Developing Professional Practice - Assignment Example

 Section A.2. The concept of the ‘Thinking Task 7. How can HR managers allow ‘thinking performers’ to develop not only within the HR department but also throughout the organisation? Answer in the space provided. Section A.3.4. Who is the HR Profession Map intended for? Task 8. List 3 ways HR professionals can use the HR Profession map in their role and benefit their development in the space provided. Section A.3.6. The CIPD Professional Code of Conduct Task 9. Looking at the professional code of conduct, can you thinks of instances when you have exemplified the standards of the code? Give two examples in the space provided. Section A.3.8. Corporate Social Responsibility and the role of the HR professional in promoting it Task 10. Reflect on the materials above, including the definition of CSR and its stakeholders. List 3 examples of internal stakeholders and 3 examples of external stakeholders in the space provided. Section A.4. Understanding HR’s customers and stakeholders Task 11. What are other reasons for HR to include senior management as our customers? List at least two examples in the space provided. Task 12. How could the above arguments conflict with more traditional views of HR? Write your answer in the space provided in no more than 150 words. Section A.4.1. Methods of securing customer feedback Task 13. Looking at the examples given above, how are these means of obtaining HR feedback being used within your current organisation? Could you state why you think they are/are not effective in leading to improvements? Answer in the space provided. Section A.4.4. The origins of continuous improvement – Kaizen Task 14. Think of an example of how you could improve upon a process, policy or procedure within your organisation and explore this in no more than 150 words in the space provided. Section B: Principles of Efficient Time and Project Management Section B.1. Setting Project Objectives Task 15. Think of a work project you are currently working on and apply the DISCO framework to it in the space provided on the next page. Section B.2. Elements of Project Planning Task 16. List a minimum of 4 advantages of using a structured project planning approach in order to complete a task. Answer in the space provided. Task 17. How does an understanding of project management techniques help HR professionals perform more efficiently? Give your answers in the space provided. Section B.3. Critical Thinking Task 18. Imagine that you are working as an HR professional specialising in Employee Relations. Why is it important for you to be a critical thinker in order to perform your job effectively? Explore your answers in the space provided in no more than 150 words. Section B.4. Effective communication and the role of technology Task 19. Give one example of a subject matter which is both of high importance and a high sensitivity, and one example of a subject matter which is of low importance and a low sensitivity. What would be the appropriate means of communicating this message and why? Answer in the space provided on the next page. Section B.5. Managing across the organisational structure Task 20. Give three examples of how HR professionals can manage effectively across an organisation’s departments. Provide your answers in the space provided. Task 21. Can you think of a way in which you have helped promote the HR function within your organisation? If not, how could you promote the function in future instances? Write your answer in the space provided in no more than 100 words. Section B.6.2. Methods for coping with difficult people related situations Task 22. In the three examples given identify which conflicts are in relation to an issue/task and which are in relation to a value/belief. Justify your choice using appropriate reasons in the space provided on the next page. Section B.7. Problem Solving Task 23. How can HR use a SWOT analysis as a problem solving technique? Please give your answers in the space provide in no more than 100 words. Task 24. Give at least one advantage and one disadvantage for this problem solving process in the space provided. Task 25. Write a brief summary of the decision that you need to make between two options (e.g. need to decide whether to pursue a certificate or diploma in Human Resource Management). First, there is a need to focus on the financial position of an individual. The two options have varying costs. Therefore, the financial position will be vital in making a decision. Secondly, there is a need to focus on the time taken for each option. For instance, a course that will take long before completion may have dire effect on career development. Similarly, there is a need to focus on the time schedule. For instance, some curses offer evening and distance learning. This may be a prudent course. Task 26. List the pros and cons for one option Taking a diploma in human resource is a prudent approach especially when in the human resource department. This will increase chances of getting a promotion. On the other hand, the course may be expensive when compared to the certificate in human resource management. Task 27. Make an appropriate decision based on your table Section C: Working Groups and Teams Section C.1. Group dynamics Task 28. Two aspects of group dynamics are group ideology and group cohesion. Research these two and briefly discuss them in around 100 words each in the space provided. Remember to reference your work. Task 29. How does an understanding of group dynamics, including Tuckman’s model allow HR professionals to be able to perform efficiently as part of a working group? Illustrate your answer with work examples in no more than 150 words in the space provided. Section C.2. Teamwork Task 30. How realistic do you think that the points listed above are in today’s organisations? Explore this in the space provided in no more than 100 words in the next page. Task 31. How do you think teams can fail to function effectively? Please give at least two examples below. Task 32. In Task 4.4 you have listed a number of examples of how teams can become ineffective. What do you think are some of the reasons behind teams failing to function effectively? Section C.3.2. Deal and Kennedy's Culture Types Task 33. Looking at your own organisation which example from the Deal and Kennedy culture type would it fall in to and why? Discuss your answer in the space provided in no more than 100 words. Task 34. What other examples of organisations/industries can you think of that fit the other three examples? Give your answers in the space provided. Section D: Continuing Professional Development Section D.1. The rationale and benefits for CPD Task 35. Why is it important for HR professionals to ‘own’ their CPD? Explore your thoughts in the space provided in no more than 150 words. Task 36. What are the benefits of CPD for individuals and for employers? Please list at least two benefits for each. Section D.4. Zappos and the Learning Organisation Task 37. In what ways is Zappos illustrating the factors as described in the Kandola and Fullerton model? Give two examples in the space provided on the next page. Section D.5. Single, Double, and Triple Loop Learning Task 38. Can you think of what would be an example of single and double loop learning within your organisation? Provide your answers in the space provided. Remember that single loop learning will be concerned with finding an improvement, whereas double loop learning will examine what the cause of the problem is. Section D.6. Sources for reflection to aid self development Task 39. Give three different examples of when you benefited from one of the sources of information mentioned above which has benefited your own self-development. Section D.7. Formats for your CPD Plan Task 40. Using the template below list 3 developmental items to start off your Personal Development Plan. What do I want or need to learn? What shall I do to achieve this? What resources or support shall I need? What will my success criteria be? Target dates for review and completion. Information technology Commitment to learning Learning materials Evening classes After a year Perfecting working in groups Working in groups occasionally Group support Working with groups at all times After one month Effective Communication Communicating with groups and individuals Learning resources in communication Practicing effective communication skills After one month Section D.8. Sustaining the motivational momentum – Kolb’s Learning Cycle Task 41. Reflect upon the subject areas covered in this unit. What have you learnt and how can it help you develop your HR career? In the space provided give your answer in no more than 200 words. Task 42. How can you use the knowledge that you have gained through this unit in your organisation? In the space provided give your answer in no more than 250 words in the space provided. References Cooper, C. L., & Burke, R. J. (2007). Human resource management in small business: Achieving peak performance. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub. Domsch, M., & Lidokhover, T. (2006). Human resource management in Russia. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate Pub. Eigenhuis, A., Dijk, R. ., & Eigenhuis, A. (2008). HR strategy for the high performing business: Inspiring success through effective human resource management. London: Kogan Page. Fleetwood, S., & Hesketh, A. (2010). Explaining the performance of human resource management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Gilmore, S., & Williams, S. (2009). Human resource management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mondy, R. W., & Mondy, J. B. (2008). Human resource management. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall. Pinnington, A., Macklin, R., & Campbell, T. (2007). Human resource management: Ethics and employment. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Price, A. (2011). Human resource management. Andover: Cengage Learning EMEA. Schuler, R. S., & Jackson, S. E. (2007). Strategic human resource management. Malden, MA: Blackwell. Searle, R., & Skinner, D. (2011). Trust and human resource management. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Read More