Kwantlen Polytechnic University HRMT Program

HRMT 5100 - Summer 2022

Assignment 1 (individual) – Due on June 6, 2022
Grade Worth: 15% of Final Course Grade

Overview of Assignment 1

A central learning objective of Weeks 1 to 3 was to develop a working knowledge of how business strategy is shaped,
and how HR Strategy links to Business strategy. Related concepts such as Vision, Mission, and Values statements were
explored.

This assignment will provide the opportunity for you to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts covered during
Weeks 1 and 3 (synchronously and asynchronously), your ability to research and synthesize information from different
sources concisely and cogently for business audiences, and your ability to organize information and influence
audiences effectively.

The completed assignment should follow a specific referencing style. APA is preferred but other recognized styles
such as MLA will be sufficient. The key is to use a recognized referencing style accurately and consistently. For the
most part, ideas and arguments should be well-developed and communicated in complete sentences except where
appropriate (such as using a bulleted list, table, or chart for formatting/organizational purposes).

Please upload your completed assignment into the assignment drop box as a .pdf or .doc/.docx file by the due date.

The Policy on late assignments/grace days as provided in the Course Outline applies.

Background Information

• Identify an organization of your choice that you will discuss in Questions 1 to 3.

• The organization that you choose cannot be Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Disney, Netflix, and Costco
which were covered in class.
• When answering Questions 1 to 3, define each concept. E.g. in Question 1, when outlining the Mission
statement of the company that you have chosen, be sure to define what a mission statement is.
• References to all the relevant information are required for this assignment (e.g. when outlining the Mission
Statement of the company, provide the citation for this information). You may choose an organization that you
currently work for (or previously worked for) if you are able to provide the references/citations required.

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University HRMT Program

Questions

1. Mission, Vision, Values

Provide a brief outline of the organization you’ve chosen in terms of the organization’s Mission, Vision, and
Values. Be sure to define these terms within your response. (15 Points).

2. Internal/External Analysis
(a) Based on verifiable and current information (published within the last 5 years), complete a PESTEL analysis
of the external environment. As a guideline, you may write 2-3 sentences per factor. (20 Points).

If you are using one of the variants of PESTEL, be sure to provide a logical and well-supported rationale
on why elements have been omitted from your analysis. E.g. if you are using PEST, provide a well-
supported argument with relevant references demonstrating why the Legal and Environmental factors
were not included in your rationale.

(b) Provide a concise but comprehensive analysis of the firm’s internal resources and capabilities based on
publicly available information and include the relevant references. Identify all relevant sources of
organizational strength/competitive advantage, even if they are not directly related to the organization’s
human capital or people. As a guideline, this may be up to one page. (20 points)

(c) Discuss the generic strategy that best matches one or more of the following:
a. The firm’s unique positioning
b. The firm’s competitive environment
c. The firm’s internal resources/capabilities
d. The firm’s realized strategy

Provide a fulsome and well-supported response that outlines your rationale for choosing this generic
strategy. Also, discuss the limitations of the generic strategy. As a guideline, this may be half a page to
one page (10 points)

3. HR Strategy
(a) Define the terms, HR Strategy and Talent Philosophy. (10 Points)

(b) Propose a statement that describes an appropriate Talent Philosophy for the organization based on your
previous answers. As a guideline, this may be 2 to 3 sentences. (10 Points)

(c) Identify 3 functional areas of HR Management (HRM) and outline how the generic strategy and Talent
Philosophy you outlined will impact the delivery of these HRM functions. In other words, what specific actions
would you take to ensure the activities and programs under these functions support the organization’s business
strategy and Talent Philosophy? Remember to include the definitions of these functional areas in your
response. As a guideline, you may provide 2 to 3 sentences per functional area. (15 points)

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Rubric1:
Not attempted to Beginning
(0 to 50%)
Content, Any of these criteria will result in this range
being applied. Specific grades will be based
Substance, on the degree to which these criteria are
Solutions reflected in submission.
• Includes incomplete content.
• Relevance of writing to prompts is not
evident.
• Writing shows little to no evidence of
knowledge or understanding of course
content or the application to practice.
• Writing summarizes information already
provided in the question and add little to no
value.
• Writing addresses less than 50% of the
prompts.
• Concepts are provided without explanation,
or writing makes unsupported
arguments/positions.
• Writing reflects minimal depth of critical
reflection as required by the assignment.
• Solutions are not realistic, demonstrate
superficial analysis, are generic, and do not
follow prior arguments/logic provided.
Clarity and Any of these criteria will result in this grade
being applied. Specific grades will be based
Writing on the degree to which these criteria are
Quality reflected in submission.
• The writing is not logically organized.
Frequently, ideas fail to make sense
together. The reader cannot identify a line
of reasoning.
• Errors in sentence structure are frequent
enough to be a major distraction to the
reader.
1
Adapted from Vanderbilt, Rubric for Research Paper, https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/Rubric-Research-
Paper-Winona-State.pdf
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Developing to
Competent
(51% to 80%)
Any of these criteria will result
in this range being applied.
Specific grades will be based
on the degree to which these
criteria are reflected in
submission.
• Uses some course content,
some definitions provided;
explains most ideas correctly
in own words.
• Writing addresses prompts
and references relevant
course concepts and course
materials (51% of the time
and up).
• Rationales, recommendation,
and analyses show some
connection to course
materials.
• Writing demonstrates an
above average understanding
of the course concepts.
• Writing demonstrates some
synthesis/questioning/critiqu
e of relevant but broader
themes/concepts.
Any of these criteria will result
in this grade being applied.
Specific grades will be based
on the degree to which these
criteria are reflected in
submission.
• In general, the writing is
arranged logically, although
occasionally ideas fail to make
sense together. The reader is
fairly clear about what the
writer intends.
• In general, sentences are
well-phrased and there is
some variety in length and
structure. The flow from
HRMT Program
Exemplary
(81% and up)
Any of these criteria will result in this
range being applied. Specific grades
will be based on the degree to which
these criteria are reflected in
submission.
• In-depth connection to course
content and materials consistently
throughout the writing.
• Exemplary depth of critical thinking
and analysis. Goes well beyond
average to moderate depth of
analysis.
• Thoughtful, plausible, and well-
supported explanations and
recommendations made. Solutions
can be implemented and will likely
solve the problem(s). Solutions are
unique and/or specific to the
situation described.
• Writing demonstrates insightful
synthesis/questioning/critique of
relevant but broader
themes/concepts.
Any of these criteria will result in this
grade being applied. Specific grades
will be based on the degree to which
these criteria are reflected in
submission.
• The ideas are arranged logically to
support the purpose or argument.
They flow smoothly from one to
another and are clearly linked to each
other. The reader can follow the line
of reasoning.
• Sentences are well-phrased and
varied in length and structure.
• Word choice is consistently precise
and accurate.
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Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Not attempted to Beginning
(0 to 50%)
Mechanics: Any of these criteria will result in this grade
being applied. Specific grades will be based
Grammar, on the degree to which these criteria are
Spelling reflected in submission.
Organization,
• Paper has significantly more or fewer pages
and Length
than specified in the assignment.
• There are so many errors that meaning is
obscured.
Use of Any of these criteria will result in this grade
being applied. Specific grades will be based
References on the degree to which these criteria are
and Quality of reflected in submission.
References
• There are virtually no sources that are
professionally reliable (e.g. unreviewed
internet sources, popular magazines, etc.).
The value/credibility of the material is in
question.
• Attribution is unclear/unfairly
represented/references are seldom cited to
support statements.
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Developing to
Competent
(51% to 80%)
sentence to sentence is
generally smooth. No more
than a few sentences are
awkwardly constructed,
causing the reader to be
distracted occasionally.
Any of these criteria will result
in this grade being applied.
Specific grades will be based
on the degree to which these
criteria are reflected in
submission.
• Paper is marginally aligned to
the number of pages specified
in the assignment.
• There are occasional errors,
but they don't represent a
major distraction or obscure
meaning.
Any of these criteria will result
in this grade being applied.
Specific grades will be based
on the degree to which these
criteria are reflected in
submission.
• Although most of the
references are professionally
legitimate, a few are
questionable (e.g. unreviewed
internet sources, popular
magazines, etc.). The reader is
uncertain of the reliability of
some of the sources.
• Professionally legitimate
sources that support claims
are generally present and
attribution is, for the most
part, clear and fairly
represented.
HRMT Program
Exemplary
(81% and up)
• The writing is free or almost free of
errors.
Any of these criteria will result in this
grade being applied. Specific grades
will be based on the degree to which
these criteria are reflected in
submission.
• Paper is closely aligned to the number
of pages specified in the assignment.
Any of these criteria will result in this
grade being applied. Specific grades
will be based on the degree to which
these criteria are reflected in
submission.
• Compelling evidence from legitimate
sources is given to support claims.
• Attribution is clear and fairly
represented.
• Referencing style/formatting is
consistent and accurate.
• References are primarily peer
reviewed professional journals or
other approved sources (e.g.,
government documents, industry-
trusted publications, trade
associations publications, etc).
• The reader is confident that the
information and ideas can be trusted.
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