SECTION A: CASE STUDY
This section consists of a case study with three compulsory questions. Read the case study The Six Sigma Case: Promotion at the Western Company (available on LMS) and answer all three of the following questions:
Remember to draw on relevant course materials and references in developing your answers.
Answer all three (3) questions. This section is worth 25 marks.
1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of Peter's four alternatives. Are there any other alternatives he could consider?
2. As Peter Toubin, what would be your decision and why? Provide a justification for this decision and outline a step by step process for implementing it.
3. The organization about which the case is written is based in the province of Quebec in Canada. If the organization were based in Australia, what other considerations might Peter have to take into account?
SECTION B: ESSAY
This section has a choice of five (5) essay questions. You are required to answer ONLY ONE (1) of these essay questions. This section is worth 25 marks. Limit of 1500 words.
1. Some people think that workforce diversity automatically leads to positive outcomes for organizations. Drawing on theory and research explain why workforce diversity needs to be managed for benefits to be realized.
2. Managing diversity sometimes requires innovation in human resource systems and practices. Discuss how different approaches to recruitment and selection can assist organizations to build a diverse workforce. In your answer, you can refer to examples of specific disadvantaged groups (e.g. Indigenous Australians, new migrants, etc) to illustrate key points.
3. While organizations may succeed in attracting a diverse workforce, they also need to work to retain them. Discuss the most important diversity-related initiatives organizations can introduce to support employee retention. You can refer to examples of specific disadvantaged groups in your answer.
4. There are many potential benefits to increasing the workforce participation of individuals with disabilities. However they still face many barriers to gaining and keeping employment. Some argue the most significant barrier is the negative and often inaccurate perceptions employers, managers and other workers have of disabled people. Drawing on academic research, discuss whether or not you agree with this view and suggest ways these negative perceptions can be addressed?
5. Despite research evidence disproving their accuracy, many negative stereotypes about older workers persist and affect how older workers are treated in organizations. What impact might this have on organizational performance and on older workers themselves?