CIPD 7CO04 Business Research in People Practice Level 7 Assignment Example
Learning outcome, assessment criteria, and indicative content
1 Be able to plan a people practice business research project aimed at adding organisational value.
1.1 Justify terms of reference for the business project.
Develop and justify a research aim and objectives related to an identified business issue that relates to the management of people that has strategic relevance to a business.
1.2 Develop a critical literature review which will inform and address your research aim.
Use a range of appropriate sources, including academic journal papers and book chapters, textbooks, government and sector reports, research by professional bodies, and other material. Evaluate sources of evidence; structure a literature review, reading and writing critically.
1.3 Develop key research questions to address the project aim.
Analyse key findings from the published research to develop clear, concise, and valid questions to explore within the primary research to achieve targeted results.
2. Be able to justify the most appropriate research methods to collect data for the chosen project.
2.1 Justify the most appropriate research methods to support the project’s intended outcomes.
Consider the appropriate research strategy and research design for the project, for example, qualitative and quantitative methods, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, probability and non-probability sampling.
2.2 Critically discuss possible limitations of the research study.
Consider validity of the research design, face, content, and ecological validity; appropriateness of research methods to achieve the research aim; possible threats to reliability of data collected. Consistency of results, participant and researcher bias, participant and researcher error, pilot, retest; generalisability of findings, internal and external generalisability.
2.3 Critically assess the ethical issues surrounding data collection, usage, and storage for the project.
Key principles of ethical research relating to data collection, analysis, and storage; informed consent; confidentiality for interviewees and participants in the research.
3. Be able to analyse data to make decisions and provide business and people management insights.
3.1 Analyse raw data effectively.
Use appropriate methods to analyse quantitative and qualitative data to make sense of the findings.
3.2 Present data collected from primary research.
Select appropriate methods to present quantitative and qualitative data, transforming raw data into a form to make it possible to understand and interpret. Consider tables, charts, graphs, and thematic narrative.
3.3 Discuss findings to address the business issue.
Compare and contrast primary findings with secondary, assimilating evidenced ideas to identify themes to gain insight into issues, key factors, and wider implications of the organisation.
4. Be able to propose recommendations based on conclusions derived from the research and analysis.
4.1 Justify conclusions derived from analysis of key findings, which align to the terms of reference.
Draw on the research questions, literature review, and data analysis to develop integrated, justified, and well-informed conclusions; how to report these concisely and clearly in the report.
4.2 Propose business-focused recommendations, action points, and a cost-benefit analysis.
Develop a set of recommendations derived from the project’s conclusions to address the business issue, with an associated action plan for implementation.
Techniques of presenting a business case to persuade decision makers, potential costs, business benefits, impact, and ROI.
4.3 Evaluate your experience of carrying out the research and compiling the report, including ways in which to improve future project design and delivery.
Skills of critical reflection to improve future actions. Identify strengths and weaknesses of project completion, analysis of research competencies, ways in which to improve future project design and delivery.
