lsas strategic resouce management june

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LONDON SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDIES

ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management

Module: Strategic Resource Management

Assignment

JUNE 2013 SESSION

DUE DATE: Thursday, 9th

January 2014, 5:00 PM

ONE HARD COPY must be submitted by hand to the Academics Office, Cheam Campus, by

the above deadline

ONE ELECTRONIC COPY must be emailed to [email protected] by the above deadline

You must read the associated Assignment Guidelines including those on Plagiarism

mailto:[email protected]

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Assignment Questions

SCENARIO

Tesco is one of the largest retailers in the world and a leading supermarket in UK. Tesco’s core

business in the UK is retailing which provides 60% of all sales and its profit. Tesco operates using four

strategic business units - Core UK, which handles United Kingdom grocery operations, International,

which handles international holdings, Non-Food, which handles sales of electronics, home goods and

other non-food items sold in Tesco Extra and other stores, and Retailing Services, which manages

financial services, the Tesco.com web site, and Tesco Telecoms services (Tesco, 2008).

(http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_18_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzE4L2Z1b

GwucGRmfHw=)

You have recently applied for the job of Resource Manager at Tesco and you along with 3 other candidates

have been successfully shortlisted for the role. All four of you have been invited to an Assessment Centre

which involves completing a series of tasks/assignments below designed to analyse Tesco as a company and

assess your knowledge of Strategic Resource Management. The candidate that successfully completes each of

the tasks will be hired as the Resource Manager.

Task 1: Investigate how human resource management contributes to the achievement of organisational

objectives AND strategy. Then analyse the effectiveness of Tesco’s HRM strategies in supporting its overall

organisational strategy.

Note: HRM Strategies include recruitment and selection, training and development, reward and recognition.

These different HRM Strategies should be linked to the organizational strategy and purpose. First you need to

understand the organisational strategy of Tesco, and then investigate its HR strategy, then analyse the HRs

effectiveness for achieving the organisational strategy.

(http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_13_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzEzL2Z1b

GwucGRmfHw=)

AC 1.1., 1.2, 2.4

Task 2: Human resource planning is a core function of HRM in any organization. Appraise the process that

Tesco uses to plan for its HR requirements.

Note: While Appraising the Tesco HR Planning Process both internal and external factors must be taken into

account. “Successful Planning requires a complete environmental scanning”

(http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)1/Version_3/H0216368.pdf)

AC 1.3

Task 3: Learning organisations always emphasise the need for continuous engagement and development of

their employees.

http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_18_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzE4L2Z1bGwucGRmfHw


http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_13_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzEzL2Z1bGwucGRmfHw


http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)1/Version_3/H0216368.pdf)

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Critically assess the different employee development techniques used at Tesco and evaluate how these HR

techniques ensure employee engagement in the business. Also evaluate how recruitment and selection

strategies are used at Tesco, and how they support the overall organisational strategy.

Note: Different employee development techniques like Coaching, Training and Mentoring can be considered.

Moreover the concept of managing people or people performance can be linked in this scenario. Discussing

different retention and employee engagement techniques specifically by the organization can be very helpful.

(http://www.cpdopportunity.com/resources/delivering%20success%20tesco.pdf)

AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4

Task 4

An effective physical resource strategy supports the strategic management of the business. A recent piece of

research shows that a competitive physical resource strategy helps an organisation achieve its strategic

objectives and it develops a partnering environment for the employees creating an overall value for the

business and its customers.

i. Critically evaluate the purpose of a physical resource management strategy in Tesco and appraise at

least two processes Tesco may use (or is using) to plan the requirements for its physical resource

management strategy

ii. Investigate how the physical resource management process at Tesco helps it to achieve its

organisational objectives.

NOTE: To respond to the above task you will need to first understand what is the physical resource

management strategy of Tesco. The following Aspects can be consider while making physical resource

analysis:

•What is the use of the resources to deliver outputs?

•Output delivered within allocated resource

•Waste minimisation

•Ensuring resource efficiency

(http://www.acquaint.me.uk/SOW/SE/A-Marway_M1.pdf)

(http://www.tescoplc.com/files/pdf/reports/tesco_and_society_2013_ipad.pdf)

AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Task 5

Assuming the market share of Tesco is falling. You are liaising with the Director of Marketing for Tesco. You

have both decided to launch an aggressive new marketing initiative to increase sales and profit.

i. Investigate AND then Critically evaluate how marketing activities (e.g. Market segmentation,

Buyer behaviour, Branding, Product positioning and Marketing mix) can help achieve Tesco’s

objectives of increasing sales and profit

http://www.cpdopportunity.com/resources/delivering%20success%20tesco.pdf

http://www.acquaint.me.uk/SOW/SE/A-Marway_M1.pdf

http://www.tescoplc.com/files/pdf/reports/tesco_and_society_2013_ipad.pdf

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ii. Systematically appraise at least two processes (e.g. Product strategy, Price strategy, Relationship

marketing, logistics and Ethical issues in marketing) that Tesco may use (or is using) to develop

its markets.

Supporting resources:

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/brands/tesco/

http://elearning.sbta.com.au/www/content/lessons/2242/Marketing%20entry%20plan%20for%20Tesco%20in

%20Switzerland.pdf

AC 4.1, 4.2, 4.3

Task 6

Information technology has proven to be a source of revolutionary change in any organisation, for example

online business, where Tesco was the first supermarket in 1996 to launch home shopping online. In addition,

for most businesses, there are a variety of requirements for information. Senior managers need information to

help with their business planning, middle management needs more detailed information to help them monitor

and control business activities, etc. As a result, businesses tend to have several "information systems"

operating at the same time. (Jim Riley, 2012). Large global business further need their businesses to be

managed a standard IT system and so companies such as Tesco use the software of external companies.

Critically evaluate the role of information systems management at Tesco and investigate how at least two

systems are helping Tesco achieve its organisational objectives. Moreover, appraise the processes that Tesco

has used to plan its information systems requirements.

Note: ICT, Tesco Online Sales, Tesco Club Cards, Tesco Self Check Counters and other different

technological aspects can be considered in order to assess the role of information technology in organisational

development and achievements.

Supporting resource(s):

http://www.tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_information_system_types.htm

http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/people/staff/udf/CO321_assess1/Class5Group4/infoprod.html

http://www.cio.co.uk/news/strategy/technology-helps-tesco-beat-crunch/

AC 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Mapping to Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Assignment Marks: PASS or FAIL. There are no grades.

SCENARIO


http://elearning.sbta.com.au/www/content/lessons/2242/Marketing%20entry%20plan%20for%20Tesco%20in%20Switzerland.pdf





of 10

Tesco is one of the largest retailers in the world and a leading supermarket in UK. Tesco’s core

business in the UK is retailing which provides 60% of all sales and its profit. Tesco operates using four

strategic business units - Core UK, which handles United Kingdom grocery operations, International,

which handles international holdings, Non-Food, which handles sales of electronics, home goods and

other non-food items sold in Tesco Extra and other stores, and Retailing Services, which manages

financial services, the Tesco.com web site, and Tesco Telecoms services (Tesco, 2008).

(http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retrieve_tesco_18_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaWVzLzE4L2Z1b

GwucGRmfHw=)

You have recently applied for the job of Resource Manager at Tesco and you along with 3 other candidates

have been successfully shortlisted for the role. All four of you have been invited to an Assessment Centre

which involves completing a series of tasks/assignments below designed to analyse Tesco as a company and

assess your knowledge of Strategic Resource Management. The candidate that successfully completes each of

the tasks will be hired as the Resource Manager.

Question Assignment Topic Learning outcome Assessment Criteria

Task 1: Investigate how human resource

management contributes to the achievement of

organisational objectives AND strategy.

Then analyse the effectiveness of Tesco’s

HRM strategies in supporting its overall


Note: HRM Strategies include recruitment and

selection, training and development, reward and

recognition. These different HRM Strategies

should be linked to the organizational strategy

and purpose. First you need to understand the

organisational strategy of Tesco, and then

investigate its HR strategy, then analyse the

HRs effectiveness for achieving the


(http://download.businesscasestudies.co.uk/retri

eve_tesco_13_dGVzY28vY2FzZS1zdHVkaW

VzLzEzL2Z1bGwucGRmfHw=)

AC 1.1., 1.2, 2.4

Task 2: Human resource planning is a core

function of HRM in any organization. Appraise

the process that Tesco uses to plan for its HR

requirements.

Note: While Appraising the Tesco HR Planning

Process both internal and external factors must

be taken into account. “Successful Planning

LO1. Understand the role

of human resource

management in supporting

business strategy

1.1 Investigate how human resource

management contributes to the

achievement of organisational objectives

1.2 Critically evaluate the role of human

resource management within an

organisation

1.3 Appraise the processes that an

organisation uses to plan its human

resource requirements






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requires a complete environmental scanning”

(http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)1/Version_

3/H0216368.pdf)

AC 1.3

Task 3: Learning organisations always

emphasise the need for continuous engagement

and development of their employees.

Critically assess the different employee

development techniques used at Tesco and

evaluate how these HR techniques ensure

employee engagement in the business. Also

evaluate how recruitment and selection

strategies are used at Tesco, and how they

support the overall organisational strategy.

Note: Different employee development

techniques like Coaching, Training and

Mentoring can be considered. Moreover the

concept of managing people or people

performance can be linked in this scenario.

Discussing different retention and employee

engagement techniques specifically by the

organization can be very helpful.

(http://www.cpdopportunity.com/resources/deli

vering%20success%20tesco.pdf)

AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4

LO2. Know how to

develop human resources

in organisations

2.1 Evaluate the recruitment and

retention strategies used in an

organisation

2.2 Critically assess the techniques that

are used for employee development in an

organisation

2.3 Evaluate the contribution of human

resource development techniques in

ensuring employee engagement

2.4 Systematically analyse the

effectiveness of human resource

management strategies in supporting

organisational strategy

AC 2.4 is covered in Question 1

Task 4

An effective physical resource strategy supports

the strategic management of the business. A

recent piece of research shows that a

competitive physical resource strategy helps an

organisation achieve its strategic objectives and

it develops a partnering environment for the

employees creating an overall value for the

business and its customers.

i. Critically evaluate the purpose of a

physical resource management

strategy in Tesco and appraise at

least two processes Tesco may use

(or is using) to plan the

requirements for its physical

resource management strategy


of physical resource


business strategy

3.1 Investigate how physical resource



3.2 Critically evaluate the role of

physical resource management within an

organisation

3.3 Systematically appraise the processes

that an organisation uses to plan its

physical requirements





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ii. Investigate how the physical resource

management process at Tesco helps

it to achieve its organisational

objectives.

NOTE: To respond to the above task you will

need to first understand what is the physical

resource management strategy of Tesco. The

following Aspects can be consider while

making physical resource analysis:

•What is the use of the resources to deliver

outputs?

•Output delivered within allocated resource

•Waste minimisation

•Ensuring resource efficiency

(http://www.acquaint.me.uk/SOW/SE/A-

Marway_M1.pdf)

(http://www.tescoplc.com/files/pdf/reports/tesco

_and_society_2013_ipad.pdf)

AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Task 5

Assuming the market share of Tesco is falling.

You are liaising with the Director of Marketing

for Tesco. You have both decided to launch an

aggressive new marketing initiative to increase

sales and profit.

i. Investigate AND then Critically

evaluate how marketing activities

(e.g. Market segmentation, Buyer

behaviour, Branding, Product

positioning and Marketing mix) can

help achieve Tesco’s objectives of

increasing sales and profit

ii. Systematically appraise at least two

processes (e.g. Product strategy,

Price strategy, Relationship

marketing, logistics and Ethical

issues in marketing) that Tesco may

use (or is using) to develop its

markets.

Supporting resources:


of marketing in supporting

business strategy

4.1 Investigate how marketing activities

contribute to the achievement of

organisational objectives


marketing operations within an

organisation


that an organisation uses to develop its

markets





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http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/brands/tes

co/

http://elearning.sbta.com.au/www/content/lesso

ns/2242/Marketing%20entry%20plan%20for%2

0Tesco%20in%20Switzerland.pdf

AC 4.1, 4.2, 4.3

Task 6

Information technology has proven to be a

source of revolutionary change in any

organisation, for example online business,

where Tesco was the first supermarket in 1996

to launch home shopping online. In addition, for

most businesses, there are a variety of

requirements for information. Senior managers

need information to help with their business

planning, middle management needs more

detailed information to help them monitor and

control business activities, etc. As a result,

businesses tend to have several "information

systems" operating at the same time. (Jim Riley,

2012). Large global business further need their

businesses to be managed a standard IT system

and so companies such as Tesco use the

software of external companies.

Critically evaluate the role of information

systems management at Tesco and investigate

how at least two systems are helping Tesco

achieve its organisational objectives. Moreover,

appraise the processes that Tesco has used to

plan its information systems requirements.

Note: ICT, Tesco Online Sales, Tesco Club

Cards, Tesco Self Check Counters and other

different technological aspects can be

considered in order to assess the role of

information technology in organisational

development and achievements.

Supporting resource(s):

http://www.tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_in

LO5.Understand the role

of information systems


business strategy

5.1 Investigate how information systems




information systems management within

an organisation


that an organisation uses to plan its

information systems requirements







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formation_system_types.htm

http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/people/staff/udf/C

O321_assess1/Class5Group4/infoprod.html

http://www.cio.co.uk/news/strategy/technol

ogy-helps-tesco-beat-crunch/

AC 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Meaning of Command Words Used in Assignment Questions

The command words in an assignment question indicate to students the nature of the answer they should

give, and also give an indication of the skills being tested. Below are some examples of command words and

what the mean. Students should answer their question accordingly.

Command

Word

Meaning

Analyse Here you need to provide a detailed comparison of the causes and effects of how something has

happened / developed. Wherever possible use examples, especially if the stimulus material has

some within it. Sometimes the word "critically" is inserted before analyse. This means that you

must make suggestions as to why / why not something would / would not, in your opinion, be

appropriate to the issue being analysed. As ever, it's best to offer support to your

findings/opinions.

Explain Make an idea, situation or problem clear (to someone) by describing it in detail revealing relevant

data or facts.

Explain (why) This needs a detailed response with reasons about HOW something will, for example, benefit or

improve a particular situation.

Explain (how) This needs a detailed response that gives reasons WHY something might help / hinder the central

issue of the question.

Evaluate You are being asked to judge / assess /, using whatever information is available, the probable

outcome / worth / advantages / disadvantages / success of whatever is central to the

question. Form an idea of the amount, number, or value of someone or something.






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Assess Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something

Discuss This asked for a DETAILED explanation considering the possible outcomes and where possible

offering support to your descriptions.

Consider Think carefully about something, typically before making a decision

Identify Establish or indicate the origin, nature or definitive character of something

Justify Show or prove why something is right/reasonable or wrong/unreasonable. This calls for you to

explain why or give reasons for why something should happen or not happen.

Outline A general plan giving the essential features but not the detail. Only the main features or general

principles of something.

Describe Give an account in words of (someone or something such as a theory) including all of the relevant

characteristics, qualities or events.

Compare Estimate, measure or note the similarity or dissimilarity between one thing and another…(compare

something to) draw an analogy between one thing and another for the purpose of explanation or

clarification.

Apply

Apply your knowledge of, say the marketing mix, to a particular situation. You need to relate your

specific knowledge of the syllabus area to the situation you have been given.

Examine Inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine the nature or condition.

Contrast The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or

close association.

Suggest Put forward for a/your view point for consideration. Cause one to think that (something) exists or

is the case.

Define You must give the PRECISE meaning of what you are being asked. State or describe exactly the

nature, scope, or meaning of something

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