Welcome to AS 2: Human Resource Services – Research and Report Writing
Welcome to your study notes for Unit AS 2: Human Resource Services. In this unit, you step into the role of a professional business consultant! Rather than sitting a traditional written exam, you will complete an internally assessed portfolio (externally moderated by CCEA) based on a pre-released business case study. This coursework makes up 30% of your total AS Level (and 12% of your overall A Level).
Don't worry if business report writing sounds intimidating at first! Once you break down the core Human Resource (HR) concepts, understand how to collect your research, and master the formal report structure, you will be fully equipped to score top marks.
Part 1: Core Human Resource (HR) Services
Before you can write a business report, you need to understand the fundamental HR functions that organisations rely on. Human Resource Services involves managing people within an organisation to ensure the business meets its goals while supporting its workforce.
1. Workforce Planning
Workforce Planning is the process of analysing an organisation's current workforce skills and forecasting future staffing needs.
• Why it matters: It ensures a business does not face a skills shortage or end up overstaffed. It helps businesses plan for recruitment drives, training, or potential redundancies when market demands shift.
• Analogy: Think of workforce planning like managing a sports team. You need to know which players are retiring, what positions are weak, and who you need to recruit for next season.
2. Recruitment and Selection
This is the process of attracting, screening, and selecting the most appropriate candidates for job vacancies. Two essential business documents are created during this stage:
• Job Description: Outlines the details, duties, tasks, and responsibilities of the role (e.g., job title, daily duties, reporting manager).
• Person Specification: Outlines the ideal qualities, qualifications, skills, and experience required in the candidate (e.g., degree level, communication skills, years of experience).
• Memory Tip: The Job description describes the Job itself; the Person specification describes the Person needed.
3. Training and Development
Once employees are hired, HR must ensure they have the knowledge and skills to perform their roles effectively:
• Induction Training: Special training given to new employees when they first join a business. It introduces them to company policies, premises, health and safety rules, and colleagues.
• Continual Professional Development (CPD): Ongoing skills enhancement and lifelong learning for existing staff to keep up with industry changes, technology, and career progression.
4. Employee Relations
Employee Relations focuses on maintaining workplace harmony and positive relationships between employers and employees. It includes:
• Promoting fair treatment and open communication.
• Implementing conflict resolution strategies to solve disputes.
• Establishing clear disciplinary procedures when workplace rules or performance standards are breached.
Key Takeaway: HR services cover the entire lifecycle of an employee: forecasting needs (workforce planning), hiring the right staff (recruitment and selection), upskilling them (training and CPD), and maintaining harmony (employee relations).
Part 2: Conducting Business Research
To produce an authentic consultancy report for your AS 2 portfolio, you must gather reliable business evidence. You must combine both primary and secondary research methods.
Primary Research (First-Hand Evidence)
Primary research involves collecting original, first-hand data directly from the source.
• Examples: Conducting interviews with practicing HR professionals, distributing questionnaires/surveys to employees, or carrying out simulated workplace interviews.
• Benefits: Data is up-to-date, highly specific to your case study topic, and unique to your investigation.
• Examiner Warning: A common mistake is relying purely on internet searches. To secure top marks, you must actively demonstrate primary research skills!
Secondary Research (Desk Research)
Secondary research involves gathering and analysing information that has already been published by others.
• Examples: Industry reports, company websites, employment law databases, and relevant HR textbooks.
• Benefits: Quick to access, provides broad contextual data, and helps you understand industry benchmarks and legal requirements.
Key Takeaway: Strong portfolios balance both methods: use secondary research to establish background facts and laws, and use primary research to investigate specific HR practices and perspectives.
Part 3: The Formal Business Report Structure
Your AS 2 portfolio must be presented as a formal, professional business report. Writing an academic essay instead of a structured business report is a major pitfall. Follow this standard 7-part structure:
1. Title Page
Clearly states the report title, author's name, candidate number, centre number, client/case study name, and date of completion.
2. Executive Summary
A concise overview of the entire report written for busy senior executives. It briefly summarises the report's purpose, main findings, key conclusions, and primary recommendations.
Tip: Write this section last, once the rest of your report is finished!
3. Introduction (Terms of Reference)
Sets the background and defines the scope of the project. It clarifies:
• Who commissioned the report.
• The purpose and core objectives of the investigation.
• The specific HR issues being investigated.
4. Findings (Evidence and Analysis)
The largest section of your report. Here, you present the data gathered from your primary and secondary research. You must group your findings under logical headings (e.g., Recruitment, Induction, Employee Relations) and analyse what the data reveals about the organisation.
5. Conclusions
A logical summary drawn directly from your findings. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation's current HR services without introducing new evidence.
6. Recommendations
Specific, practical, and actionable solutions for the client organisation. Every recommendation must be directly justified by the evidence presented in your findings and conclusions.
7. Bibliography / References
A complete, accurate list of all secondary sources (websites, books, journals, legal databases) cited throughout your report to demonstrate academic integrity and professional research standards.
Key Takeaway: Structure is everything! Use clear headings, subheadings, and numbered sections to make your report easy for a business manager to navigate.
Part 4: Understanding the Assessment Objectives (AOs)
Your portfolio is evaluated against three core assessment objectives. Understanding their weighting helps you balance your work:
• AO1: Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding (12% of AS):
Show that you understand key HR terms, models, theories, and concepts (e.g., accurately defining induction, person specifications, and workforce planning).
• AO2: Apply Knowledge and Understanding (11% of AS):
Apply your HR knowledge directly to the pre-release case study organisation. Avoid generic statements—tailor every point to the specific business context.
• AO3: Analyse and Evaluate Evidence (12% of AS):
Examine the research data critically, weigh up different HR solutions, draw sensible conclusions, and provide fully justified recommendations.
Part 5: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
• Pitfall 1: Treating AS Level like GCSE.
The Fix: At GCSE, basic definitions were enough. At AS Level, you must write from the perspective of an external management consultant giving actionable, strategic advice.
• Pitfall 2: Neglecting Primary Research.
The Fix: Plan and carry out interviews or surveys early. Quote your primary research findings within your analysis to prove you gathered first-hand evidence.
• Pitfall 3: Essay-Style Formatting.
The Fix: Use formal report sections, distinct headings, bullet points, and numbered lists rather than continuous essay paragraphs.
• Pitfall 4: Generic or Unjustified Recommendations.
The Fix: Never recommend a solution just because it sounds nice. Always link recommendations directly back to the weaknesses highlighted in your findings.
Quick Review Checklist
Before submitting your report, ask yourself:
1. Did I cover all key HR areas (Workforce Planning, Recruitment, Training/CPD, Employee Relations)?
2. Does my report contain both primary and secondary research evidence?
3. Is my work formatted into the 7 official business report sections?
4. Are all recommendations justified by my findings and tailored to the case study?