What future challenges can you foresee and what recommendations would you make for addressing these?

Explain the key challenges that Amey faced in terms of structuring and organising its HR department, and critically evaluate the approach taken to tackling these challenges. What future challenges can you foresee, and what recommendations would you mak
You will be given a case study on Amey plc, a company that won the CIPD People Management Award in 2011. The case study explains how the companys new Group HR Director, Valerie Hughes-DAeth, introduced a series of changes to the HR department and its operation that significantly enhanced the companys performance and perceptions of HRs role.
Based on the case study, your task is to write an individual assignment of no more than 2,500 words ( not including reference) that addresses of the following question:
“Explain the key challenges that Amey faced in terms of structuring and organising its HR department, and critically evaluate the approach taken to tackling these challenges. What future challenges can you foresee, and what recommendations would you make for addressing these?”
This question focuses on the structure & organisation of the HR department (rather than the general issues of Amey)
Therefore you need to consider the following:
LEVEL1 -Descriptive:
How was the HR department structured prior to the change process?
What changes were made to the structure & organisation of the HR department?
LEVEL2 -Critical Analysis
(Think about: Why were these changes made? What particular challenges were these changes addressing?)
Write about:
Which approaches were taken to managing this change? This requires you to consider the various theories and models of change management to assess which apply to Ameys approach to managing change for its HR department. You must critically evaluate the approaches that were taken i.e. what were the strengths and weaknesses of the approach taken by Amey?
What future challenges can you foresee, and what recommendations would you make for addressing these?
This should account for approximately 25% of the total word count
Description:
What is the strategy of Amey for the next 4-5 years? What HR challenges can you foresee as a result of this strategy?
Critical Analysis:
Make recommendations for addressing the HR challenges you have identified.
Given the emphasis in this module on the practical application of theory within the HRM arena, it is important that your assignment clearly draws on relevant theories and models in analysing the case study. The lectures and seminars, together with the textbooks and additional reading provided for the module will constitute a good starting point, and we recommend you also read more widely around your chosen subject.
Samples of theory applies
Balogun and Hope-Haileys (2004) Change Kaleidoscope
Balogun and Hope-Haileys (2008) Change Kaleidoscope
External & Internal Environmental Factors Influencing HR Activities
It is required to identify more theories relevant an essay`s subject and structure.
The marking criteria for the assignment are given at the end of the module guide. We will be looking for the following:
A well-written, well-presented, clearly structured and well-argued piece of work.
The demonstration that you have understood and applied relevant theories in your answer.
Evidence that you have read and understood the case study.
Critical analysis and insight; in other words, it is important not to just describe your views, but rather you need to weigh up one argument against another, using academic sources, and then come to a considered view based on the available evidence.
Evidence that you have read and understood a range of academic journal articles. It is not enough to rely solely on textbooks for your assignment. We are expecting you to do some independent research to find relevant articles .
ADVICE ON STRUCTURE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT
Introduction:
A very brief introduction to the case study organisation and the main issues relevant to your question (i.e. either the HR department or general HR issues)
Main Body:
Begin with Level 1 Descriptive account relevant to your question – but dont use up too many words doing this! Start with the broader or most significant issues first and work through logically all the issues relevant to your question. Make linkages between issues to ensure you are developing a ‘story
How you structure the initial step of your Level 2: Critical Analysis arguments is up to you! There are a couple of choices e.g.
Alongside identifying the issue you discuss why these changes were made? What particular issues were being addressed?
After describing all the issues you then go on to discuss why the changes were made
You then need to evaluate which approaches were taken to managing change? Remember to relate back to relevant theories and models from the literature.
Conclusion:
This should cover the question that is the same for both i.e. What future challenges can you foresee, and what recommendations would you make for addressing these?
And then one final paragraph at the end briefly summarising your findings and arguments
Assignment format:
The assignment should be up to 2,500 words in length, excluding references and appendices.
Always use the Harvard referencing system as advised in your Programme Guide, and ensure that you fully acknowledge all sources you use.
Any direct quotations should always be indicated with inverted commas and the full reference including page numbers is required. Turnitin will check for plagiarism.