7HR03: Your knowledge and understanding of the material covered in this specialist unit will be assessed: Strategic reward management, Assignment, CIPD Level 7, UK

Introduction

Your knowledge and understanding of the material covered in this specialist unit will be assessed through your answers to the four questions listed below. 

You will write four answers of approximately 1000 words to the questions posed and submit them together in a single document. This constitutes your assessment for this unit. The total word count for the assessment will therefore be 4000 words, plus or minus 10%. The bibliography, list of references and essential appendixes (if applicable) are not included in the total word count – but the latter must be kept to a minimum. 

You must demonstrate within the submitted evidence (through headings and sub-headings) which learning outcomes and assessment criteria have been cited. We are unable to moderate your work if this is not included.

As this is an Advanced Diploma, it is important that you are able to demonstrate not only good knowledge and understanding of the material associated with each learning outcome, but also the ability to develop an original argument and justify it persuasively with reference to wider reading. Examples of approaches taken in a range of organisations are also an effective means by which to justify your arguments.

The six main criteria that CIPD requires centres to use when marking your assessment are outlined below, but it may be that not all these criteria are present in every question. 

(1) focus
(2) depth and breadth of understanding
(3) strategic application and professional advice
(4) research and wider reading
(5) persuasiveness and originality
(6) presentation and language

Assessment questions

As a part of the selection process for an internal promotion you have been given the following brief:

Businesses continue to operate under a backdrop of economic instability, and many regions are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis. The latest CIPD reward management survey (2023) reports ‘that some employers are making a much valued difference to the financial wellbeing of their workforce; others are falling short of employees’ expectations’.

To explore this further you are required to prepare answers to the following questions for discussion at a forthcoming interview.

For the purpose of this assessment, you need to apply your answers to either your own organisation or one with which you are familiar.

It is essential that your reading of the published literature is used to inform your responses to all questions.

Question 1 (AC 1.4)
Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the organisation’s reward strategy recommending how this might be revised to more effectively attract and retain employees. 

Question 2 (AC 2.4) 
Evaluate the concepts of universal benefits as opposed to flexible ‘cafeteria’ style benefits, recommending which approach would be most suited to the organisational context.  Justify your recommendations.

Question 3 (AC 3.2)
Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of using incremental pay scales within organisations, explaining why these would be appropriate to your organisation or not.

Question 4 (AC 4.3)
Examine the potential ethical issues associated with the use of contingency forms of reward within the organisation.