5HRF IHR103001

CIPD Candidate Assessment Activity

Title of unit/s Managing and Co-ordinating the Human Resources Function

Unit No/s 5HRF

Level 5

Credit value 6

Assessment method(s) Written answers to questions

Learning outcomes:
1 Understand the purpose and key objectives of the HR function in contemporary organisations.
2 Understand how HR objectives are delivered in different organisations.
3 Understand how the HR function can be evaluated in terms of value added and organisation
performance
4 Understand the relationship between organisational performance and effective HR management and
development.
Assessment brief/activity Assessment
You are required to provide written answers to all five of the questions below. Criteria

Question 1
 Give examples of the main organisational objectives that the HR function is
responsible for delivering and briefly explain how these have evolved/are evolving 1.1, 1.3
in contemporary organisations. In your answer, provide a brief justification for
managing HR in a professional, ethical and just manner.

Question 2
 Give a brief summary of two different ways HR objectives can be delivered in 2.1
organisations.
2.2
 Analyse how the HR function varies between organisations in different sectors and
of different sizes.

Question 3
 Give a short explanation of at least two major theories of change management. 1.2
Select one of the theories and illustrate how it can be used and evaluated.

Question 4
 Your CEO has asked for a report on the contribution of the HR function to the 3.1
business. In preparation for the report, give a brief summary of the criteria and
methods you would use to evaluate the HR function’s contribution.

Question 5
 In consultation with your tutor, select an article that identifies and evaluates 4.1, 4.2
research evidence linking HR practices with positive organisational outcomes.
Briefly summarise the findings and state how convincing you find these to be.
Conclude by explaining how high-performance working and investment in human
capital can impact on organisational practice.

Evidence to be produced/required
Written responses to each of the five questions of approximately 3,000 words in total (divided
appropriately across each of the five questions).

You should relate academic concepts, theories and professional practice to the way organisations
operate, in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles and other publications and
by using organisational examples for illustration.

All reference sources should be acknowledged correctly and a bibliography provided where appropriate

Assessment Bank – HR Level 5 (QCF) – Version 1.0 September 2015

(these should be excluded from the word count).

This guidance is for assessors only and should not be handed out to candidates.

Candidates should provide written responses to each of the five questions of approximately 3,000 words
in total (divided appropriately across the five questions).

Candidates should relate academic concepts, theories and professional practice to the way organisations
operate, in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles and other publications and
by using organisational examples for illustration.

All reference sources should be acknowledged correctly and a bibliography provided where appropriate
(these should be excluded from the word count).

Question 1

AC 1.1, 1.3 Some of the examples you would expect them to include (not all of them) could be:
building organisation capability through people and performance, organisation and job
design, staffing objectives, performance objectives, contributing to organisation change,
promoting good employment relations and employee engagement, developing careers and
skills. They should indicate how the role of HR has evolved e.g. they could cite business
partnering, strategic partner. In their answer candidates should also provide a brief
justification for why HR should be managed in professional, ethical and just manner.

Question 2

AC 2.1, 2.2 Candidates should compare two different models for delivering HR services e.g. shared
services, outsourcing, or consultancy. They should provide a brief analysis of how the HR
function varies between organisations in different sectors and sizes e.g. candidates may
choose to address this by comparing the size and role of HR services delivery in an SME
with a large multinational organisation.

Question 3

AC 1.2 Candidates should give a couple of examples of major change theories that may include
classical theories such as Lewin’s three-phase model and more contemporary models e.g.
Kotter’s eight-stage model. They should select one of the models and illustrate their
understanding by showing how the model can be used and evaluated.

Question 4

AC 3.1 Candidates should give examples of different approaches to HR evaluation e.g. metrics,
balanced scorecard, benchmarking, SLA’s, KPI’s, benchmarking, surveys.

Question 5

AC 4.1, 4.2 Candidates should identify the article that has linked HR practice with positive
organisational outcomes. They should summarise the main findings and comment on the
persuasiveness of the findings. They may include some of the following points: the link
between high organisation performance and effective HR services, human capital, human
capital perspectives and building organisation capability.

Assessment Bank – HR Level 5 (QCF) – Version 1.0 September 2015