3CO01 Business, Culture and Change in Context

Introduction

The first module in the Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is known as 3CO01. This module delves into the internal influences that shape a business and its culture, with a focus on how people and professionals manage change. The assignment for this module requires students to respond to specific questions, aiming for an estimate of 2500 words. Students can choose to base their answers on their own workplace or a familiar organization. As an illustration, I will use the example of XYZ Corporation.

Assessment questions

1.1 An examination of the key external influences impacting or likely to impact the organisation’s activities

Instructions

Students need to describe three external factors and how they affect the organization, either in a positive or negative way. They can use the PESTLE analysis tool, which looks at Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors. For instance:

• Political factor: Brexit
• Economic factor: Covid-19 pandemic
• Legal factor: Changing employment regulations laws

Students should explain how these factors impact business operations at XYZ Corporation. The goal is to show how these external factors provide insight into understanding the business market environment.

1.2 A discussion of the organisation’s business goals and why it is important for organisations to plan for how they will achieve these

Instructions

A business goal is like a target that a business aims to achieve in a certain timeframe. For example, XYZ Corporation’s goal is to create a friendly environment for customers and offer healthy food options.

Students should then go into detail about other goals an organization might have and the specific objectives that help support the business in the external environment. After that, it’s important for students to explain why it’s crucial for professionals to plan how they’ll reach these business goals. This discussion should be effective in highlighting the importance of HR aligning with the organization’s overall goals and objectives.

1.3 A discussion of the organisation’s products and/or services and main customers

Instructions

The students will describe three types of products: core, actual, and augmented products. Additionally, they will explain the characteristics and demographics of the customers, along with how the company works to meet their needs.

For example, in the case of XYZ Corporation, the primary products are fast foods, drinks, and desserts. The company also focuses on enhancing dining experiences and providing excellent customer service.

XYZ Corporation aims its products and services at customers with low to middle-income levels, including students, employees, and parents with young children. This helps the company tailor its offerings to meet the needs of these specific customer groups.

1.4 A short review of different technologies available to people professionals and how these can be, or are, used to improve working practices and collaboration. You might consider, for example, technologies relating to communications, information sharing, record keeping, learning, well-being, productivity, or security

Instructions

Students need to give three examples of technology that HR professionals use at work, like social media technology, artificial intelligence, and cloud automation.

They should go on to explain how each of these technologies makes work practices and collaboration better. For instance, social media technology helps communication, artificial intelligence boosts service quality and improves learning and productivity, and automation speeds up manual processes, especially in record-keeping.

Lastly, students need to discuss the pros and cons of these technologies. This means looking at both the benefits and drawbacks of using social media tech, artificial intelligence, and cloud automation in the workplace.

2.1 What is meant by organisational culture and why it is important to foster an appropriate and effective workplace culture

Instructions

Students need to clarify what workplace culture means, describing it as how things are done in an organization. This involves underlying beliefs, values, patterns, and principles that shape how work happens.

They can refer to Charles Handy’s model of organizational culture, which breaks down into Power, Task culture, Person culture, and Role culture.

Then, students should explain why it’s essential to cultivate a positive culture. Some reasons include boosting employee involvement, embracing diversity and inclusion, and enhancing internal consistency.

Lastly, students must provide one example of a positive workplace culture and one with a negative impact. For instance, a positive impact could be a culture that promotes employee learning for growth and career development. On the flip side, a negative impact might stem from unhealthy employee competition adversely affecting the employees. 

2.2 How organisations are whole systems, in which different areas and aspects such as structure, systems and culture, are all inter-related, and how people professionals work and actions could impact elsewhere in the organisation

Instructions

Students need to talk about various organisational structures, like the flat or tall structures. They can even use an organizational chart to show the roles of different professionals in different areas of work.

They should also explain how different parts of the organization work together to create a complete system. For instance, they could discuss how the innovative development sector collaborates with the government and the international market to form a comprehensive organization.

Lastly, students should give an example of a positive people practice, like ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for employees. On the other hand, they should provide an example of a negative people practice, such as failing to comply with employment laws.

3.1 Why it is important that organisational change is planned, and effectively managed

Instructions

Change is really important for organizations, and it’s something that people professionals should handle well to make a positive impact. Changes at work can happen because of things like:

• Structural changes
• Improvements in technology
• Introducing new learning programs
• Chaos
• Changes in organization processes

Students should then explain why it’s crucial to plan and manage change, and they can refer to project planning. This involves clarifying the role and purpose of planning to achieve the goals and objectives of a project. Organizations anticipate changes by using tools like PESTLE and SWOT analysis.

3.2 The nature and importance of different roles that can be played by people practice professionals, in relation to change agendas. You might consider roles such as gatekeeper, champion, facilitator, critical friend or record-keeper

Instructions

For instance, people professionals act as advocates to champion change agendas and support employee rights. Students will then concentrate on explaining the assistance that people professionals provide to managers when they’re carrying out change agendas.

3.3 How organisational change can impact people in different ways, such as changing their role or status or financial situation, and the different ways people may respond to change

Instructions

Changes can include financial upgrades, downgrades, or job losses, as well as shifts in family or relationships with competitors. Students can use a model or theory, like the Kubler-Ross model or Fisher curve, to explain how people respond to these changes.

References

BATTISTA, M. (2021) PESTLE Analysis. Available at https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/strategy/organisational-development/pestle-analysis-factsheet

GEORGE, S. (2021) Change Management. Available at https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/strategy/change/management-factsheet

MOHDZAINI, H. (2021) Technology and the future of work. Available at https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/work/technology/emerging-future-work-factsheet

YOUNG, J. (2020) Organisational culture and cultural change. Available at https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/culture/working-environment/organisation-culture-change-factsheet

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