Posted: May 27th, 2015

Essay on Work-Life Balance

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

Assessment Task 3 – Essay on Work-Life Balance

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assessment task is to assist students develop skills in the application of Human Resource Management (HRM) principles, work-life balance theories and models in the analysis of the present and future role of the HRM function in organisations. The assessment task encourages exploration of the effectiveness of the HRM functions (work-life balance, flexible work arrangements etc.) in dynamic environments and how that effectiveness should be evaluated. The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to enhance their research, analysis, critical thinking and written communications skills including the identification and development of an argument.

Description

Assessment task 3 requires the writing of an academic essay. This essay should be an ‘argumentative/ academic essay’, and must therefore contain an argument that is used as the structuring element of the paper. The assignment is based on a case study that describes the impact of leadership styles and change management on business activities. The purpose of the essay is to identify the roles of work-life balance, flexibility in work arrangements and other challenges in managing dynamic organisations. Students are expected to engage in extensive research within the academic literature relating to work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, job satisfaction and employee performances. Students are expected to engage in extensive research within the academic literature relating to human resource management.

Details

The assessment item is based on the case study titled Flexibility and work-life balance: who benefits? (pg. 315-316 of textbook: Human Resource Management in Australia (5th Ed., 2014) by Kramar, Bartram, De Cieri, Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart& Wright, McGraw-Hill Australia). You should read, and carefully analyse, the case and respond to the issues presented at the end of the case study within the context of an argumentative essay. You are required to support your argument with appropriatetheoretical discussion and references.

Tasks

Case Study: Flexibility and work-life balance: who benefits? (pg. 315-316 of the textbook)

Based on the above mentioned case study, write an essay titled “Work-Life Balance” to critically discuss the following questions:

1. Do you agree with Juliet Bourke that the use of flexibility has moved away from its original paradigms?
2. Critically discuss the implications of excessive working hours on the performance of employees and managers.
3. Analyse ways in which employers could facilitate work-life balance during an economic downturn.

Your essay should be a properly constructed academic essay. It should contain an effective introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should introduce the essay and include your argument. The body should present the evidence you have collected to support your argument, and the conclusion should restate your argument, summarise the evidence and make a conclusion regarding your argument. You are required to support your argument with appropriate theoretical discussion and references.

This assessment item involves researching your assigned topic to enhance your understanding of Human Resource Management (HRM) concepts and utilization of academic literature. AVOID using only textbooks, however, the prescribed textbook for the course should be cited in regard to broad HRM principles. You will be expected to present information and evidence from, and cite, at LEAST fifteen (15) relevant peer-reviewed, academic journal articles (twelve relevant and well applied academic articles will gain a pass mark for this criterion). Refer to your recommended readings for examples of academic journals. While you can cite these you must find fifteen (15) journal articles not listed in the course materials. Your citations will show the breadth and depth of the literature used to answer the questions. Your marker is interested in the analysis that you have developed from YOUR review of the literature and how well you use the literature to respond to the topic