HRMT20024 Term 1 2017 Assessment 2 Report on Employment Relations Due date Week 6 Monday 17 April 17:00 Any requests for extension must be submitted through the CQU system at least 48 hours prior to the due date, with relevant supporting documents. Late submissions without approval will result in a penalty of 5% per day. Assessment 2 has 35 marks, and 1.75 marks will be deducted for each calendar day of delayed submission Weighting 35% Length 1750 words ± 10% (including executive summary, introduction, heading and subheadings, recommendations and conclusion but excluding title page and reference list) Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Graduate attributes 1-7 Task The assessment item is based on the case study titled Constructive Relations at Top Trucking Company (Pages 169-170 of the textbook): Human Resource Management in Australia (5th Ed.) by Kramar, Bartram, De Cieri, Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart & Wright, McGraw-Hill Australia). Based on this case study, write a business report that answers all the three questions: 1. How do the new workplace practices introduced by the new yard manager complement one another? 2. What are the risks to sustaining these changes if George or the yard manager moves on? 3. Do you think tough blue collar unions like the Transport Workers Union are more of less likely to engage in workplace changes like these than public or service sector unions? Why? How would you find out if you are right? Students are expected to engage in extensive research within the academic literature relating to employment relations, managerial styles, communication and performance management, to develop an argument with appropriate theoretical discussion and references. You must cite at least ten (10) relevant peer reviewed journal articles (absolute minimum requirement). You can cite other academic references such as books, conference papers, and book chapters but these will NOT be counted as part of the 10 journal articles. Purpose The primary purpose of this assessment is to assist students to develop skills in the use of employment relations, organisational and managerial theories and models in the analysis of a typical business situation that has employment relations issues. The assignment requires you to analyse the current situation, identify and specify the organisational issues, and suggest practical and probable solutions. The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to enhance their research, analysis, critical thinking and written communication skills; particularly in the areas of argument development and report writing. Before starting this assessment, please read the marking criteria (at the end of this document) and refer to Academic Learning Centre and CQU Library Help pages for theguidelines regarding writing academic reports. You should always check the course website for course-specific instructions, which may be updated continuously. Referencing APA referencing. For more information, see : https://www.cqu.edu.au/?a=14033 Format Report style Title page: The title page of a report should be brief and precise. It contains the following information: the name of the report, who prepared the report, for whom the report was prepared, the nature of the report, the date the report was prepared. Executive summary (ideally be approx. 100 words): The executive summary is a one page (or less) statement of a report’s purpose, findings and recommendations. It is more detailed than a couple of sentences, enabling the reader to see the "big picture" without getting absorbed in technicalities. Table of contents: List the page numbers for headings and sub headings of the report. Introduction (ideally be approx. 100 words): The introduction consists of two or three paragraphs in which the aims, structure and methodology of the report are outlined. It states clearly the purpose or main task of the report and what the reader can expect to obtain from it. Important background information is included, such as why the report was initiated in the first place. Please include a thesis statement that clearly mentions the main purpose of the report. The introduction may mention previous reports and research projects if the present report builds on, or challenges them. Body of report with Headings and Subheadings (ideally approx. 1450 to 1600 words): The content of the report’s main body should be formatted into logical sections by topic. It may be appropriate to format into sections according to major topics or questions and then outline logical sub-topics with sub- sections (if needed). Headings and sub-headings can be used to organise arguments, to reflect your answers to the assessment questions. Present evidence to support your arguments. All answers to the assessment questions should be based on arguments and sources from research findings (references). Conclusion (ideally be approx. 100 words): The conclusion is a brief section (less than a page) in which the writer analyses the significance of the report's findings and reiterates the main points of the report. These findings must derive logically from material presented in the report. A generalisation is then drawn from the specific findings of the research. New information is not included in the conclusion. References: A Reference List is a listing of all external resources that were consulted and mentioned during research for the report, and information from which is directly referred to in the text of the report. It is strongly recommended to avoid secondary referencing in assignments. Read the references before mentioning in reference list. Creating a consistent and professional looking document is important and demonstrates that you have taken care with the work. Ideally, use a simple font such as Times New roman 12 for the body of the paper, and Bold 14 point for major headings and bold 12 pont for minor headings. All assignments must be submitted through Moodle site. No email submissions will be accepted. All assignments submitted electronically through Moodle must be through the Student Portal http://my.cqu.edu.au • Failure to submit electronically will be taken as a failure to submit and therefore a zero (0) score will apply to the specific assignment. No assignment coversheet is needed to be attached while submitting through MoodlePlagiarism Copy detection software (TurnitIn) is used in this course and work found in contravention of the copying and plagiarism rules will be investigated. Penalties apply in the case of proven instances of copying, plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Please check the following links to know more about TurnitIn: http://turnitin.com/en_us/training/student-training/viewing-originality-reports http://turnitin.com/en_us/training/student-training/about-originalitycheck TurnitIn is only a tool and judgement needs to be used when you view your Originality Report. TurnitIn does not make a judgement as to what is referenced properly, it highlights the non-original material in a piece of work. You should use the similarity score as a guide only and must then check the originality report to determine whether or not changes need to be made to the assignment. Required Students must familiarise themselves with the following policies and procedures at http://policy.cqu.edu.au: Assessment and examination policy and procedures - Assessment of Coursework Policy Assessment of Coursework Principles Assessment of Coursework ProceduresCRITERIA FAIL (0-49%) PASS (50-64%) CREDIT (65 - 74%) DISTINCTION (75-84%) HD (85%+) Research (10 marks) A limited number (<10) of poor quality, inappropriate or non-critical resources selected. Some sources may be irrelevant. (< 5 marks) Some quality, appropriate critical academic resources selected, but also a few poorer quality sources A body of quality, appropriate critical academic resources is selected with some omissions or errors of judgement. A body of almost entirely top quality, mostly appropriate critical academic resources and/or law is selected. An extensive body of top quality, highly appropriate critical academic resources and/or law is selected. Analysis (10 marks) Fails to identify and demonstrate an understanding of key factors in case. Limited analysis of case evidence, inaccurate interpretations and/or judgements. No discernible statement of position or argument. No contrary evidence or argument provided Many inaccuracies of fact, or unsubstantiated information. An attempt is made to identify the key factors in the case but there are a number of errors or omissions and only a basic understanding is demonstrated. Limited critical analysis evident. Statement of position or argument given but is not always supported by evidence. Limited contrary evidence or argument is provided. Argument may not always follow logically from information provided. Identifies some of the key factors in the case and demonstrates some understanding of their complexities. Some critical analysis evident with some lapses into description. Statement of position or argument is clear, and while evidence is provided to support the argument, only some contrary evidence is given. Argument mostly follows logically from information provided. Identifies most of the key factors in the case and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of these. Critical analysis evident with mostly accurate application of theory and law (where relevant). Statement of position or argument is clear, with evidence and argument for and against the position taken nearly always given. Argument follows logically from information provided. Clearly identifies all key factors in the case and demonstrates a highly sophisticated understanding of these. Extensive critical analysis evident with consistently accurate application of theory (and law where relevant). Statement of position or argument is very clear, & well developed with comprehensive evidence and argument for and against the position taken always given. Argument follows logically from information provided. Integration of literature with case (10 marks) Little or no application of theory ), eg. Mostly description of case and theory and/or law with negligible integration, so no analysis. Basic application of theory. Integrates some case examples with the application of theory, but many are not. May contain several minor errors of fact or sweeping generalisations. Good application of theory. Some parts done in a degree of depth and detail. Integrates most case examples with the application of theory and/or law, but some are not well founded. Sophisticated application of theory. Detailed approach with application of theory and/or law generally well integrated with case examples. Highly sophisticated application of theory. Eg. Highly detailed approach with well integrated case examples to aid the application of theory and/or law. Presentation : referencing, organisation, structure, communicatio n (5 marks) Failure to acknowledge sources by citations in-text or in reference list A reasonable attempt has been made to acknowledge sources, with a few citation errors in-text or in reference list. Generally sources have been correctly acknowledged, both in-text and in reference list (might be a few errors). Sources are correctly acknowledged, both in-text and in reference list (might be one or two errors). Sources are all correctly acknowledged, both in-text and in reference list. Superb attention to detail. Lacks a clear structure to answer the questions, with most elements missing. Attempted to structure the report to answer the questions, but some elements missing. Good structure with appropriate headings that identify the questions, but lacks one element. Very good structure that guides the reader through the report and answers to all research questions. Clear and succinct report that clearly identifies the research questions under separate headings Poor introduction. Conclusion missing, or contains serious omissions Weak introduction. Conclusion recaps obvious arguments or evidence, but not necessarily both. Good introduction Conclusion recaps most arguments and evidence. Very good introduction that foreshadows the report. Detailed conclusion recaps arguments and evidence. Well formulated introduction. Sophisticated and succinct conclusion recaps arguments and evidence. Communication is poor. Limited vocabulary with frequent and significant grammar & spelling errors. Communication is generally coherent, vocabulary suitable, but hampered by grammar and spelling errors. Communication is clear and generally easily understood, using a good range of suitable vocabulary with some grammar and spelling errors. Communication is clear, concise & easily understood, using an extensive range of suitable vocabulary with one or two grammar and spelling errors. Communication is clear, concise & easily understood, using a sophisticated vocabulary with no grammar and spelling errors. Penalties Late submission without approval [(-5% × 45) / day = – 2.25 Marks/day ]– × () Days = – ( ) Plagiarism will result in a “zero” score and will be reported to the Academic Services Centre