Assignment Brief – BTEC (RQF)
Higher National Diploma in Business Management
Programme Name Pearson BTEC Higher National Diploma in Business
Unit Number and Title Unit 20 Organisational Behaviour
Credit Value 15 Unit Level
5
Academic Year 2022-23 Cohort September 2021
Assessor Mohammad Islam
Assignment Title Latour Precision Engineering. Briefing papers 1 and 2
Issue Date 18 October 2022
Submission Deadline 28 January 2023 11:59PM UK Time
Internal Verifier Kashif Khan
IV Date 13 October 2022
Guideline for Submission
• The submission must be in the specific format(s) as specified in the assignment brief instructions.
• The assignment has TWO parts. Please read both parts carefully.
• Ideally, you should start writing your assignment as soon as you receive the assignment brief. You are expected to complete Part 1 before week 7 and obtain formative feedback from your Assessor during teaching weeks 7 and 8.
• It is also recommended, you complete Part 2 before week 13 and obtain formative feedback from your Assessor during teaching weeks 14 and 15
• There will be only one submission link in Turnitin. You are required to compile Part 1 and Part 2 into one Microsoft Word file for submission. Please refer to indicative layout given in Canvas.
• Please access HN Global for additional resources to support and reading for this unit. For further guidance and support on academic writing please refer to the Study Skills Unit on HN Global: www.highernationals.com
Submission Format: Part 1
The assignment is to be submitted as a briefing paper that can be presented in an appropriate format of your choice. The paper must be clear and concise and address all parts of the brief.
All your work must be supported with research and referenced correctly using the Harvard referencing system. You also need to provide a reference list using the Harvard referencing system. Inaccurate use of referencing may lead to issues of plagiarism if not applied correctly.
The recommended word limit for the briefing paper is 1500 words, although you will not be penalised for going under or exceeding the total word limit. You are advised to split the word count equally between the two sections.
Unit Learning Outcomes
L01 Reflect on own personality and perceptions to understand how individual difference informs and influences management approaches.
L02 Apply content and process theories of motivation to create and maintain an effective workforce.
Vocational Scenario, Activity and Guidance
You are a junior consultant with Ackroyd Consultancy. The consultancy offers “behavioural solutions” to small to medium sized companies in the private and public sector. Your line manager, David Parker (Head of Organisational Behaviour), has recently given you a new commission. The background is as follows.
The consultancy has been approached by Latour Precision Engineering (LPC). LPC manufactures specialist components for several hi-tech applications. These include medical instruments, aircraft, and sports cars. The company offers a bespoke service, manufacturing to the needs of individual customers. It competes by fulfilling niches rather than on volume and price.
The company remains in control of its founder, Henry Latour. Latour has a doctorate in physics and engineering and established his company as a means of “developing innovative solutions to the world’s problems”. Most days, you will still find him in the company Research and Development laboratory working on latest ideas with his scientific team.
Recently, the company has experienced financial problems. Most products now barely break even. The Sales and Marketing group are increasingly frustrated with poor cost control in the organisation. They also argue that the company has moved further away from a customer-centred, bespoke approach to focusing increasingly on new product development and, as they would argue, “searching for answers for problems that don’t yet exist.”
A consequence is severe and mounting conflict between the Sales and Marketing and Research and Development (R+D) groups. The Sales group accuse the R+D group of being “spoilt, unbusinesslike boffins”. In return, the R+D group see the Sales group as “ignorant and money-obsessed”.
Henry Latour, not a man for confrontation, has responded by burying himself in his latest project. However, like a good scientist, he wants to understand the problems and their causes. Consequently, he has contacted Ackroyd Consultancy for assistance.
Part 1
Henry Latour has been reflecting about the problems of his company. He thinks that his personality is part of the problem. He also thinks that his Sales and Marketing and Research and Development Groups are motivated by different things. But with a degree in Physics, and no theoretical or practical experience of organisational behaviour, he does not have the knowledge to enhance his understanding of the problems and propose solutions. He needs expert help and has asked Ackroyd Consultancy to provide a briefing paper.
You have been asked by your line manager, David Parker, to provide this briefing paper for Latour.
The briefing paper should have two sections.
Section 1 should explain how personality type affects behaviour and suggest how Henry Latour can identify his specific type of personality. You should conclude with your initial assessment of Latour’s personality and explain how you think it affects his behaviour at work.
Section 2 should explain to Latour the relevance of theories of motivation to understand the motivation of his employees. You then should identify one theory that you think is particularly useful to understanding the motivation of the Sales and Marketing and Research and Development groups and apply it to identify pertinent motivational differences between them.
Submission Format: Part 2
The assignment is to be submitted as a briefing paper that can be presented in an appropriate format of your choice. The paper must be clear and concise and address all parts of the brief.
All your work must be supported with research and referenced correctly using the Harvard referencing system. You also need to provide a reference list using the Harvard referencing system. Inaccurate use of referencing may lead to issues of plagiarism if not applied correctly.
The recommended word limit for the briefing paper is 1500 words, although you will not be penalised for going under or exceeding the total word limit. You are advised to split the word count equally between the two sections.
Unit Learning Outcomes
LO3 Participate in a group team activity for a given business situation to demonstrate
effective team skills.
LO4 Examine how power, politics and culture can be used to influence employee
behaviour and accomplish organisational goals.
Vocational Scenario, Activity and Guidance
Henry Latour was impressed with the first briefing paper and has asked for more advice. Despite significant changes in personnel, the conflict in his company has continued. He therefore thinks that cultural and structural factors are significant.
Again, you have been asked by your line manager, David Parker to provide a briefing paper for Latour. Parker has also asked you to apprise him of the groupwork process that he initiated to support this task and to give a presentation to Latour. You will learn more about the groupwork and presentation requirements in Weeks 6-9 of the module.
The briefing paper should be in two sections.
Section 1 should provide a summary of the likely culture of Latour Precision Engineering, recognising its key influences. It then should explain the type and probable sources of conflict found in the company. You should conclude by advising Henry Latour what he should do to manage the conflict effectively.
You should update your line manager, David Parker about the groupwork process that he initiated. You should explain the way your group allocated roles and responsibilities, made decisions, and overcame any problems. You should also identify the skills that you used and/or developed during the groupwork process and whether/how you found it useful.
Section 2 You should evaluate various factors that affect individual and or teams’ behaviour and performance to accomplish their goals.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
Pass Merit Distinction
LO1 Reflect on own personality and perceptions to understand how individual difference informs and influences management approaches
P1 Assess own personality traits and attributes in terms of them having a positive or negative effect on management approaches and company performance.
P2 Reflect on the value and importance of personality and perception for effective managerial relationships. M1 Challenge own perspectives and individual traits and attributes to influence and improve managerial relationships. LO1 and LO2
D1 Adapt personal perspectives, traits and attributes to justify improvements that influence and enhance employee motivation and create an effective workforce.
LO2 Apply content and process theories of motivation to create and maintain an effective workforce
P3 Apply content and process theories of motivation for enhancing and maintaining an effective organisational workforce, providing specific examples. M2 Critically assess the extent that employee motivation can be enhanced and maintained by practical application of content and process theories of motivation.
LO3 Participate in a group team activity for a given business situation to demonstrate effective team skills
P4 Contribute to the creation and
management of effective teamworking in a given business situation.
P5 Explore the relevance of group behaviour and team theory in the creation and
management of effective teamworking. M3 Reflect on personal contribution to group behaviour and dynamics in the creation and management of effective teamworking. D2 Revise personal contribution and skills for effective teams to make justified recommendations for own improvement.
LO4 Examine how power, politics and culture can be used to influence employee behaviour and accomplish organisational goals.
P6 Examine how the operation of power, politics and culture in an organisation affect employee behaviour and the accomplishment of organisational goals. M4 Evaluate how the operation of power,
politics and culture affect employee behaviour and the accomplishment of organisational goals. D3 Make justified recommendations on how power, politics and culture can be used effectively to influence and direct employee behaviour towards the accomplishment of organisational goals.