presentation. Research Format. Responses made on the comments in the blog 25% Student guidance: 1. Introduction: Introduce the term staffing and performance appraisal within the context of a retail sector. (200 words) 2. Following the above scenario, critically discuss any TWO suitable staffing methods for the retail sector? (800 words) Students should discuss any two suitable staffing methods for the retail sector. The main staffing methods are;1) Internal recruitment 2) External recruitment ,and 3) Outsourcing. Students are expected to discuss and analyse any two methods that they consider to be suitable for the retail sector. Your answer should discuss the information on why and how the methods will be suitable. 3. Analyse the way in which a performance appraisal can support the improvement of employees' performance in the retail sector. (800 words) Students should discuss how the performance appraisal, as an HR function supports in improving the employees' performance. Some of the areas that students can discuss are; feedback, communication, clear goals/ SMART objectives, rewards, fairness, consistency, aligned with organisational goals, training and development opportunity and so on. 4. Conclusion & recommendation: (200 words) Conclusion should cover the summary of the key discussions. Recommendation should cover the key areas that you would like a retail sector's management to consider in order to address the improvement of their staffing and performance appraisal.