HRMG5064 – People, Management and
Organizations.
Type: Individual Essay 3,500 words
Date of submission:19th May 2021 – 12 noon latest.
Academic Year: 2020/2021 (Semester two) Credit value: 15
Module Assessment: 2020/2021
The assessment for this module will consist of a 3500 word (+-10%) critical and
analytical essay. The task accounts for the full 100% of the mark for the entire
module. The primary focus of the task is to explore key theories, literature,
thematic debates, contemporary business events and apply the knowledge
gained in the module in the context of your role as leader of a subsidiary of a
multinational corporation (MNC) in your host country.
The task
One year after completing your post graduate study, you are assigned to take
up the leadership of a Multinational Corporation (MNC) in your country of origin
(host country). Your company owns a leading brand competing with other global
brands in such items as premium quality shoes, bags, clothing and insurance
policy for protection on valued goods such as gold and diamond ornaments.
The Management of the brand takes place at your organization’s headquarters
in New York, USA (home country). As your Organization is multinational, it
recruits employees from many countries and cultures (third country nationals).
Specialist skill in manufacturing and design is mostly undertaken by French and
Italian nationals. Periodically these Italian and French nationals come to live
and work in your country where manufacturing and retail take place. These
French and Italian employees, along with Americans, other third country
nationals (TCNs) work alongside employees from your country (host country).
Faculty of
Business and Law
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The central office to which you have been appointed has a total number of 100
employees. Understandably, 60% of the staff are citizens of your own country,
while 40% are from ten different countries combined.
Your task is the following:
Drawing on knowledge developed in this module, your own experience and
wider reading, you are requested to write a critical, analytical and applied essay
of 3500 words where you engage and address the following aspects of your
role:
- Explore relevant theories in leadership studies and consider applying
theories/practices/approaches best suited for effective leadership in this
MNC operating in your country of origin. (approximately 500 words) - Critically analyse theories and literature associated with organizational
and national culture and outline possible culture-related challenges you
may face. Further, consider how you would mitigate the dominant issues
that will be inevitable in a cross-cultural working setting as depicted in
the above scenario (500 words). - Communication will be another challenge to be addressed. In your
essay, critically reflect on ways in which you will manage communication
barriers between employees. Also, speculate how language difference
could enhance a close relational working environment with impact on
employee wellbeing (500 words). - You are advised to undertake a process of change that requires your
subsidiary to show proof of awareness and application of acceptable
attitudes and behaviour at work. Consider how to implement this
necessity. - At the time you are appointed, the motivation level of employees is low
due mainly to uncertainty, anxiety of working with people from different
countries and uncertainty with long term contracts. Critically discuss how
you would raise levels of confidence, motivation and ensure harmony
and collegiality is established amongst employees (500 words). - Critically engage with the literature on emotional intelligence to consider
how you will draw on Goleman’s (1998) five dimensions to achieve
socially acceptable relationships, self-control and self-awareness in your
leadership practice (500 words). - We will expect you to present a clear introduction, clearly explaining the
task, identifies key issues to be developed and presents a clear
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structure explaining the sequencing of the different sections of your
essay (250 words) - Your essay should end with a composite conclusion reminding the
reader about what the task was about, how it has been accomplished,
noting key points and reflection on learning gained in the module and in
the process of undertaking the task (250 words).
Note that you have been asked to write an essay and not to present a report.
You will therefore avoid sub-headings if you can or do so in a way that keeps
your work harmonised rather than isolated sections. Also avoid writing in the
first person – ‘I’, ‘my’ or in my opinion etc. These expressions are not normally
appreciated in academic writing. Instead, say: this student…, this paper or
author argues…recent research examined by this student indicates…..as
leader of the organisation, the appropriate approach to adopt would be…… This
student’s analysis shows that X approach(es) would be effective. The reason(s)
for this is/are……
Also, note that the reference sources you use for your essay should come from
the following recommended list of ABS2, 3 and 4* journals: (Seek support
from a library staff should you face any difficulty in finding these journals and
the articles that you will wish to use in your essay)
Recommended journals to select articles:
▪ International Journal of Human Resource Management
▪ Work, Employment and Society
▪ Human Resource Management Journal
▪ European Journal of Industrial Relations
▪ Gender, Work and Organisation
▪ Employee Relations
▪ Human Relations
▪ Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes
▪ Journal of Organizational Behaviour
▪ Academy of Management Perspectives
▪ Academy of Management Journal
▪ Academy of Management Review
▪ Human Resource Management
▪ Leadership quarterly
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▪ Leadership journal
Note further that the articles or reference sources you bring into your essay
should not be older than 5 years. This means that you should only use reference
sources or articles published between; 2015 – 2020. The markers are more
interested in ongoing and current conversations/debates and issues around the
various topics rather than references such as: Transformational leadership
(Burns, 1978; Bass, 1985) or Maslow’s theory of motivation (Maslow, 1943).
We are interested in your reading and understanding of the manner in which
recent writers are engaging with these foundational concepts rather than in your
ability to explain what these concepts are. As much as possible, avoid
explanation and definitions of theories. Rather, engage in critical examination
about how these concepts are written about and applied in today’s business
and management context.
In your analysis, you should aim to compare/evaluate between
theories/perceptions/approaches, rather than just explain from websites or
books etc. In critical analysis process, you will consider highlighting similarities
and differences in the arguments developed, evaluate the value and
contribution and suitability of theories/approaches in your context. Avoid simple
explanation and description. Rather, seek to analyse current issues engaged in
the various streams of literature in some depth, outlining implication, limitations
and questioning assumptions drawing on your experience or alternative reallife news, events or cultural conventions.
Word limits: The word limit for each item of coursework is 3500 but can
increase or decrease by 10%. The limit includes quotations or citations inside
your text but does not include the reference list. Remember to set your wordprocessor to count the notes as well as the main text). Note that this is a limit;
it does not mean you must write that number of words. If you submit work that
is seriously over-length, you may find that the tutors only read and mark material
that falls within the word limit that is between 3750 and 3,150 words
