FCPP 3CO01 - Business Culture and Change in Context

Assignment Writing Guidance

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TASK ONE. Information Sheet (2,500 words)
If you use a secondary source you must include both long and short references
You should make reference to your own organisation where possible in your answers
You should use relevant theory where possible in your answers
Please note- people professionals/ the people profession means HR
AC1.1 Examine the key external influences that impact on business environments.
(approximately 300 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. The world of work is changing very rapidly (VUCA). How an organisation identifies
and adapts to these changing customer needs and other ‘external’ factors is through ‘Environmental
Scanning’ by using a tool like PESTLE to help it successfully compete and grow, now and into the
future. HR needs to regularly do environmental scanning so it can update and upgrade its People
Strategy in line with the evolving organisational strategy.
Use clear sub-headings
You are advised to refer to your own organisation if possible.
 Use must use a tool such as PESTLE or STEEPLE to identify some current and specific examples of
external influences such as changes in economic conditions, new technologies, political and legal
changes, Covid-19 etc
 Examine in detail the impact or likely impact of a minimum of 2 of these forces on the organisation’s
activities and business environment.
 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/organization.html
 PESTLE Analysis | Factsheets | CIPD
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYn4CyL3r5w
 https://www.analyticssteps.com/blogs/what-pestle-analysis

AC1.2 Discuss organisational goals and why it is important for organisations to plan.
(approximately 300 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. Successful organisations are based on both goals and objectives. The goals
describe the "what" of an organisation’s purpose and determine the objectives / actions needed to
reach these goals. People professionals needs to understand and be actively involved in the
organisational planning and goal setting process so it can provide relevant insights which will inform
and influence leaders’ decisions.
 Briefly explain what a business goal is
 Identify a minimum of 2 business goals for your organisation (these must be specific)
 Discuss why planning for these goals is important. What would happen to the organisation if they
did not plan how to achieve these? How will the goals be achieved?

Some examples of planning so business goals can be achieved could be: how a business is re-structured
perhaps to deliver to a new market /new people practices that have been introduced such as learning &
development or specific policies.
 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/purpose-strategic-objectives-78251.html
 https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/templates-business-guides/glossary/strategic-goals
 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/revenue-goals-objectives-66050.html

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 FCPP 3CO01 - Business Culture and Change in Context

AC1.3 Discuss the products and/or services the organisation delivers, including who the main
customers are. (approximately 250 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. Organisations are dependent on their customers, so it is essential that as People
Professionals we not only understand what our range of products and services are but also who are
our customers. Why do they buy from us? What are our unique selling points (USPs)? What are our
target markets?
Use clear sub-headings for each element of the task
 Provide a discussion where you explain the typical products and / or services offered by your own
organisation (or one that you are familiar with)
 Provide a discussion where you explain who your organisation’s main customers are. You must
provide specific details here
You could use a Customer Segmentation framework to describe the different types of customers (for
example: demographic, lifestyle, interests, occasion, brand loyalty etc..) and explain their key buying
habits / motivations.
 https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/12436/concepts/sectors-economy/
 https://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/B2B
 www.accenture.com/gb-en/insights/strategy/reimagined-consumer-expectations
 https://www.ebcg.com/benefits-of-customer-segmentation-in-sales-department /
 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/describe-companys-products-services-39987.html
 https://www.aha.io/roadmapping/guide/product-strategy/what-are-product-goals-and-initiatives
 https://www.qualtrics.com/uk/experience-management/research/customer-needs-analysis/

AC1.4 Review the range of technologies available within the people profession, including how
it can be utilised to improve working practices and collaboration. (approximately 250 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. People Professionals need to know how to use HR technology to create the best
possible employee experience, drive high performance, support teamwork and collaboration and
improve equity and inclusion in order to motivate and retain all employees.
You MUST only discuss technology within the context of the people profession here.

 Identify and review (give your opinion on) a minimum of 3 specific types of people practice
(HR)Technology used in your organisation (or organisations you are familiar with).
Examples could be related to: communications, information (and knowledge) sharing, record-
keeping (including Management Information Systems, learning (e.g. Learning Management Systems,
digital learning) wellbeing or security
 You must explain how these can be used to improve working practices
 You must explain how these can be used to improve collaboration between people or departments
 Make sure you have covered both working practices and collaboration
 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/technology-impact-hr-practices-37912.html
 https://www.selecthub.com/hris/hr-technology/
 https://joshbersin.com/2021/09/ten-new-truths-about-the-hr-technology-market/

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 FCPP 3CO01 - Business Culture and Change in Context

AC 2.1 Define workplace culture in organisational settings and the importance of fostering
positive approaches towards it (approximately 300 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. Workplace (Organisational) culture plays a huge role in the success — or failure —
of any organisation. If you get the culture ‘right’ it can positively impact every aspect of an
organisation and its performance, including, agility, employee wellbeing, teamwork, collaboration,
and talent retention.
 Provide a brief definition of Workplace Culture (if you use a quote, this should be short and
referenced correctly. Make sure you add some of your own explanation to the quote)
You could provide an example of a number of different types of workplace cultures including your
own. For example: sales, customer-centric, safety, innovation etc.

 Explain why it is important to create and encourage (foster) an appropriate (fit for organisational
purpose) and positive workplace culture.
For example: creating a strong values based organisation; transforms your company into a team;
transforms employees into advocates; helps you keep your best people; assists with onboarding;
positively impacts performance and employee wellbeing etc…

You could refer to your own organisation or other case studies for supporting examples
 https://gothamculture.com/what-is-organizational-culture-definition/
 https://blog.jostle.me/blog/why-is-organizational-culture-important
 https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/pages/understandingand
developingorganizationalculture.aspx

AC 2.2 Explain how organisations are whole systems, and how work and actions as a people
professional could impact elsewhere in the organisation. (approximately 300 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. The ‘Whole Systems’ model is a way to describe and explain organisational
behaviour and how it works. The model is important for People Professionals to understand as it
emphasises the interconnected nature of an organisation, and that nothing inside the organisation
happens in isolation.
 Define and describe what a ‘Whole System’ means in the organisational context.
- Explore and explain, with examples, how the different parts / functions of an organisation are all
connected and how they must work together (integrate) if an organisation is to survive and
grow
- Refer to ‘Open’ and ‘Closed’ systems and provide examples of each. For example, Employees in
Closed Systems within an organisation don’t communicate with other departments about their
activities, nor do they receive input from other departments. In an ‘Open’ system there is a free
passing and sharing of information, greater agility, and more collaboration etc.

 Identify a specific example of good People Practices (HR) how does this impact other parts of the
organisation? For example, how does this impact on different departments, the whole organisation,
other organisational policies, or procedures?

 Identify a specific example of bad People Practices (HR) how does this impact other parts of the
organisation? For example, how does this impact on different departments, the whole organisation,
other organisational policies, or procedures?
 https://www.academia.edu/4787865/The_Little_Book_Of_Healthy_Organizations
 https://managementhelp.org/organizations/systems.htm
 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-closed-systems-organizations-15281.html

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 FCPP 3CO01 - Business Culture and Change in Context

AC 3.1 Explain the importance of planning and managing change within the workplace.
(approximately 250 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. Although change is taking place at an ever-increasing pace, there is evidence that
many change initiatives are not totally successful, and many times it is the people element of the
change which fails. Therefore, People Professionals need to be more skilful and involved in change
and take a major role in ensuring that change is identified, developed, and carried out in a respectful
and successful way.
You need 4 clear sub-headings for this task:
 Identify a minimum of 2 key drivers for change (these may include Internal factors and External
factors) and explain the possible impact on the organisation. Examples could be competition,
technology etc
 Explain why it is important for an organisation’s business to predict change (rather than wait for
change to happen).
 Explain why it is important to ensure change is planned
You could consider how difficult change can be to manage/understand/apply; the nature of change
– understanding what we are trying to achieve – and where we need to change. What impacts can
change have on the business?
 Explain why the change should be effectively managed
You could refer to a ‘change model’ to describe how to apply structure to the change process
 The Driving Forces of Change [Internal & External] | CMOE
 Change Management: Understanding the Type and Drivers of Change - Cloud for Good (cloud4good.com)
 Lewin's Change Management Model - Understanding the Three Stages of Change (mindtools.com)
 The 8-Step Process for Leading Change | Dr. John Kotter (kotterinc.com)

AC 3.2 Consider the importance and role that people professionals play within change.
(approximately 300 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. HR can play a dual role in change management by initiating and leading the change
and by serving as a facilitator for changes that other leaders and departments initiated. By
championing change, People Professionals can help the organisation increase buy-in, comfort and
support for change across departments, so increasing the success of change initiatives.
 Briefly explain why people professionals (HR) need to support change programmes.
 Explain a minimum of 3 different roles people professionals might take in the change process (you
might consider roles such as: gatekeeper, champion, facilitator, critical friend, guardian of legality
and compliance or record keeper)
 For each role explain why the role is important in the change process

 https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/special-reports-and-expert-views/pages/deb-
cohen.aspx
 https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/pages/
managingorganizationalchange.aspx

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 FCPP 3CO01 - Business Culture and Change in Context

AC 3.3 Discuss how change can impact people in different ways. (approximately 250 words)
KEY FOCUS AREA. Successful change starts with individuals, and failure often occurs because of
human nature and reluctance to change. People Professionals need to understand how individuals
might react to change and be competent and confident in how to respectfully involve, communicate
and treat employees during a change initiative as this tends to determine how successful the change—
and the organisation—will be.
You must focus on how individuals are impacted by change in the workplace.

 Provide a minimum of 3 examples of how change can impact people in organisations. You could
consider factors such as change to role, status, financial situation, career aspirations, motivation,
health etc.
 Referring to a relevant change model (Kubler-Ross or any other recognised model provided it is
clearly explained) briefly explain a minimum of 2 different ways people respond to organisational
change.
You could refer to examples in your own organisation or other case studies where appropriate
 Kubler-Ross Five Stage Model (change-management-coach.com)
 https://wmbridges.com. /about/what-is-transition/
 https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2020/02/16/successful-change-management-6-surprising-reasons-
people-resist-change-and-how-to-motivate-them-to-embrace-it-instead/

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 FCPP 3CO01 - Business Culture and Change in Context

Final last checks before you submit your work. Tick as completed .  
  
 Any boxes not ticked could result in a serious delay to the marking of your reports, or result in a
refer grade  
  

You must submit your assessments as Word documents. The Learner Assessment Brief will
  
clearly explain the format you need to use. Is the correct format used?  

The CIPD Membership Number must be completed and included in the Learner Assessment
  
Brief together with your name and Cohort Number.   

The ‘wet’ signature and date of submission must be included in every Learner Assessment
  
Brief   

Assessment Criteria Evidence Checklists can be completed - just repeat the example already
  
given (do not put long references here)  

Have you included both your long and short references? Are these in the right place?     

Have you checked your word count? You are allowed 10% + or 10% - the indicative word
  
count.   

Have you recorded your wordcount in the correct place in the LAB?     

  
 
 
 

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