Answer the FIVE questions in this section. You may include diagrams, flowcharts or bullet points to clarify and support your answers, so long as you provide an explanation of each.

1. The external contexts of organisations are often identified as: Socio-cultural; technological; economic; environmental; political; legal; and ethical (STEEPLE). Identify and explain the THREE external contexts that particularly influence your organisation. Justify your answer.

2. Risk analysis is now an accepted function in organisations. Strategic risks are those that can threaten high-level issues, such as market-share or even the survival of the organisation. Operational risks are concerned with short-term goals in the form of immediate and/or obvious threats.

i. Identify up to THREE ways that organisations can encourage line managers to manage operational risk.

AND

ii. Evaluate the effectiveness of your organisations approach to operational risk.

Your answer should draw upon research and/or reputable sources.

3. Your CIPD group are planning to discuss whether recessionary changes to the labour market push firms away from commitment-focussed HRM and towards more hard-line practices (Cook et al, 2016:557). In your preparatory notes outline what form hard-line practices may take, and prepare the case EITHER for OR against adopting such practices in response to a recession. Justify your answer.

4. Spontaneity and adaptability are regarded as crucial characteristics for organisations that operate in conditions of hyper-competition. These organisations are characterised by such things as rapid technological change; uncertain markets; price wars; continual internal reorganisation and diverse global players.

Compare and contrast any TWO named organisations by analysing how each deals with the characteristics of operating in a hyper-competitive environment. From your analysis, which organisation do you consider the more spontaneous and adaptable? Justify your answer.

5. There are many types of organisations that act as pressure groups to influence, advise and advocate on behalf of their members. Their respective levels of power are determined by a number of internal and external factors. As a specialist in HR you may interact with a number of these pressure groups.

i. Identify any ONE pressure group you are likely to come across in your professional capacity, providing examples of how it could or has influenced government.

AND

ii. Justify your choice of pressure group and explain what ONE cause within its remit you would like it to take up. Justify your answer.