5MHR I103003

CIPD Assessment Activity

Title of unit/s

Managing and Co-ordinating the Human Resources Function

Unit No/s

5MHR

Level

Credit value

Assessment method

Individual presentation

Learning outcomes
1. Be able to explain the purpose and key objectives of the HR function in contemporary
organisations.
3. Understand how the HR function can be evaluated in terms of value and added contribution to
sustained organisation performance.
4. Understand the HRs functions contribution to effective change management.
Assessment brief/Activity

Assessment
Criteria

You have been asked to deliver a presentation to new graduate trainees in your
organisation (or an organisation with which you are familiar) on the role of HR.
The audience consists of newly graduated employees and you should assume that
they will have less understanding of the HR function than those with a longer history
of employment.
The presentation should be of approximately 15 minutes and cover the following:
1. A discussion of at least three organisational objectives that the HR function is
responsible for delivering and how these are evolving in relation to change in
the work environment.

1.1,1.2

2. You should consider three major theories of change management, discuss

how these might be applied in the workplace and give examples from
research and/or previous experience of how HR can play a role in
introducing and supporting effective change.

4.1,4.2

3. You should discuss how the contribution of HR in an organisation can be

evaluated and describe three methods used in evaluating the contribution of
HR, with a discussion of the effectiveness of each method in providing
reliable and usable data.

3.1,3.2

Evidence to be produced/required
An individual presentation of 15 minutes with further time for questions afterwards.
Supporting documentation to include:
A copy of the presentation slides
An individual statement of a maximum of two A4 pages which reflects on how the content of
the presentation has met the identified assessment criteria and includes citation of references.
Tutor assessment notes of the observed presentation. The content rather than the process of
presentation is directly related to the assessment criteria.

National Assessment Bank Intermediate level Version 1 August 2012

5MHR I103003
Guidance for Assessors for 5MHR (LO 1, 4 & 3)
This guidance is for assessors only and should not be handed out to candidates.
Candidates should be assessed using the CIPD skills observation checklist (SOC) or similar, against
the guidance below.
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 sources should be
supported by citations presented in the format that the centre determines.
It is important that candidates should have considered the stated audience of new graduate trainees
and aimed the content at this audience.
Activity 1
AC 1.1, 1.2

Activity 2
AC 4.1, 4.2

Activity 3
AC 3.1,3.2

Candidates should explain the purpose and key organisational objectives of

the HR function and discuss how these objectives evolve and change in
contemporary organisations. At least three objectives should be identified and
this should be supported by examples from an organisation with which the
candidate is familiar (local, national or international).

Three major theories of change management should be explained and related

to real events in the workplace. The role of HR in managing change should be
explored with examples given from research and/or previous experience of
how HR can support and encourage workplace change.

The major criteria used to evaluate the contribution of HR and of HR policies

and practices should be described with an assessment of the effectiveness of
three major methods used to evaluate the contribution of HR. Examples are:
SLAs, KPIs, objective setting, benchmarking, balanced scorecard and staff
surveys.

National Assessment Bank Intermediate level Version 1 August 2012