Reference no: EM132252888 , Length: word count : 1500

Institute of Management Studies (IMS)

Postgraduate Assignment Information Sheet

Assignment information (e.g., background info, assignment question, further advice):

Background

You are a team of consultants who have been asked by a client to design a development assessment process and assessment centre. Your client is a global investment bank and this process is aimed at identifying high-potential talents. You have been provided with a very loose remit from a client that is under pressure to pick people already:

Successful candidates will go on a year-long intensive development programme, including two international rotations with offices in South America and Asia;

The Human Resources Director has been under some pressure to select candidates favoured by senior sponsors, but is keen to have a robust and objective assessment process;

All candidates will need to get feedback post-assessment;

The client is keen to be able to use the data from the assessment process as part of successful candidates ongoing development in the programme;

The client doesn't have a cohesive competency framework;

Due to the international nature of the bank, your client is keen that this international perspective is reflected in the assessment process;

The only brief on "fit" for the programme is articulated as "Bright, with a hunger for success and a drive to advance in the organisation. Flexible and resilient, able to cope with the demands of a rapidly growing international organisation";

The programme itself will need to address some areas specifically:

The ability of candidate's to think strategically;

Candidate's commercial awareness;

Candidate's leadership potential;

Candidate's interpersonal skills.

Delegates will join the programme in September 2019, so all assessment and feedback needs to be completed by then.

Assignment

Draw upon the scientific literature in relevant areas;

Describe your approach to assessment;

Explain how you propose to design the development assessment process and centre;

Highlight specific strengths of your approach and give evidence;

Identify specific challenges that may be encountered (e.g., implementation issues) and ways to address them

Individual Brief business report

This report should not exceed 1,500 words and should be submitted on the VLE. Each student should submit an individually written business report.

Consider your target audience closely in this report. The board of directors are highly intelligent and capable individuals, but they may not have a technical understanding of assessment and selection. Think carefully about how you pitch the report. The board are very keen to implement scientifically supported initiatives and therefore it is important that your work is informed and supported by current theory and evidence.

Finally, remember to take account of the specific context and requirements of your client in your answer.

Key/suggested references:

Many of the materials provided throughout the module will be helpful for this assignment, as will the industry guest lecture. Teams are encouraged to synthesise this information and enhance it with their own learning and research.

Word limit:

Business report word limit is 1500 words. This includes the main body of text, in text citations [e.g. (Eisen et al., 2008)], quotations and footnotes. However, the word limit does not include your title page, tables, figures, illustrations or reference list.