Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 1 | P a g e

Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 1 | P a g e
Assignment Front Sheet
Learner name Assessor name
Date issued Completion date Submitted on
Qualification Unit number and title
BTEC Level 4 HNC Diploma in Business
BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business
Unit 47: Employability Skills
Please provide Evidence Page Number of your assignment
Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria
Task
Number
Evidence
Page No.
LO1 Be able to determine
own responsibilities
and performance
1.1 Develop a set of own responsibilities and
performance objectives.
1.2 Evaluate own effectiveness against defined
objectives.
1.3 Make recommendations for improvement.
1.4 Review how motivational techniques can be
used to improve quality of performance.
1
LO2: Be able to develop
interpersonal and
transferable skills.
2.1 Develop solutions to work based problems.
2.2 Communicate in a variety of styles and
appropriate manner at various levels.
2.3 Identify effective time management strategies.
2
LO3: Understand the
dynamics of working with
others.
3.1 Explain the roles people play in a team and how
they can work together to achieve shared goals.
3.2 Analyse team dynamics.
3.3 Suggest alternative ways to complete tasks and
achieve team goals.
3
LO4: Be able to develop
strategies for problem
solving.
4.1 Evaluate tools and methods for developing
solutions to problems.
4.2 Develop an appropriate strategy for resolving a
particular problem
4.3 Evaluate the potential impact on the business of
implementing the strategy.
4
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 2 | P a g e
Assignment
Unit aim:
This unit provides learners with the opportunity to acquire honed employability skills required for effective
employment.
Unit introduction:
All learners at all levels of education and experience require h oned employability skills as a prerequisite to
entering the job market. This unit gives learners an opportunity to assess and develop an understanding of
their own responsibilities and performance in, or when entering, the workplace.
It considers the skills required for general employment, such as interpersonal and transferable skills, and
the dynamics of working with others in teams or groups including leadership an d communication skills.
It also deals with the everyday working requirement of problem solving which includes the identification or
specification of the ‘problem’, strategies for its solution and then evaluation of the results through reflective
practices.
Please note: whenever you answer any assessment criteria, structure & build your answ er
according to the designed questions on the given scenario, structure & built your answer around
the contents and make sure you cover most of the contents for each assessment criteria in order
to pass each assessment criteria.
Contents
Task 1:
1.1 Own responsibilities: personal responsibility; direct and indirect relationships and adaptability, decision –
making processes and skills; ability to learn and develop within the work role; employment legislation,
ethics, employment rights and responsibilities
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Performance objectives: setting and monitoring performance objectives
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Individual appraisal systems: uses of performance appraisals eg salary levels and bonus
payments, promotion strengths and weaknesses, training needs; co mmunication; appraisal criteria eg
production data, personnel data, judgemental data; rating methods eg ranking, paired comparison,
checklist, management by objectives
1.4 Motivation and performance: application and appraisal of motivational theories and techniques,
rewards and incentives, manager’s role, self-motivational factors
Task 2:
2.2 Effective communication: verbal and non-verbal –awareness and use of body language, openness and
responsiveness, formal and informal feedback to and from colleagues; ICT as an effective communication
medium; team meetings
2.2 Interpersonal skills: personal effectiveness; working with others; use of initiative; negotiating skills;
assertiveness skills; social skills
2.3 Time management: prioritising workload; setting work objectives; making and keeping appointments;
working steadily rather than erratically; time for learning; reliable estimate of task time
2.1 Problem solving: problem analysis; researching changes in the workplace; generating solutions;
choosing a solution
Task 3:
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 3 | P a g e
3.1, 3.3 Working with others: nature and dynamics of team and group work; informal and formal settings,
purpose of teams and groups eg long-term corporate objectives/strategy; problem solving and short-term
development projects; flexibility/adaptability; team player
3.2, 3.3 Teams and team building: selecting team members eg specialist roles, skill and style/approach
mixes; identification of team/work group roles; stages in team development eg team building, identity,
loyalty, commitment to shared beliefs, team health evaluation; action planning; monitoring and feedback;
coaching skills; ethics; effective leadership skills, eg, setting direction, setting standards, motivating,
innovative, responsive, effective communicator, reliability, consistency
Task 4:
4.2 Specification of the problem: definition of the problem; analysis and clarification
4.2 Identification of possible outcomes: identification and assessment of various alternative outcomes
4.1 Tools and methods: problem-solving methods and tools
4.3 Plan and implement: sources of information; solution methodologies; selection and implementation of
the best corrective action eg timescale, stages, resources, critical path analysis
4.3 Evaluation: evaluation of whether the problem was solve d or not; measurement of solution against
specification and desired outcomes; sustainability
Scenario
You have just been appointed as an Employability Skills Consultant (or any profession of your choice) in a
well known corporate organisation which has a significant number of employees. During the interview
process leading to your subsequent appointment, you have been asked to present a report on – determine
own responsibilities and performance, develop interpersonal and transferable skills, understanding of
dynamics of working with others and develop strategies for problem solving.
You need to write clear, concise and accurate report on all the following tasks and all assessment
criteria which will be presented to the Board of Directors. Wherever required you must give definitions,
evaluation of different tools and methods & strategies, make recommendations and suggestions (wherever
asked), use of different terms and techniques, identification of different strategies, analysis and practical
examples wherever possible.
Tasks
Task 1 (this provides evidence for 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,1.4)
(LO-1 Be able to determine own responsibilities and performance)
1.1 Develop a set of own responsibilities and performance objectives . (AC 1.1)
1.2 Evaluate own effectiveness against defined objectives . (AC 1.2)
1.3 Make recommendations for improvement. (AC 1.3)
1.4 Review motivational techniques can be used to improve quality of pe rformance. (AC 1.4)
Task 2 (this provides evidence for 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)
(LO2 Be able develop interpersonal and transferable skills)
2.1 Develop solutions to work based problems. (AC 2.1)
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 4 | P a g e
2.2 Communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels. (AC 2.2)
2.3 Identify effective time management strategies . (AC 2.3)
Task 3 (this provides evidence for 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
(LO 3 Understand the dynamics of working with others)
3.1 Explain the roles people play in a team and how they c an work together to achieve shared goals. (AC
3.1)
3.2 Analyse team dynamics. (AC 3.2)
3.3 Suggest alternative ways to complete tasks and achieve team goals. (AC 3.3)
Task 4 (this provides evidence for 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
(LO4 Be able to develop strategies for problem solving)
4.1 Evaluate tools and methods for developing solutions to problems .(AC 4.1)
4.2 Develop an appropriate strategy for resolving a particular problem. (AC 4.2)
4.3 Evaluate the potential impact on the business of implementing th e strategy. (AC 4.3)
What you must hand in for assessment
Task 1: Report
Task 2: Report
Task 3: Report
Task 4: Report
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 5 | P a g e
Submission Guidelines
Assignment must include: Assignment Front Sheet (filled assignment front sheet & filled evidence page
number) + Assignment (answers to all assessment criteria and properly numbered) + Plagiarism Report
(submit plagiarism report) + Declaration Form (student declaration, assessor feedback and result form)
Title Unit Name and Course Name.
Presenter’s
information
Full Name & Student Reference Number.
Submission
Deadline
Assignment
Length
No restriction on the word limit (suggested 4000-5000 words)
Methodology
The student needs to demonstrate an awareness of the methodological tools in th e
form of documented process that contains procedures, definitions and explanations of
techniques used to collect, store, analyze and present information. It may be that
qualitative methods, including the analysis of interviews, are appropriate. Alternativ ely
the student’s approach may involve forecasting or statistical, financial or econometric
modelling. In other cases the student may be combining methodologies as his/her
research is basically the analysis of the principles of methods, rules, and postulat es
employed by a discipline. Basically, the student needs to specify the approach he/she
feels will be most appropriate.
Bibliography/
References
Please list down “works cited” within the framework of an enumerative bibliography —
a list of references to key articles and texts. Verify each reference carefully; the
references must correspond to the citations in the text. The list of references should
start on a new page and be listed alphabetically by the last name of the author(s) and
then by year, chronologically. Only the first author’s name is inverted. List all authors’
full names and avoid using et al. The name of each author and the title of the citation
should be exactly as it appears in the original work.
Tables/Charts
Make sure all tables and charts are referenced in the text. Give each table and chart a
title and number consecutive with the order it is mentioned in the text. Notes for tables
and charts are independent of Notes in the rest of the paper and should be ordered
using lowercase letters, beginning with the letter a (including the Source note, which
should be listed first). The sequence runs from left to right, top to bottom. The order of
the notes as they appear below the tables or charts are (1) Source, (2) general notes
to the table or chart, if any and (3) letter notes.
Times
scale/Research
Planning
Please follow the classroom progress on the assignment brief to exercises. Since
each student is encouraged to develop his/her own timescale the effort at the
Assessor/ Faculty level is to subject them to random periodical checks in the view of
their submission deadline.
Style Sheet Harvard Reference /APA/ Chicago Manual of Style/ MLA Handbook
Formatting
Use Microsoft Word and keep your formatting very simple.
Double-spaced, semi-block or full-block lay-out
Arial/Times Roman (Italicize or boldface wherever necessary)
Biographical notes
If possible, please explain your background and credentials as it relates to the work
you are presenting on. This is not a request for your résumé.
Additional Details
For specific questions on formatting, use the APA/ Chicago Manual of Style/ MLA
Handbook as a guide for notes, citations, references, and table presentation .
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 6 | P a g e
Essential resources:
Indicative reading for learners:
www.businessbritainuk.co.uk Provides information about business in Britain and has extensive links to
other business and business news sites.
www.fsb.org.uk The Federation of Small Businesses provides information, support and guidance about
small businesses in the UK.
Textbook:
Thompson L L – Making the Team: A Guide for Managers (Prentice Hall, 2003) ISBN: 9780131416581
Journals:
The Financial Times and other quality newspapers are also good background reading for learners.
Websites:
? www.bized.co.uk: Bized provides a selection of learning resources
? www.bloomberg.com: Bloomberg Business and Financial news
? www.emerald-library.com: Independent publisher of global research
? www.fsb.org.uk: The Federation of Small Businesses
? www.ft.com: The Financial Times business sections
Checklist
Your assignment must be handed in with a Declaration Form (student declaration, assessor
feedback and result form).
Your work must be referenced and any quotations clearly sources . Assignment must be hand in with
a Plagiarism Report.
All Assessment Criteria must be answered and properly numbered. You must hand in your own
work for assessment for all task (include group work tasks).
You must include an Assignment Front Sheet (filled assignment front sheet and filled evidence
page number).
Grade Descriptors
Pass Grade
A pass grade is achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the assessment criteria for pass for each
unit.
Merit Grade
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 7 | P a g e
In order to achieve a merit the learner must need to achieve the following criteria as well as meeting all the
requirements of pass grade:
Merit Descriptors Indicative Characteristics
In order to achieve a merit
the learner must:
The learner’s evidence shows: Contextualisation
M1 – identify and apply
strategies to find
appropriate solutions
M1.1 – effective judgements have
been made
M1.2 – complex problems with
more than one variable have been
explored
M1.3 – an effective approach to
study and research has been
applied
To achieve M1:
You will make effective judgements about
fundamental concepts and principles in
selected organisation.
You will provide supporting and
contrasting examples to explain a
complex issue.
You will also adopt an effective approach
to study and research by integrating
secondary and empirical examples in the
report. In addition, you will use resources
to support your arguments which are
academically accredited, good quality, upto-
date, relevant and appropriate to the
level of this course of study.
M2 – select/design and
apply appropriate
methods/techniques
M2.1 – relevant theories and
techniques have been applied
M2.2 – a range of methods and
techniques have been applied
M2.3 – a range of sources of
information has been used
M2.4 – the selection of methods
and techniques/sources has been
justified
M2.5 – the design of
methods/techniques has been
justified
M2.6 – complex information/data
has been synthesised and
processed
M2.7 – appropriate learning
methods/techniques have been
applied
To achieve M2:
You will apply relevant theories of
conducting academic research. You will
also use range of sources of information
including the internet, journals, books etc.
You will also acknowledge all resources
using correct Harvard Referencing
System.
M3 – present and
communicate appropriate
findings
M3.1 – the appropriate structure
and approach has been used
M3.2 – coherent, logical
development of principles/concepts
for the intended audience
M3.3 – a range of methods of
presentation have been used and
technical language has been
accurately used
M3.4 – communication has taken
place in familiar and unfamiliar
contexts
M3.5 – the communication is
appropriate for familiar and
To achieve M3:
You will use appropriate academic report
format to present the work neatly and
professionally maintaining highest
academic and professional standard.
Make sure arguments/theories provided
are appropriate to the audience. You will
also use technical language accurately in
the context and check the work for
spelling errors.
Note: For Severn Business College Use Only 8 | P a g e
unfamiliar audiences and
appropriate media have been used
Distinction grade
In order to achieve a distinction the learner must need to achieve the following criteria as well as meeting all
the requirements of pass grade and merit grade:
Distinction Descriptors Indicative Characteristics
In order to achieve a
distinction the learner
must:
The learner’s evidence shows: Contextualisation
D1 – use critical reflection to
evaluate own work and
justify valid conclusions
D1.1 – conclusions have been
arrived at through synthesis of
ideas and have been justified
D1.2 – the validity of results has
been evaluated using defined
criteria
D1.3 – self-criticism of approach
has taken place
D1.4 – realistic improvements have
been proposed against defined
characteristics for success
To achieve D1:
You will provide conclusion for each
assignment that would derive directly from
your analysis. You should justify the
conclusion you have reached. Provide
recommendation for further research.
D2 – take responsibility for
managing and organising
activities
D2.1 – autonomy/independence
has been demonstrated
D2.2 – substantial activities,
projects or investigations have
been planned, managed and
organised
D2.3 – activities have been
managed
D2.4 – the unforeseen has been
accommodated
D2.5 – the importance of
interdependence has been
recognised and achieved
To achieve D2:
You will have demonstrated an effective
approach to independent research and
study and will have met the deadline to
submit the tasks and achieve the unit
assessment criteria.
D3 – Demonstrate
convergent/lateral/creative
thinking
D3.1 – ideas have been generated
and decisions taken
D3.2 – self-evaluation has taken
place
D3.3 – convergent and lateral
thinking have been applied
D3.4 – problems have been solved
D3.5 – innovation and creative
thought have been applied
D3.6 – receptiveness to new ideas
is evident
D3.7 – effective thinking has taken
place in unfamiliar contexts
To achieve D3:
The originally of your work will be evident.
You will critically analyse information. In
addition, you will write a self-evaluation
showing your ability to reflect upon your
learning by identifying strengths and areas
for improvement in relation to unit.