CIPD Level 5: People Management in an International Context Assignment

5OS04: People Management in an International Context

This unit is designed to give those practitioners working in people management in an international
context the opportunity to focus on the complexities and considerations essential to this.

CIPD’s insight
Multinational companies are moving towards greater integration in how they organise themselves globally, motivated by the potential to exploit cross-national differences in business. Modern multinationals are seeking a more flexible form of global integration.

Organisational culture is an important concept for the people profession. The work of HR, L&D and OD influences and is influenced by organisational culture because every organisation is made up of human relationships and human interactions. Culture is therefore central to the role of the profession and must be managed and developed accordingly.

Organisations need to take targeted action as part of their D&I strategies, recognising that inclusion is relevant to everyone in the business. Indeed, research suggests that there are five areas where action needs to be taken:
1. employee behaviour
2. line manager capability
3. senior leadership
4. policies and wider people management practices
5. organisational culture, climate, and values.

And, organisations must consider the broader picture; inclusion is more than simply including’ diversity – it is about individual experience and work, and creating a positive environment in which everyone can influence, share knowledge, and have their perspectives valued.

Case study

You are the HR manager for Terra-Wide, an International Property Development company.
Terra-Wide has long demonstrated particular success in the remit of its people management in an international context, and is widely respected among peer organisations. Having gained this reputation, People Management magazine has approached Terra-Wide to offer the opportunity to have an article published by them about this area of people management.
As the HR manager, you have been tasked with writing said article.
In addition, an invitation has been extended to a group of People Management magazine
contributors, to visit the HR headquarters for a presentation, which you will create.

Preparation for the Tasks:

• Refer to the indicative content in the unit to guide and support your evidence.
• Pay attention to how your evidence is presented, remember you are working in the People
  Practice Team for this task.
• Ensure that the evidence generated for this assessment remains your own work.

You will also benefit from:

• Reflecting on your own experiences of learning opportunities and training and continuing professional development.
• Reading the CIPD Insight, Fact Sheets, and related online material on these topics.
• You should relate academic concepts, theories, and professional practice to the
  assessment task(s), in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles, and other publications.

Don’t forget to:

• Complete the front cover sheet, sign with a “wet signature” and place at the front of your
  assessment.
• Use the bullet points below each task as headings and sub-headings so your marker can see
  where your answer begins.

Task One – Journal Article

You are required to write an article for People Management magazine, sharing the experience and expertise of your company. This must contain information on people practice from an international perspective, the importance of people practice in an international context, and the challenges of people practice in an international context. The article should be formal in style.
The article can be broken down into three sections

Section 1
a) Examine the contextual factors of an international organisation. (AC 1.1)
b) Assess the drivers and benefits of employment in an international context. (AC 1.2)
c) Explain convergent or divergent approaches to inform people management policy and practice choices. (AC 1.3)

Section 2
a) Evaluate the function of people practice in an international context. (AC 3.1)
b) Consider the practices and policies that are shaped by the international context. (AC 3.2)

Section 3
a) Evaluate the factors to be considered when selecting and resourcing for international
assignments. (AC 2.1)
b) Explain why people practices can vary across international boundaries. (AC 2.2)
c) Evaluate the cultural and institutional differences to be considered when managing international
people practice. (AC 2.3)

Your evidence must consist of:
▪ Journal Article (2,900 words)

Task Two – Presentation Pack

You are required to create a presentation pack – with slides and presenter notes – covering the process and the benefits of managing expatriates. The slide content and presenter notes should be formal in style.

The presentation pack should:
a) Evaluate the reasons that companies use expatriates for international working. (AC 4.1)
b) Explain the process for selecting, preparing, and managing expatriates for overseas relocation for work. (AC 4.2)
c) Explain how people practice can support re-entry and resettlement of overseas workers. (AC 4.3)

Your evidence must consist of:
▪ Presentation Pack – slides and presenter notes (1,000 words)

Assessment Criteria Evidence Checklist
Use this as a checklist to make sure that you have included the required evidence to meet the
tasks and assessment criteria. Please enter the evidence title and where it can be referred to.
An example has been provided for you.

Assessment Grading
The grid below shows the range of results you could achieve based on total number of marks
awarded across all assessment criteria.
To pass the unit assessment you must achieve a 2 (Low Pass) or above for each of the
assessment criteria.
The overall result achieved will dictate the outcome you receive for the unit, provided
NONE of the assessment criteria have been failed or referred.
You will either receive a Pass or a Fail from the CIPD once the work has been moderated. The
bandings below are used to indicate if your work is sitting at a low pass, pass, or high pass.