1. Case study
The company director has requested that your HR department
provides a report to senior management at their forthcoming
annual meeting to show how evidence-based practice
approaches can be used to inform sound decision-making on
people practices and business-related matters. Your
departmental manager has asked you to provide this report.
In addition, for the second part of the report, you have been
asked to provide them with examples that demonstrate how
people practitioners gain understanding and insight through
interpretation of data. Report: Part one
You are required to prepare a report to senior managers at their
forthcoming annual meeting. The report needs to:
· Provide evaluation of the concept of evidence-based practice
and assess how evidencebased practice approaches can be used
to provide insight to support sound decision-making and
judgments for people practitioners across a range of people
practices and organisational issues. (1.1)
· Provide evaluation of one appropriate analysis tool and one
method that might be applied by organisations to recognise and
diagnose current and future issues, challenges, and
opportunities. (1.2)
· Explain the main principles of critical thinking and describe
how these might apply to individual and work colleagues’ ideas
to assist objective and rational debate. (1.3)
· Assess a range of different ethical theories and perspectives
and explain how understanding of these can be used to inform
and influence moral decision-making. (1.4)
· Explain a range of approaches that could be taken by people
practitioners to identify possible solutions to a specific issue
relating to people practice. (2.3)
· Appraise one approach an organisation can take to measure
financial and non-financial performance. (3.1)
· Explain how a variety of people practices add value in an

2. organisation and identify a range of methods that might be used
to measure the impact of a range of people practices (3.4)
Report Part two: Data analysis and review
Section two of the report needs to showcase to senior managers
how people professionals use and analyse data on people
practices.
1. Below is the data of labour turnover across three departments
over a five-year period.
Year
Administration
Total in department = 32
Drivers
Total in department = 141
Production
Total in department = 385
2016
4
21
39
2017
2
18
54
2018
8
32
82
2019
12
16
80
2020
9
32

3. 112
The costs for recruiting an employee up until 2018 was £2065
however this rose to £3012 from this date onwards.
· Present the costings for each year across each of the three
departments.
· Represent the turnover per year as a percentage of the total
number of employees in each department.
2. Presented below are two sets of data that has been collected
from two departments during exit interviews. Table 1 shows the
feedback that has been elicited from employees in production
and table 2 is from payroll.
· Review and analyse the two data sets below.
Table 1.
Production – the data represents the number of employees
making the comment of their main reason for leaving (52
refused to comment).
Left the job role because there was limited opportunity to
enhance career.
24
Left because the work was boring or monotonous
45
Left the role because targets set by their line manager were
unachievable.
3
Left because the working hours were unsocial
38
Left the job because their manager was aggressive and difficult
to work with.
52
Left because of unforeseen life change
4

4. Left because there was limited opportunity to develop
12
Left through ill health
14
The role did not afford the opportunity to flexible working
68
Left because I wanted to retire early
7
Left because the working environment was not conducive to
well-being
15
Left due to travel difficulties
5
Left to pursue another career
82
Left due to poor pay
94
Left because there was conflict amongst fellow employees
34
Left due to limited reward incentives
87
Left to go to further/higher education
19
Left due to emigrating to another country
1
Left because of leaving the area
5
Left due to care responsibilities
18
Table 2.
Payroll - the data represents the number of employees making
the comment of their main reason for leaving (27 refused to
comment).
Left the job role because there was limited opportunity to
enhance career.

5. 4
Left because the work was boring or monotonous
12
Left the role because targets set by their line manager were
unachievable.
17
Left because the working hours were unsocial
2
Left the job because their manager was aggressive and difficult
to work with.
7
Left because of unforeseen life change
4
Left because there was limited opportunity to develop
2
Left through ill health
1
The role did not afford the opportunity to flexible working
3
Left because I wanted to retire early
0
Left because the working environment was not conducive to
well-being
1
Left due to travel difficulties
0
Left to pursue another career
3
Left due to poor pay
2
Left because there was conflict amongst fellow employees
4
Left due to limited reward incentives
5
Left to go to further/higher education
8

6. Left due to emigrating to another country
0
Left because of leaving the area
3
Left due to care responsibilities
8
· From the analysis present your findings using appropriate
methods to highlight themes and trends that appear to be
occurring. (2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 3.3)
· Make at least three recommendations to reduce employee
turnover based on your analysis. Provide a rationale for your
recommendations based on an evaluation of the benefits, risks
and financial implications of potential solutions. (2.4)
It is essential that you relate to academic concepts, theories and
professional practice for the tasks to ensure that your work is
supported by analysis. Please ensure that any references and
sources drawn upon are acknowledged correctly and supported
by a bibliography.
Your evidence must consist of:
Report : (approximately 3900 words)
Assessment Criteria Evidence Checklist
Use this as a checklist to make sure that you have included the
required evidence to meet the task. Please enter the evidence
title and where it can be referred to. An example has been
provided for you.

7. A: Report
Assessment criteria Evidenced Evidence reference
Y/N
1.1
Evaluate the concept of evidence-based practice including how
it can be applied to decision-making in people practice.
Report
(Page number)
1.2
Evaluate a range of analysis tools and methods including how
they can be applied to diagnose organisational issues,
challenges and opportunities.
1.3
Explain the principles of critical thinking including how you
apply these to your own and others’ ideas.
1.4
Assess how different ethical perspectives can influence decision
making.
2.3
Explain a range of decision-making processes to identify
potential solutions to a specific people practice issue.
3.1
Appraise different ways organisations measure financial and
non-financial performance.
3.4

8. Measure the impact and value of people practice using a variety
of methods.
Task two: Data analysis and review Evidenced
Evidence reference Y/N Assessment criteria
2.1
Interpret analytical data using appropriate analysis tools and
methods.
Report
(Page number)
2.2
Review relevant evidence to identify key insights into a people
practice issue.
2.4
Provide a rationale for your decision based on evaluation of the
benefits, risks and financial implications of potential solutions.
3.2
Scrutinise key systems and data used to inform people practice
in relation to measures of work and people performance
calculations.
3.3
Collate key findings for stakeholders from people practice
activities and initiatives.

9. PORTFOLIO PROJECT
General Education Requirement
CCJ4651.933
OVERVIEW
The focus of this semester-long assignment is to teach
information and data literacy skills, problem solving, critical
thinking and writing. this assignment will be completed in
seven phases throughout the course of the semester. After
selecting a research question from a list provided and writing a
short piece describing what you already know, you will write
three subsequent papers (one based on source from the web, and
one based on a peer reviewed research article, and a final
integrative and reflective paper based on feedback from earlier
writing). This project is worth 55% of your grade in total,
broken down thusly:
Project Phase
Activity
% of Course Grade
Phase One
Planning
5%
Phase Two
Peer Feedback on Phase 1
5%
Phase Three
Integrating Feedback into Plan
5%
Phase Four
Pre-Research Knowledge
5%
Phase Five
Evaluation of a Knowledge Source
10%
Phase Six
Evaluation of a Research Article as a source

10. 10%
Phase Seven
Integration and Synthesis of Knowledge, and Reflection on
earlier work
15%
As you can see, the entire project is worth 55% of your semester
grade in the class. In keeping with my general policy that no
SINGLE deliverable in the course can irretrievably result in a
failing grade, you can see that each part of the portfolio is
worth between 5% and 15% of your grade. HOWEVER, this is
a project which must have all sections completed, and
completed on time, or it can seriously, potentially
catastrophically, affect other parts of your project. For
instance, if you do not submit Phase One, you cannot receive
peer feedback in Phase Two, thus cannot complete Phase Three.
Though you may receive points for Phase Two for PROVIDING
feedback, If you don’t do Phase One, you’ll get a zero on it, and
you will also automatically receive a zero on Phase Three, as
you will have not submitted a plan to receive feedback about.
This will also affect your grade in Phase Seven. Thus it is
absolutely essential that you complete these assignments by
their due date. While I normally don’t allow late submissions,
here’s how this will work: If you submit your completed
assignment within 24 hours after the due date, it will be graded
at a 30% penalty. Submissions beyond 24 hours will be given a
zero, BUT having submitted it MAY prevent further penalties to
later parts of the portfolio
By necessity, these late submission opportunities will have
absolute cut-off dates that will vary depending on the Phase.
Part of this project involves learning to budget time and
effectively plan for course activities. Failure to do so can have
a “cascade” effect that can be very damaging to one’s grade,
and can in some cases affect the ability of others to perform
their tasks as well. None of these individual sections should
take a significant amount of your time IF EFFECTIVELY
PLANNED AND COMPLETED.

11. Research questions below to be the focus of your portfolio.
1. In what ways does decriminalization or legalization of
marijuana impact the overall number of drug users?
2. Is the U.S. drug control policy’s focus on supply reduction
effective in reducing the harm caused to society by drugs?
3. Is there a link between illegal drug use and criminal
behavior? 4.
Is there a link between drug laws and crime?
PHASE 1: PLANNING (5%)
Due Date: July 5 by 6pm (everything’s due at 6pm on the due
date. Everything.)
Purpose: To improve your problem solving skills by developing
a multi-step project plan.
Directions: Your task is to develop a Portfolio Plan in which
you analyze the Portfolio Project and lay out the steps you will
take to complete it. You will do this thusly:
Carefully read the directions for all seven phases before
beginning (see below). Develop a plan of action laying out the
steps necessary to complete all portions of the project by the
due dates listed. Post to the discussion board titled Portfolio
Plan. The questions below will be helpful in developing the
plan.
a) Identify your short term and long term tasks in regards to the
Portfolio Project.
b) Break the problem into specific tasks, listing each task as
clearly and precisely as you can.
c) Include the anticipated number of hours to complete each
task. Is this estimate of the tasks and hours allotted realistic?
Recognize your limitations in terms of time (competing
obligations/ due dates).

12. d) Assess each task to determine what you have to do to
complete it.
e) Identify the phases that require skills/information that you
will need to acquire.
f) Evaluate your options. What can you do in the short term?
In the long term?
PHASE 2 -- PROVIDING PEER FEEDBACK (5%)
Due Date: July 11, 6pm
Purpose: Practice critical thinking skills by assessing the
completeness and feasibility of fellow student’s portfolio plans.
Directions: Provide feedback on the project plan to TWO
fellow students. Select students within your Project Group who
do not already have feedback from two others (if, for some
weird reason, EVERYONE already has two, you can be the
third, but look for folk who don’t have two reviews yet). Read
their plan and consider the following questions.
· Does their plan identify all the tasks needed to complete the
Portfolio Project? If not, what is missing?
· Does their plan identify potential obstacles/limitation? If not,
what does it need to further elaborate upon?
· Does it identify skills or information need to complete tasks?
IF not, what are the skills/information they will need to
complete the project?
· Is the timeline feasible? If you don’t think it is (or if it’s
absent completely), you don’t have to do their timeline for
them, but at least one suggestion regarding planning would be
helpful.
[General comments about this being impossible during a six-
week course are not in fact necessary, as the person writing
these words has already noted that it’s challenging. But it IS
do-able and hey, Gen Ed course in Summer in 6 weeks! But
unfortunately, the course can’t be shortened in content, and it’s
3 hours, so it must be the same course. I feel your pain – 100
students x 7 writing assignments – the math isn’t too hard here
to figure out how much grading your intrepid Instructor and TA

13. will be doing. And in high gear as well ]
· Remember, all of this is intended to be CONSTRUCTIVE
comment – it’s intended to HELP your peers. “Your plan is
bad”, or anything even similar to that, is not collegial, not
responsive to the assignment, and will not be scored as such.
PHASE 3 –- INTEGRATING NEW SOURCES OF
INFORMATION (5%)
Due Date: July 16
Purpose: To revise and improve prior work by integrating
feedback and new sources of information.
Directions: Modify your Portfolio Plan to include: 1) the
feedback received from two classmates, and 2) good ideas from
the two plans you reviewed (and any other ideas you might have
had since submitting Phase One. Post the modified plan on the
Discussion Board. Yes, that’s it. Not TOO bad of an
assignment, right?
a
PHASE 4: KNOWLEDGE (5%)
Due Date: July 20
Purpose: Practice effective written communication.
Directions: 1. Select of one of the research questions below to
be the focus of your portfolio.
1. In what ways does decriminalization or legalization of
marijuana impact the overall number of drug users?
2. Is the U.S. drug control policy’s focus on supply reduction
effective in reducing the harm caused to society by drugs?
3. Is there a link between illegal drug use and criminal
behavior?
4. Is there a link between drug laws and crime?
2. In a 6-8 sentence essay, describe your current understanding
of the answer to the question you selected. . DO NOT SEEK
OUT ANY NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC
BEFORE WRITING YOUR ESSAY. You will have the chance
to do that in future assignments.

14. The focus of this assignment is on your writing. Organization is
key. While it is okay to write down your initial thoughts about
the topic, you must rewrite these thoughts into an organized and
logical essay. Two or three drafts will be required to produce a
result that will meet the standards expected (See grading
rubric).
3.Looking back on the paragraph you just wrote, does it:
· Start with an introductory sentence?
· Describe your current understanding regarding the topic?
· Indicate the sources of information that have helped to shape
your understanding. (personal experience, the media,
information learned in a course, etc.)?
If not, go back and revise
4. Reflecting on composing your essay, did you find yourself
questioning your knowledge base and how it has been shaped?
Learning to interpret and assess information, including how to
judge its credibility, is a critical skill. This will be a
continuous thread throughout this course, your academic
experience and beyond.
I hope that this exercise has sparked your interest in finding out
more information about the topic you selected. We will be
doing this in the next two assignments.
Phase 5 - Evaluating Credibility of Sources
(TRAPP test evaluation rubric and answer sheet for questions
asked in the assignment)
Due Date: July 25 (by, yes, you guessed it == 6 pm)
1. Referring to the research question you selected in Phase 4,
identify a WRITTEN online source (e.g. a news or magazine
article, a web page—anything except an article published in a
research journal). The source should be sufficiently long that
you will be able to write 500 words on the topic. Read the
grading rubric below before starting the assignment.
2. Provide the URL to your source. This should be a DIRECT
URL – that is, if I click it,
I should be taken directly to the page containing the document
itself. Any URL which does not conform

15. to this requirement will not only result in your being
downgraded for that part, if I cannot find the article
VERY easily, I won’t have the ability to score much of this
part of your portfolio and your grade will reflect this.
. 3. The TRAPP test includes 5 criteria upon which to evaluate
a source. Think about the answers to the questions and
then rank your source on each of the 5 criteria from 1 to 10 (1 =
unreliable, 10 = excellent). Enter the score
in the textbox below.
Dimension
Score
Timeliness: the timeliness of the information
· When was the information published or posted?
· Has the information been revised or updated?
· Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?
Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs
· Does the information relate to your topic or answer your
question?
· Have you looked at a variety of sources before choosing this
one?
· Is the information at an appropriate level? Not too elementary
or too advanced for your needs?
Authority: the source of the information.
• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• What are the credentials or qualifications of the author?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail
address?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?

16. Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the
content.
• Are there spelling, grammar or other typographical errors?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source?
• Do they cite sources or provide links to the original
source?
Purpose: the reason the information exists
• What is the purpose of the information? To inform?
Teach? Persuade? Sell?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose
clear?
• Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
• Are there political, cultural, religious or personal biases?
Do they only support one point of view?
Add up the scores to give you an idea of whether you should
you use the resource (and whether your professor would want
you to!).
45 - 50 Excellent
40 - 44 Good
35 - 39 Average
30 - 34 Borderline Acceptable
Below 30 – Unacceptable
5. Identify which of the 5 criteria your source scored the highest
on and explain why.

17. 6. Identify the criteria your source scored lowest on and justify
why the source is still a creditable one for
learning about your research topic.
7. (Read this next paragraph VERY carefully): Summarize the
information in your source that contributes to your increased
understanding of the
research question you chose. This should be at least 500 words
and WILL BE SUBMITTED USING THE TOOL IN the
Portfolio module (It’s called “Phase 5 Essay Submission” or
something similar. You will NOT submit anything to that link
other than your essay. The “questions” part of PHASE 5
(everything I have conveniently changed to a deep blue color
above this paragraph) you will save and submit to the link
entitled “Phase 5 WORKSHEET”. If you get this wrong, there
is a very real chance that your submission will not be scored at
all and will become a zero on the due date. I cannot emphasize
this enough. You will answer the questions in the blue section
of this document(as appropriate, respond below each question.
Don’t worry about formatting too much--as long as it’s not a
total mess, I should be able to parse it. If I can’t, you’ll
know… ) and submit it to the “worksheet” link, then take your
500-word essay as a separate document and submit it to the
“essay” link. Not really difficult, but failure to follow
directions is an indication that you are not mastering critical
thinking skills, and it will be penalized separately from the
rubric if you don’t pay attention.
GRADING RUBRIC (this is what I’ll use to grade your Phase 5
submissions)
Assignment graded out of 100 points (worth 10% of final
grade).
Excellent
Good
Fair

18. Poor
Directions followed and URL correct
5
4
3
2
TRAPP Assessment (2 points per criteria)
10
8
6
4
Response to Q5 exhibited a critical analysis of the 5 criteria
10
8
6
4
Response to Q6 exhibited a critical analysis of the 5 criteria
10
8
6
4
Justification for use of source
5
4
3
2
Essay
Material from source summarized completely
30
24
21
18
Organization of essay
10
8
7

19. 6
Punctuation, spelling, grammar
20
16
14
4
500 word requirement met
10
8
7
4
PHASE 6: RESEARCHING (10%)
Due Date: July 29
Purpose: To become familiar with social science research and
how it is presented in academic journals.
Directions: In Phase 5 of the Portfolio Project you identified a
source of information from the web addressing the research
question you selected in Phase 4. In this phase, you must select
a research article from a peer-reviewed journal. A peer reviewed
research article will report the results of a research study that
has been conducted. Conducting research requires following
the rules of the scientific method and the collection of data.
1. Identify a peer reviewed research article published after
2010 that is relevant to the research question you selected in
Phase 4. I will provide information about what will constitute
an acceptable article, and I’ll give you some information on
what “peer reviewed” and “research” mean for this assignment.
However, you are responsible for ensuring that your article
conforms to these rules.
2. Answer each of the items below in writing your essay (see
how this is different from Phase 5? In that one, you did a
worksheet, then used it and your source article to write the
essay. This time, no worksheet – you will integrate the
responses to the questions below INTO your essay).

20. a. Provide a proper APA citation for your article.
b. What is the research question the study was designed to
answer?
c. What were the researchers trying to understand or explain?
This is the dependent variable.
d. What variable(s) did the researchers think would help them to
understand or explain the dependent variable listed above? This
is the independent variable/variables.
e. Describe how data was collected (survey of people, data from
an official criminal justice agency, analyses of laws, an
observation or experiment).
f. Describe the sample that was used. This should include a
number in the description.
g. Skip over the section where the statistical analysis is
presented, and read the section labeled Findings or Discussion.
Summarize the results of the study.
h. Towards the end of the article the researchers will mention
the limitations of their study. What were the limitations of their
study identified by the researchers?
3. Using the information from above, write 500 words
describing the study and its results. Be sure to use your own
words.
Grading rubric for this Phase:
Element of essay
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Directions followed and citation correct
5
4
3
2

21. Research question identified
5
4
3
2
Identification of dependent variable
5
4
3
2
Identification of independent variable(s)
5
4
3
2
Data collection method identified correctly
5
4
3
2
Sample identified
5
4
3
2
Results adequately and briefly summarized
5
4
3
2
Limitations identified
5
4
3
2
Essay describing the study and results

22. Material from source summarized completely
25
22
18
14
Organization of essay
5
4
3
2
Punctuation, spelling, grammar
20
16
14
4
500 word requirement met
10
8
7
4
PHASE 7:INTEGRATING AND SYNTHESIZING
INFORMATION (15%)
Due Date: August 4
Purpose: To revise previously submitted coursework by
integrating new sources of information.
Directions: In this final portion of the Portfolio Project you will
revise previously submitted coursework and write a final essay
integrating the material from Phases 4, 5 and 6.
1. Review the feedback provided in Phases 5 and 6. Summarize
the 3 most important corrections/suggestions provided along
with an explanation of how you will address these as part of this
last assignment.
2. Using the three essays you have written (Phases 4, 5,6) , and

23. incorporating the feedback you received, write a three-page
essay answering the original research question you selected in
Phase 4.
3. Your final task is to review the Portfolio Plan you created in
Phases 1-3. Review your original plan for “solving” this
semester long assignment and give your original your plan a
grade (A-F, you can use minus and pluses) based on how well it
served as an effective tool for assisting you in completing the
Portfolio. Identify what parts of your plan were helpful and
which parts fell short. Describe what you will do differently
next time you are faced with a multi-step project. Note: Your
grade is not tied to the grade you give your plan, but rather on
your ability to reflect upon the effectiveness of your plan and to
identify how you will improve next time. (SLO#4)
Phase 7 Grading Rubric
Grading is out of 150 points and worth 15% of your course
grade.
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Identification of 3 important suggestions
10
8
6
4
Description of how suggestions will be implemented
5
4
3
2
Essay
Material from sources integrated into a coherent essay
60
48
42

24. 36
Organization of essay
10
8
7
6
Punctuation, spelling, grammar
20
16
14
4
500 word requirement met
10
8
7
4
Review of Project Plan
30
24
21
18
ALL Directions followed
5
4
3
2
5
Unversity of South Florida
PORTFOLIO PROJECT
General Education Requirement
CCJ4651.933
Specific tasks for the project
In what ways does decriminalization or legalization of

25. marijuana impact the overall number of drug users?
The tasks
· Assessing the timelines of legalization of marijuana in
different states (one hour)
· Evaluate the data on the volumes of Marijuana consumption
through amounts from the date of legalization to a year after
legalization (three hours)
· Planning an interview with Centre for Drug and Control
(CDC) official on contexts of increase in Marijuana
consumption (one day)
· Compiling the data (four hours)
· Data analysis (Five hours anticipated time)
Is the U.S. drug control policy’s focus on supply reduction
effective in reducing the harm caused to society by drugs?
The tasks
· Assessing the cases of drug control measures related to supply
reduction (one hour)
· Prevalent of drug abuse through research (two hours)
· Overall drug abuse prevalence (two hours)
· Interviews on police heads on the change of drug use (one
day)
· Reflection of the data provided
· Data analysis (two hours)
Is there a link between illegal drug use and criminal behavior,
and is there a link between drug laws and crime?
The tasks
· Research on drug laws and criminal behavior (2 hours)
· Review of online data on arrested persons with illegal drug
use background (two hours)
· Reflect on the relationship (three hours) through online
research
· Collect data from nearest police on the experience between
criminal behavior and drug abuse (one hour)
· Interview the head of the police unit in the local area (two
hours)
· Data collection and analysis (two hours)

26. The approach to interviewing the police head in the local area is
aimed at saving time. It is not conclusive but persuasive on the
link between illegal drug use and criminal behavior.