ULMS550: Human Resource Management: Academic And Practitioner Perspectives Assignment 2 Case Study 2025-26

ULMS550 Overview:

This assessment is a series of professional written communiques based on the case study which is available in the Assessment section on Canvas. This 4,000-word assessment is an opportunity for students to demonstrate critical understanding of the case and employ professional persuasive writing skills to proffer key strategic recommendations to senior management, develop critical analysis, problem solving skills and demonstrate their business acumen.

Introduction & Questions:

Intisar, and the department heads, Shams Niaz, Naqvi Ameen, and Noman Raza have met and after some serious reflection, decided that given the challenges in the industry, they still believe HR can be of help in Affluent. They’ve decided it’s important to keep the HRM department and to hire a new HRM director.

Congratulations! – They have chosen to hire you!
You are now tasked with developing a new HRM strategy, suggest a new structural configuration and develop updated policies and procedures. You need to address three key issues:

1.To begin with, gaining stakeholder buy-in is an essential part of being a strategic partner to the business. At this point, the HR department is lacking strategic direction, and you need to get the team together. You know that support for the team, from top management and employees will be key to the successful acceptance of HRM practices and policies. Intisar has given you all the changes proposed by your predecessor and feedback from departmental heads and employees. As the new HR Director, provide a detailed plan regarding the approach you are going to take, to ensure support from senior leadership.

2.Although the HR department had been around for over a year, the employees claimed to not understand what HR was there for and some employees even cited the introduction of the HR department as the reason for their departure. Secondly, HR was brought in to help reduce turnover and address employee satisfaction concerns in Affluent. The previous HR manager attempted to bring in new policies and procedures for this. As the new HR Management team, what changes do you expect to make, to reduce turnover and improve employee satisfaction as well as better relations between HR and employees?

3.Strategic buy-in from senior management is essential to ensure operations of the HR department. As the Director of HR, how will you convince the CEO and other senior colleagues, for their support of the new HRM departments plans?

You therefore have 3 deliverables which are detailed as below:

1.For issue 1: The deliverable is a strategic planning document for the HRM department i.e., it is an internal departmental document for the employees of the HRM department. The target audience for this deliverable is the HRM department. This strategic plan will provide the overall vision and direction for the HR department. The plan should include details of actions, the rationale, the timeline and expected outcomes and how those outcomes are going to be assessed/evaluated.

2.For issue 2: The deliverable is an internal communication from the HRM department, sent to all employees. The target audience are the employees. There is a lack of trust regarding HRM. This document should outline what key policies the HRM will be introducing/amending and provide transparency and outline the approach that HRM will now be taking going forward, regarding employee pathway at Affluent. Provide employees with this outline and changes you expect to make (e.g. policy documents) and provide the rationale for them.

3.For issue 3: The deliverable is an executive summary. Based on the strategic document you have crafted for the HRM Department (for the answer to Question 1), write an executive summary to Intisar and the department heads, summarising the

new HRM agenda (e.g. what are the core values of the HRM department), proposed structural configuration (including the rationale), and provide an overview of key plans on how HRM plans to tackle pressing issues at Affluent. The critical aspect of this letter is to get buy-in from these key strategic stakeholders, so ensure you are providing evidence-based arguments and demonstrating that you are aware of the business, employee needs and have robust policies going forward.

Other assessment details:

1.This is an individual assignment, and it is worth 60% of your total grade.
2.This 4,000 word assessment is an opportunity for students to further develop critical analysis, problem solving skills and business acumen. Please note, this is the maximum word count. Appendices will not be counted towards the word count. However, appendices should only provide supplementary information to the main body of the document. If anything is critical to your delivery of the task i.e. what you are being assessed on, then it should be in the main body where it is included in the word count. In other words, appendices are not a way of extending the word count! Be strategic in their use.
3.Given the different audiences, the report should clearly outline the three parts it addresses. (e.g. ‘Part 1: Strategic Plan’ for HRM and ‘Part 2: Communication to Employees’ and ‘Executive Summary’). Consider how you want to distribute your word count between the three deliverables (e.g. an executive summary would probably be closer to 800-1000 words at max)
4.In-text citations will count towards the word count.
5.A reference list must be included at the end. The reference list will not count towards the word count. Use references strategically.
6.Please follow the guidance in your ULMS Handbook regarding formatting.
7.Please use a word document to type up your report. You can use diagrams/pictures that you think may be relevant.
8.The submission portal will be made available on Canvas from Friday, 15th March, 2024 at 12 noon GMT to Thursday, 22nd March 2024, 12 noon GMT.