Assignment -

Select ONE of the following aspects of Human Resource Management:

(i) Employee engagement

(ii) Employee performance management

With reference to the relevant theory, critically evaluate the potential which effective management of the topic chosen has for increasing employee motivation.

Required length: 2,000 words.

Format: Report style, 12 point pitch, spacing and half.

In terms of content, there are three relevant aspects:

(a) A critical appraisal of relevant recent literature in respect of either 'employee engagement' or 'employee performance management'. This should include a critical review of approaches to the subject, and discuss models of good / effective performance in this regard. For example, in terms of 'performance management' I would expect the literature review to critically appraise alternative approaches to performance management, and evaluate whether each is likely to be effective. What are the positives and negatives associated with each approach? Extensive use should be made of the literature in arriving at conclusions.

(b) A critical review of employee motivation. As a minimum I would expect students to discuss the 'content' theories and their application - Maslow and Herzberg as a minimum, and establish the reality that there are two aspects to motivation - pay and conditions, and the psychological rewards which come from effective job design, opportunities for development and so on (psychological rewards). Better students may also go on to appraise goal setting theory and expectancy theory, as these may be useful in part (c) below.

(c) The above two parts establish evidence of knowledge of relevant theory. In this final part students are expected to present evidence of understanding y integrating the above two parts. In this part students should critically appraise and explain (through reference to the motivation theory) how practices identified in part (a) can contribute to enhanced motivation. For example, an effective performance management system will provide feedback, generate enhanced involvement with the job, allow employees to become involved in establishing objectives, provide opportunities for learning and development - all of which should have been identified in part (b) as contributing to enhanced motivation. So, in this part we're looking for the establishment of relationships between the two primary content aspects - engagement / performance management AND motivation.

In terms of references, it's impossible to put a figure, but at this level I would expect to see at least 20 academic references (ie peer reviewed journal references, not websites such as 'businessdictionary' or 'mindtools'.