Practise explaining how organisational culture, working patterns, and change can affect employee resistance and human resource management for IB Business Management SL.
With reference to an organization of your choice, discuss the ways in which culture and change can influence human resource management.
Assessment criteria for Section C
Criterion A: Knowledge and conceptual understanding
This criterion addresses the extent to which the candidate demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the given concepts and relevant business management content (theories, techniques or tools, depending on the requirements of the question).
| Marks | Level descriptor |
|---|---|
| 0 | The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. |
| 1 | Superficial knowledge of the given concepts is demonstrated. Business management content is not selected or the content selected is irrelevant. |
| 2 | Satisfactory understanding of one or both of the given concepts is demonstrated. Some business management content selected is relevant. The relevant content is satisfactorily explained. |
| 3 | Good understanding of one or both of the given concepts is demonstrated. The business management content selected is relevant, though it may not be sufficient. The relevant content is generally well explained, though the explanation may lack some depth or breadth. |
| 4 | Good understanding of both of the given concepts is demonstrated. The business management content selected is relevant, sufficient and well explained. |
Criterion B: Application
This criterion addresses the extent to which the candidate is able to apply the given concepts and the relevant business management content (theories, techniques or tools, depending on the requirements of the question) to his or her chosen real-world organization(s). The real-world organization(s) must not be the organization featured in the prescribed case study for paper 1.
| Marks | Level descriptor |
|---|---|
| 0 | The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. |
| 1 | The given concepts and/or any relevant business management content are connected to the real-world organization(s), but this connection is inappropriate or superficial. |
| 2 | The given concepts and/or relevant business management content are connected appropriately to the real-world organization(s), but this connection is not developed. |
| 3 | The given concepts and relevant business management content are generally well applied to explain the situation and issues of the real-world organization(s), though the explanation may lack some depth or breadth. Examples are provided. |
| 4 | The given concepts and relevant business management content are well applied to explain the situation and issues of the real-world organization(s). Examples are appropriate and illustrative. |
Criterion C: Reasoned arguments
This criterion assesses the extent to which the candidate makes reasoned arguments. This includes making relevant and balanced arguments by, for example, exploring different practices, weighing up their strengths and weaknesses, comparing and contrasting them or considering their implications, depending on the requirements of the question. It also includes justifying the arguments by presenting reasonable evidence or other support for the claims made.
| Marks | Level descriptor |
|---|---|
| 0 | The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. |
| 1 | Statements are made but these are superficial. |
| 2 | Relevant arguments are made but these are mostly unjustified. |
| 3 | Relevant arguments are made and these are mostly justified. |
| 4 | Relevant, balanced arguments are made and these are well justified. |
Criterion D: Structure
This criterion assesses the extent to which the candidate organizes his or her ideas with clarity, and presents a structured piece of writing comprised of:
- an introduction
- a body
- a conclusion
- fit-for-purpose paragraphs.
| Marks | Level descriptor |
|---|---|
| 0 | The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. |
| 1 | Two or fewer of the structural elements are present, and few ideas are clearly organized. |
| 2 | Three of the structural elements are present, or most ideas are clearly organized. |
| 3 | Three or four of the structural elements are present, and most ideas are clearly organized. |
| 4 | All of the structural elements are present, and ideas are clearly organized. |
Criterion E: Individuals and societies
This criterion assesses the extent to which the candidate is able to give balanced consideration to the perspectives of a range of relevant stakeholders, including individuals and groups internal and external to the organization.
| Marks | Level descriptor |
|---|---|
| 0 | The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. |
| 1 | One individual or group perspective is considered superficially or inappropriately. |
| 2 | One relevant individual or group perspective is considered appropriately, or two relevant individual or group perspectives are considered superficially or inappropriately. |
| 3 | At least two relevant individual or group perspectives are considered appropriately. |
| 4 | Balanced consideration is given to relevant individual and group perspectives. |
N.B. Although the question asks for the application of one concept on another, it is still expected that Business Management content will be aligned with the concepts especially the second concept (the one being acted on).
Please note that candidates can conclude that there was a minimal impact, however it has to be based on balanced arguments and evaluation.
Additional guidance in relation to the assessment criteria
For each criterion, the aim is to find the descriptor that conveys most accurately the level attained by the candidate, using the best-fit model. It is not necessary for every single aspect of a level descriptor to be met for that mark to be awarded.
- The highest-level descriptors do not imply faultless performance and should be achievable by a candidate.
- A candidate who attains a high level of achievement for one criterion will not necessarily reach high levels of achievement for the other criteria and vice versa.
If only one concept is addressed:
- Criteria A, B, C and E: award up to a maximum [3].
- Criterion D: full marks can be awarded.
Where the question asks for impacts of two concepts on content, examiners must allow for unbalanced treatment of the two concepts throughout a candidate’s response. One concept may be more significant than the other.
Criterion B
For [2]: “...connection is not developed” should be treated the same as superficial.
Criterion C
1 + 1 arguments are expected per concept.
- Justification is through logic or data.
- For [2] there is no balance as there are no counter arguments at all, or the arguments are all one-sided then this would be unjustified.
- For [3] there are some balanced arguments – some of which are justified.
Criterion D
- Introductions need to be concise and related to the question.
- The candidate’s response does not to have explicit headings for each structural element.
- A body is the area in which the substance of arguments occurs. It is usually located between the introduction and the conclusion.
- Fit-for-purpose paragraph means that ideas are presented in a clear academic way. For example, one idea per paragraph.
Criterion E
- One example of an “individual” could be an individual consumer or an individual manager. However, this cannot be considered with a “group” of consumers or a management team.
- For [4], a balanced response: look at the perspectives of both individual and group(s).
- The chosen individual, group needs to be applicable and relevant to the question with specific explanation.
- Candidates need to go beyond stating the stakeholder.
- Please do not use the adjective ‘inappropriate’ in the descriptor for [2]. If inappropriate award [1].
Candidates need not explicitly say “stakeholder”.
In section C, the question rubric explicitly states that “organizations featured in sections A and B and in the paper 1 case study may not be used as a basis” to candidate’s answers to questions 6, 7 and 8. When this happens please award marks as follows:
Criterion A: award a maximum of [1]. The business management content cannot be relevant if the organization is fictitious.
Criterion B: award [0] – there is no connection to a “real-world organization”
Criterion C: award a maximum of [1]. The arguments cannot be relevant if the organization is fictitious.
Criterion D: mark as normal.
Criterion E: award up to a maximum of [1]. The individual and/or group perspective(s) cannot be relevant if the organization is fictitious.