Essay Question (total word count 3,000 words plus/minus 10%)

Part 1: What are some of the key elements of effective change management? Critically review the implementation of a specific organisational change and evaluate the implications for successful people management in situations of organisational change (approx. 2000 words).

Part 2: In your judgement, is organisational change typically managed well? Critically reflect on your own experiences of change situations. Compare and contrast your experiences with your discussion of successful people management of organisational change in Part 1 (approx. 1000 words).

Guidance – essay format 3000 word (+/- 10%) to submit via Bb as a single word document

1. Make sure you understand both parts of the question:

a. Part 1 and Part 2 are linked with the emphasis in Part 2 on your views supported with relevant evidence/ examples, theories, and literature.

b. Make sure that you conduct a critical analysis and review – this means you evaluate implications and reach judgements and avoid merely being descriptive. The emphasis should be on discussion, analysis, application and argument informed by theory and literature.

c. The best essays have something to say: the essay as a whole is an argument that shows that you have thought deeply about the issues. Typically, the argument is described early in the essay and then builds throughout the essay with relevant conclusions. A strong argument clearly addresses the purpose of the assignment, has a clear line of thought, and demonstrates sound judgement, critical thinking and well-reasoned.

d. Integrate relevant theories, using them throughout your coursework – theories should not be in a separate section.

2. Discussing relevant theories, literature and themes:

a. Use a wide range of literature.

b. There are many helpful sources given in the Reading list in the Course Site, and additional links to relevant reading are suggested within each Study Unit. We suggest Study Units 1-9 are most relevant to draw on for Part 1; and the materials covered in Study Units 1 & 10-11 are the additional sources you might draw on within Part 2 – in addition to relevant materials from these earlier study units.

c. Some key readings are listed in the Teaching Plan. This document tells you which week each study unit is covered and what you should pre-read for the lecture and the seminar.

d. Do NOT select theories and approaches from other modules (e.g. a strategic management approach, business or industry level sources or HRM sources).

3. Choosing the Organisational Change for Part 1: You can choose a specific organisational change from:

a. From personal experiences of organisational change perhaps on placement or other work experience

or

b. Examples of change management with which you are familiar and about which you have sufficient information

or

c. You can generate your own case study from an organisation you have access to (for example through meetings/interviews or a family member etc.). This gives you the option to build your own case based on others’ experiences. Be careful to ensure you can obtain enough details. This may prove to be time consuming to do.

or

d. A published case study from within the core text (except for MYBANK) or other sources. If you decide to use a published case study rather than your own experience you need to ensure the analysis is your own work and not a repetition from other sources. If you choose a case from the core text remember to use a range of theories and models from the study units 1-9 and; do NOT rely solely on sources from the same chapter as the case. You need to use a broader range that draws on at least two chapters.

e. IMPORTANT: You CANNOT use the MYBANK Case (from the core text or any other source) Nor can you use any case study or organisation used in any other level 3 module (e.g. Strategic Management or another module). This will help you to ensure you are analysing an organisational change and management of change and NOT a business change case or a review of strategic change etc. If you have any doubt, check your choice of case with your seminar tutor.

Finally, remember…

4. You can discuss either successful or unsuccessful change events and evaluate lessons about what made, or could have made, them successful.

5. Use the formative feedback in seminars and the formative assignment to help you consider what you need to do to earn a good mark.

6. Use the full word count to maximise your marks

7. Do attend the Q&A lecture and seminar for this coursework held in the last teaching week of Semester One.

8. You can also take advantage of the additional drop-ins scheduled in January (dates tbc).

For full Learning Outcomes and Module Specification use this link

Later in this document you will find the marking scheme and marks feedback sheet that contains the full details of assessment criteria which will be used to mark your coursework.

In summary tutors will mark the essay with equal weighting based on the following assessment criteria:

· Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories (T)

· Analysis linking theory and practice (A)

· Critical evaluation and coherent argument (C)

Meeting these assessment criteria will require the following:

T (Theory)

· Relevant theories and models are selected

· Read extensively and use a wide range of theories

· Demonstrate understanding without describing in detail

· Relevant theories are likely to be those covered within the lectures, seminars, recommended readings and core text (see reference sources above). You are also expected to add to these sources from your own reading. Remember not to use those from other Modules such as HRM or Business, Financial or Industry Analyses.

A (Analysis and Application)

· Detailed exploration of your organisational change case (Part 1) and your reflections on your experience of change (Part 2)

· Make consistent use of theories and literature to demonstrate insight and to expose key issues.

· Illustrate your answer with a good range of relevant examples from the organisational change (Part 1) and your own experience (Part 2).

C (Criticality) Demonstrate critical thinking. This means making clear arguments that emphasise the relevance and importance of your learnings and insights. For example:

· Maintain a focus on answering the question throughout and develop a line, or lines, of reasoning or argument

· Introduce your main argument at the beginning of your essay and then develop the details of how you reached this as your essay progresses. Your introduction should also tell us how you are structuring your Part 1 and Part 2 of the essay.

· Make points that are evidenced with details from examples from your experience and discuss relevant aspects of your chosen theories/ approaches

· Question the applicability and usefulness of the theories and literature: did it help you to analyse the organisational change (Part 1); and your personal change experiences (Part 2)?

· Compare and contrast the relevance of your chosen theories/ models. Are they useful in gaining insight?

· Comment on the limits and relevance of different theories and models IF they help you answer the question.

Formative feedback provides opportunities to reflect on your ongoing work and preparation for your assignment. This is given within your MOC SEMINARS (two-hour workshops) which run every week; all students are timetabled to be able to attend one of these. Every seminar will include some work on the assignment, this will include how to answer the question, what is expected of you, assistance with writing, and constructing/planning your answers, so please

· DO attend all seminars including the dedicated Q&A lecture and seminars in the last week of Semester One. Do use the drop-ins and ASC support offered in early January.

· DO complete the formative piece which gives you the opportunity to build summative assignment skills and gain feedback on the quality of your work. It will help you decide if you are on track and working at the right standard for the essay.

· DO think about your piece and ask the questions you need to ask within your seminars

· You can use your seminars with your own tutor and the drops-ins to discuss your assignment writing plans and queries with tutors. Please note we do not read drafts.

All work should be word processed in 12 point font Calibri, Times New Roman or Arial and double spaced.

Please use the following file format(s): .doc / .docx (please note that files submitted in formats associated with Apple Mac computers are not able to be opened, and thus, not able to be marked. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your coursework in the appropriate format)

Please ensure that you provide the following details on the first page of your coursework:

· Student Number

· Module Name and Code

· Word Count

· Coursework question

· 3000 words (+/- 10% which is a minimum of 2700 words and a maximum of 3300 words). Writing beyond this maximum limit will not be read or marked

· Word count includes everything in the main body of the essay (including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, acronyms and numbers expressed as digits or in words. etc.)

· The reference/ bibliography pages and any Appendix at the end are excluded from the word count.

· Appendices are not expected, if you do decide to use appendices remember these will NOT be marked. The marker may or may not refer to the Appendices: do not depend upon material contained in Appendices to develop the discussion in the main body of your essay.

.

Tutor overall comment/ feedback

Main area/s of strength (including what earnt you marks):

Two main areas for improvement (what would earn more marks):

In addition to the above, the main ways to improve this assignment are:

Shows outstanding evidence of reading widely.

Outstandingly extensive reference to wide range of relevant literature beyond the core text.

Outstandingly extensive integration of theory with practice.

Outstandingly well-chosen number and quality of examples.

Outstanding development of strong, coherent argument.

Outstanding address of the purpose of the assignment.

Outstandingly adept handling of the material, well-reasoned, with a clear line of thought.

Shows excellent evidence of reading widely.

Extensive reference to wide range of relevant literature beyond the core text.

Referencing is exemplary.

Extensive integration of theory with practice.

Well-chosen number and quality of examples.

Development of strong, coherent argument.

Consistently addresses the purpose of the assignment.

Adept handling of the material, well-reasoned, with a clear line of thought.

Shows good evidence of reading.

Reference to a good range of relevant literature beyond the core text.

Referencing is consistently accurate.

Good integration of theory and practice.

Good number and quality of examples used.

Development of a coherent argument.

Addresses the purpose of the assignment.

Material is well-handled, with clear evidence of reasoning and narrative thread.

Well written with a coherent structure.

Adequate evidence of reading.

Some reference to relevant literature.

Core text and essential reading only

Referencing is accurate in the main.

Reasonable integration of theory and practice.

Adequate number and quality of examples.

Has an argument but sometimes difficult to follow.

Generally, addresses the purpose of the assignment.

Satisfactory handling of the material, but the reader may sometimes have to work to follow the line of thought.

Reasonable structure and written presentation

Limited evidence of reading.

Few references to relevant literature.

No more than core text/lecture material

Some attempt at accurate referencing.

Weak linkage between theory and practice.

Weak or few examples.

Weak argument – not developed.

Does address the purpose of the assignment in parts, but often strays off the point.

Poor handling of the material and the reader has to work to follow the line of thought.

Some structure and/ or weak written presentation

Marginal Fail

Little evidence of reading

Very few references to relevant literature.

Inaccurate referencing.

Minimal linkage between theory and practice.

Very poor or very few examples.

Little obvious argument.

Fails in large part to address the purpose of the assignment.

Handling of the material is weak, with little obvious line of thought.

No obvious structure and/ or inadequate written presentation.

Extremely limited and almost no evidence of relevant reading – including limited from the core text.

Extremely limited references to relevant literature.

None or extremely limited referencing.

Unclear and extremely limited linkage between theory and practice.

Irrelevant or extremely weak examples.

Difficult to identify or unclear argument.

Overwhelmingly fails to address the purpose of the assignment.

Handling of material is very weak, with no obvious line of thought.

Unstructured and/ or poorly written.

No evidence of relevant reading – not even the core text.

No references to relevant literature.

No referencing.

No linkage between theory and practice.

Irrelevant or no examples.

No obvious argument.

Fails to address the purpose of the assignment.

Handling of material is extremely weak, with no clear line of thought.

Incomplete and too brief and/or poorly written to earn more marks