The Management Environment Report

HRM + Strategy

1.  Evaluate the impact of history and culture on the international management environment;

Feedback within 4 weeks of submission.

For each day or part day up to five days after the published deadline, coursework relating to modules submitted late will have the numeric grade reduced by 10 grade points until or unless the numeric grade reaches 50.

If a submission is more than 5 days after the published deadline, a grade of zero will be awarded.

Where the numeric grade awarded for the assessment is less than 50, no lateness penalty will be applied

Choose ONE of the following essays:

Essay Q1: Critically discuss employee resistance and compliance to direct control and normative control in organisations. Consider this using research-based evidence of organisations in at least two different countries.

OR

Please not I changed Q2 on Tuesday 17^th November (Will Atkinson)

Essay Q2: Compare and contrast the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China as great powers and discuss the possible impact of the US presidential election on the growing conflict between the two powers

Essay question one and assignment brief

Q1 Critically discuss employee resistance and compliance to direct control and normative control in organisations. Consider this using research-based evidence of organisations in at least two different countries.

Q1 Description of the assignment:

Begin with an introduction explaining the main points of discussion in your essay.

Discuss what is meant by ‘control’ in the workplace. Discuss how control relates to power. Consider this in relation to the employment relationship.

Any specific instructions:

In terms of different types of ‘control’ it is expected that you consider direct control that is aimed at monitoring employee performance and more normative forms of control that aim at gaining employee commitment.

Referring to at least four research-based academic journal papers (and other sources) that have focused on ways employees respond to control and commitment mechanisms, critically discuss different employee responses (be they resistant or compliant) and the reasons for those responses in different organisational settings.

This must include employees in organisational settings in at least two different countries.

Referring to the discussion in your essay conclude on which method (direct control or more indirect forms of normative control) you feel is more effective from a managerial point of view.

Essay question two and assignment brief

Please note:  I changed ESSAY Q2 on Tuesday 17^th November (Will Atkinson)

Q2 Compare and contrast the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China as great powers and discuss the possible impact of the US presidential election on the growing conflict between the two powers

Q2: Description of the assignment:

The essay should begin with an introduction explaining the structure and argument. It should develop the argument in the main body of the text. It should end with a conclusion summarising the argument without adding new material.

Any specific instructions:

Students should devote an approximately equal amount of space to each part of the question

Ø  To compare and contrast the two powers of the USA and China you should be using Michael Mann’s sources of power (Economic, Military, Political, Ideological)

Ø  To discuss the impact of the US presidential election you should be using recent articles from sources such as (but not exclusively) the Economist and the Financial Times

An essay that is well-written and well-organised, and presents a clear argument backed by evidence derived from wide, well-chosen reading will earn high marks. One that is poorly organised and poorly written, and lacks a clear argument, with no sign of intelligent reading, will earn poor marks.

Assignment plan and feedback

You should develop a plan for the assignment (this is not assessed)

This should include two sections:

·         A plan of the key points you intend to cover in the essay (max. 250 words)

·         A clear reference for: one key article and one key book that has been provided during the module with a clear indication of what discussion point or argument you will be using them for in the main essay (max. 250 words)

Note on articles in plan:

For Question 1 this will need to be an academic research-based article

For Question 2 this can be a journalistic article on world affairs

For question 1 email plan to Will Atkinson

For question 2 email plan to Michael Williams

You will need to present these plans in online drop-in sessions where you will receive feedback on the direction of your essay in the week beginning 14^th December

Note:  NEVER email your draft assignment to other students.  Never use an essay from anyone else.  Do not use ‘essay’ web sites.  Write it yourself.