Assessment Brief

Module Code & Title: HRM9039M Comparative Human Resource Management

Contribution to Final Module Mark: 100%

Description of Assessment Task and Purpose: Academic reflective essay (expected

word count 3000 words)

The premise of the assessment:

Using a country of your choice as an example (ideally this is your home nation), critically
discuss the extent to which the process of globalisation has led to the convergence of HRM
practices towards one universal model or whether practices across borders retain distinctive
national features and remain divergent. Consider whether HRM practices may cross-verge.

The essay should utilise the work of recommended academic authors to assess the benefits
and challenges associated with the various approaches to managing people in the chosen
country and consider any examples of good practice. The discussion should also focus on
the possibility of sustainable human resource management through the country-led
approaches.

Students are expected to reflect critically on a range of topical literature in relation to industry
examples from selected countries.

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1 Critically reflect on the implications and potential benefits and challenges associated
with the use of varying approaches (convergence, divergence, or cross-vergence) to human
resources management across countries.

LO2 Critically examine a range of national institutional and national cultural factors that
impact the convergence, divergence, or cross-vergence of human resource management
practices in different country contexts.

LO3 Critically assess the approaches to recruitment and selection, performance

management, pay and rewards, talent development and employment relations within a
chosen country context. (Choose no more than 3 areas to discuss)

Knowledge & Skills Assessed:

Subject Specific Knowledge, Skills and Understanding: e.g., Literature searching,
Referencing, Numeracy, Health and Safety, Project Planning, Techniques and Skills Subject-
specific knowledge.
Professional Graduate Skills: e.g., independence and personal responsibility, adaptability,
verbal communication, written communication, creativity, critical thinking, IT skills, self-
reflection and life-long learning, problem solving, group or team skills, effective time
management, working under pressure to meet deadlines, negotiation skills, leadership.
Emotional Intelligence: e.g., self-awareness, self-management, awareness of others,
managing and supporting others, motivation, resilience, self-confidence.
Career-focused Skills: An understanding of the range of graduate careers, skills and
attributes required by employers, a range of strategies to present skills and attributes to
employers.

Assessment Submission Instructions:

Please submit the essay to the Turnitin link on the module Blackboard site no later than
12:00 (noon) UK Time on 13th May 2024.

Date for Return of Feedback: 10th June 2024

Format for Assessment: Academic reflective essay (See appendix for assessment criteria)

Late submissions, excluding approved extensions or approved mitigating circumstances, will

be penalised in accordance with university protocols. Work submitted after 12 pm (noon) on
13th May 2024, will be penalised by 5 points.
I.e.: Work submitted at 16:43 on the submission due date, if given a merit mark of 56, would
be penalised resulting in a final mark of 51.
[56 merit - 5-point penalty = 51 final mark awarded].

Work submitted after the submission due date will be penalised by 10 points per subsequent
day late.
I.e.: Work submitted 20th May 2024 (7 days late), if given a merit mark of 56, would be
penalised resulting in a final mark of 0.
[56 merit – (7 x 10-point penalty per day late) = 0 final mark awarded].

Marking Criteria for Assessment: Please see appendix three for details.

Please note that all work is assessed according to the University of Lincoln
Management of Assessment Policy and that marks awarded are provisional on
Examination Board decisions (which take place at the end of the Academic Year.

Feedback Format: Feedback will be provided electronically on the module Blackboard site

Additional Information for Completion of Assessment:

Format for Assessment:
Please follow the following formatting guidelines for your essay:
Font/size: Arial or Calibri/12-point font
Spacing/sides: 1.5 line spacing/single sides
Page numbers required: Yes
Margins: At least 2.54 to the left and right and text ‘justified’
Referencing: Full compliance with Harvard protocols

This assignment is limited to 3000 words. The word count includes everything in the main
body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes etc). It does NOT include your
reference list.
The word count should be clearly stated on the front cover page. Please note that the word
limit for this assignment is an absolute maximum. Misrepresentation of word counts in an
attempt to gain an unfair advantage in assessment may be referred as an academic offence.

Students should be aware that the marker will not include any work after the maximum word
limit has been reached within the allocation of marks. Students may therefore be penalised
for a failure to be concise and for failing to conclude their work within the word limit specified.
Likewise, a failure to meet the maximum word limit may result in lower marks based on the
quality of the work because they may not have included the necessary information required
for the assessment and met the intended learning outcomes.

Detailed instruction for this assessment is contained on the module’s Blackboard site under
the ‘Assessments’ folder.

Assessment Support Information: Assessment support will be provided in a dedicated

seminar for resit students only.

Important Information on Dishonesty & Plagiarism:

University of Lincoln Regulations define plagiarism as 'the passing off of another person's
thoughts, ideas, writings or images as one's own...Examples of plagiarism include the
unacknowledged use of another person's material whether in original or summary form.
Plagiarism also includes the copying of another student's work'.
Plagiarism is a serious offence and is treated by the University as a form of academic
dishonesty. Students are directed to the University Regulations for details of the procedures
and penalties involved.

For further information, see plagiarism.org


Learning Objective Fail
0-39
LO1 (30%) Critically Little or no evidence of HRM
reflect on the approaches is evident. Little to no
implications and discussion around the benefits,
potential benefits and challenges, and implications of the
challenges associated varying approaches. Minimal to no
with the use of varying links with the national context of a
approaches to human country example. Significant
resources management development of the discussion
across countries. may be required. Lacks
knowledge and understanding of
key literature. No attempt at
analysis, with significant
inconsistencies affecting the
soundness of arguments and/or
conclusions.
LO2 (30%) Critically Little or no understanding of
examine a range of academic national culture theory is
national and cultural demonstrated. No links between
factors that impact the academic theory and practice are
convergence or evident. No discussion of the
divergence of human impact convergence or divergence
resource management of HRM practices in different
practices in different country contexts. The work
country contexts. demonstrates some knowledge,
expertise and of the chosen topic,
but requires significant
improvement.
Appendix: Assessment Criteria
Marginal Fail
40-49
A weak identification of HRM
approaches is evident. Weak
links between the approaches to
HRM with national culture theory
may be present but may require
further development. Limited
discussion around the benefits,
challenges, and implications of the
varying approaches. Lacks
knowledge and understanding of
some key literature. Attempts
analysis, but significant
inconsistencies affect the
soundness of arguments and/or
conclusions. Demonstrates very
limited critical ability.
A weak understanding of national
culture theory present and the
links between academic theory
and practice require further
development. No discussion on
the impact of convergence or
divergence of HRM practices in
different country contexts. The
work demonstrates a level of
knowledge, expertise and
understanding of the chosen topic,
but the work requires some
development in parts.
Pass
50-59
Demonstrates some discussion of
HRM approaches. The discussion
is supported with examples of
HRM linked to a country context.
Some discussion around the
benefits, challenges, and
implications of the varying
approaches. Generally, provides a
sound understanding of key
literature, including current
theoretical and methodological
approaches. Some attempts at
analysis but the discussion
requires further academic
development.
Some understanding of national
culture theory is demonstrated and
linked to practice. The impact of
convergence or divergence of
HRM practices in different country
contexts implied, but not explicitly
stated. The links between theory
and practice may require further
academic development. The work
demonstrates a satisfactory level
of knowledge, expertise and
critical understanding of the
chosen topic that is deemed to be
satisfactory but may require
further development in some parts.
Merit Distinction Distinction
60-69 70-79 80+
Good discussion of several HRM Excellent discussion of several Exceptional discussion of several
approaches linked with the HRM approaches linked with the HRM approaches linked with the
national culture of a country. national culture of a country national culture of a country example.
Included discussion of benefits, example. The discussion is The discussion is supported by
challenges, and implications the supported by examples of HRM examples of HRM in the country
varying approaches. Supported by approaches in the country context.
context followed by an explicit and
examples of HRM approaches in Benefits, challenges, and publishable discussion of the benefits,
the country context. Demonstrates implications of various approaches
challenges and implications of various
knowledge, understanding and explicitly discussed. Produces approaches. This work meets and
critical awareness of literature. work of exceptional standard, often exceeds the standard for
Some analysis is evident. reflecting excellent understanding.
distinction, as described in the 70 – 85
Displays critical awareness of band, across all subcategories of
current literature. Analysis evident.
criteria. Typically, the work is of such
a quality that indicates a student
capable of doctoral research in the
discipline and in principle, has
potential for publication or exhibition
with further refinement as appropriate.
Reflects critically on own positionality,
nature and status of knowledge with
Good understanding Excellent understanding Exceptional understanding
demonstrated using national demonstrated using national demonstrated using national culture
culture theory applied to practice. culture theory applied to practice. theory. Multiple examples of national
At least one example used to One or more examples used to culture theory used to identify links
identify links between theory and identify links between theory and between theory and practice. The
practice. The impact of practice. The impact of impact of convergence or divergence
convergence or divergence in convergence or divergence on of HRM practices in different contexts
HRM practices in different country HRM practices in different explicitly discussed. The work
contexts described. The work contexts discussed. The work demonstrates an exceptional level of
demonstrates a level of in-depth demonstrates an excellent level of knowledge and critical understanding.
knowledge, expertise and critical knowledge and critical As such it far exceeds the standards
understanding of chosen topic that understanding. As such it expected at this level.
is deemed to be very strong. The exceeds the standards expected
work is authoritative and contains at this level.
original insights.

LO3 (30%) Critically Most HRM approaches are not
assess the approaches fully identified and supported with
to recruitment and industry examples from a chosen
selection, performance country context. There are
management, talent substantial gaps in the academic
development and discussion which require further
employment relations development. The work
within a chosen demonstrates some knowledge,
country context. expertise and of the chosen topic,
but requires significant
improvement.
There may are weaknesses in
terms of identifying specific HRM
approaches within a specific
country context and these are not
supported with examples from
industry. There is a lack of clarity
in the academic discussion. The
work demonstrates a level of
knowledge, expertise and
understanding of the chosen topic,
but the work requires some
development in parts.
Some understanding of specific
HRM approaches is identified.
Some industry examples from a
chosen country context are
included. Some weaknesses in
critical discussion are evident. The
work demonstrates a satisfactory
level of knowledge, expertise and
critical understanding of the
chosen topic that is deemed to be
satisfactory but may require
further development in some parts.
Good understanding of HRM
approaches demonstrated with the
use of industry examples from a
specific country context. At least
two specific approaches have
been discussed critically, but there
remains room for further analysis.
The work demonstrates a level of
in-depth knowledge, expertise and
critical understanding of chosen
topic that is deemed to be very
strong. The work is authoritative
and contains original insights.
Excellent level of understanding
demonstrated through the
identification and critical
discussion of some HRM
approaches supported with
industry examples from a chosen
country context. Three or more
examples are discussed critically.
The work demonstrates an
excellent level of knowledge and
critical understanding. As such it
exceeds the standards expected
at this level.
Exceptional level of understanding
demonstrated through the
identification and critical discussion of
several HRM supported by industry
examples within a specific country
contexts. Three or more examples may
be discussed critically. The work
demonstrates an exceptional level of
knowledge and critical understanding.
As such it far exceeds the standards
expected at this level.

Presentation The work fails to meet the
(10%) minimum standards at this level.
Quality of academic Significant amendments are
writing, referencing and required in all areas to bring the
structure of the final work up to a satisfactory standard.
submission. Utilising library resources to
improve in this area is strongly
recommended.
The work is somewhat
satisfactory, but improvements in
one or more areas is needed to
meet the standards expected at
this level. It is necessary to
engage with library resources to
improve in this area.
The work demonstrates good
efforts at quality academic writing.
Some engagement with Harvard
Referencing and attention to
structure is evident. However, one
or more areas are not yet perfect.
Utilising library resources to
improve in this area is
recommended.
The work is good. Evidence of
engagement with library sources is
clear, although there remains
room for further development. The
structure meets the standard
expected at this level. Continued
utilisation of library sources is
recommended.
The work is very well presented.
Quality of academic writing is very
good. Harvard Referencing used
correctly throughout. The structure
meets that expected at this level.
Engagement with library sources
is evident. Well done!
The work is exceptionally well
presented with high quality of
academic writing and nearly perfect
use of Harvard Referencing. The
structure far exceeds that expected at
this level. Continued engagement with
library sources is evident in the work.
Very well done!