Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the process- of Critical Reasoning and employ that understanding in the support of the student's personal development as a learner

2. Be able to use cognitive skills to apply a given range of techniques and concepts to more effectively analyse, evaluate, retrieve and organise information relating to issues in the management of organisations

3. Be able to orally communicate ideas effectively and develop sound arguments in a discussion, and make informed judgments upon the issues in management

4. Be able to effectively express ideas through the structured use of verbal and written formats

5. Continue the maintenance and development of a Personal Development Plan

Assessment Details:

Your task is to choose one topic given on page 4 and to get the approval from the module leader. Then you have to submit the following two assignments/tasks

1. Essay:

At the end of the semester you will be required to submit a 1500 word essay that will tackle the same question as your group presentation; it must however, be an individual piece of work. Be very careful, the University rules concerning plagiarism will apply to the essay.

Hence, although you will have worked together to prepare you must not copy each other's work in the essay. You will be required to produce a coherent, sound argument in answer to your chosen question.

This should be presented in a 'normal' essay form. In other words, this does not require any special formatting or layouts, or unusual sections.

It is not necessary, for example, to have sub-headings within your essay for the 'evidence' or the 'assumptions' and the other parts of your arguments. The process of applying critical reasoning and constructing sound arguments should be followed in your essay.

Choose one of the following topics

1. Survey after survey has found that improving employee engagement is at the top of a list of human resource challenges being faced by businesses. Introduce a scheme which you have to consider addressing the issue. Critically evaluate and discuss its advantages and disadvantages for the business.

2. High employee turnover can have a severe impact on a business. Recognise the possible causes of high employee turnover and critically discuss its impact on the organisation. If you suspect that turnover is an issue for your business, formulate, justify and discuss possible strategies to ensure that employees will remain with the business.

3. Discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by public and private sectors in Oman brought about by Omanisation. Critically evaluate the impact of Omanisation on the economy of Oman.

4. The recent trend in advertisement of products and services can have a significant effect on a business. Identify recent trends in the advertisement of product and services and critically assess/evaluate how these trends help business to become successful in this modern corporate world.

5. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that every year, about 2.2 million people die from work-related injuries and work-related diseases. Select a particular company in Oman and critically evaluate the reasons for the following scenarios. From your own perspective and with the use of the important concepts and theories on human resource management, give logical solutions and justifications to minimise work place accidents and work-related diseases of that particular company.

6. Salespeople must know about corporate culture, products, and selling skills to thrive in the current global economy. Select a marketing company of your choice and critically assess the success and failure of its global business operation in relation to the marketing skills of their salesforce.