5CO02 Evidence-based Practice Guideline Task One

Questions

AC 1.1 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

Guideline

Learners will explain evidence-based practice concept and its effectiveness in helping people professionals make sound organisational and personal decisions. The use of evidence focuses on analysing the strategies and models that help in the decision-making process. Examples of models that students should explain include;-

• Rational model
• Bounded rationality model
• Group think model

students explain the strengths and weaknesses of each of the above-mentioned approaches, and how the approaches support sound decision-making.

The learners should be in a position to select evidence and interpret effectively before making decisions. Professionals make decisions when they have evidence that is obtained from a variety of sources. The information collected should not be biased and it should be used to form judgements and conclusions that are based on theory of professional opinions.

Additionally, students will give examples of people practice or organisational issues where people practice professionals use evidence to make sound decisions at work. Examples of these issues include Learning and development (L&D) processes, absenteeism, turnover and skills shortage.

AC 1.2 Evaluate micro and macro analysis tools that can be used in people practice to explore an organisation’s micro and macro environment and how those identified might be applied to diagnose future issues, challenges and opportunities.

Guideline

Examples of analysis tools used in people practice include;-

• Porter’s Five Forces model
• Ansoff Matrix
• Cause and effect analysis tool
• McKinsey 7S analysis tool
• Balanced scorecard

Organisations can diagnose future issues such as organisational competitors, organisational growth and new legislations by using either of the above analysis tools and the methods discussed below. Examples of analysis methods that students should apply to diagnose future issues and opportunities include;-

• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Observation
• Work sampling

AC 1.3. 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.

Guideline

Learners explain either of the following principles relating to critical thinking. Examples of the principles that the learners should discuss are questioning the sources of data, explaining the validity of the evidence that the professionals use in making decisions, engagement in objective thinking to understand the arguments, and evaluating the possibilities of having the evidence being biased. Students apply principles of critical thinking to their own ideas with the intention to develop rational debates.

Learners then explain how they can apply the principles to other people’s ideas. Considerations in these case include the claims and facts from other people’s ideas, the credibility of the information that they bring forth and considerations for further reading.

The learners explain how they can use different methodologies in applying the above-mentioned principles. They also consider the clarity of terminologies that they use in developing new agendas and managing complex information.

AC 1.4 • 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.

Guideline

Learners may explain either of the following ethical theories;-

• Utilitarian theory
• Deontology/Kantianism theory
• Communitarianism theory
• Altruism theory

The learners should also mention the ethical values that influence decision-making, and the examples of these values include; – honesty, fairness, and consideration of the ethical outcomes and dilemmas that affect the kind of decisions made in an organisation.

 

AC 2.3 Explain a range of approaches that could be taken by people practitioners to identify possible solutions to a specific issue relating to people practice

Guideline

Examples of the processes that the learners explain when answering this question include;-

• Problem-outcome frame
• Future pacing approach
• Best fit approach
• Action learning approaches
• De Bono approach (six thinking hats)

 

AC 2.4 As a worked example to illustrate the points made in 2.3, take the same people to practice issues, explain the relevant evidence that you have reviewed and use one or more decision-making tools

Guideline

Considering the identified approaches to identify solutions to people practices issues, learners explain the relevance of the approaches in identifying the benefits, risks and financial implications of the decisions.

Examples of the benefits of using evidence to make rational decisions include;-

• Improved worker productivity
• Developed positive organisational culture
• Increased customer engagements
• Increased people and organisational capabilities
• High organisation compliance to legal issues

Learners also evaluate the risks relating to the decisions made in solving problems to the people practice issues. Possible risks include financial challenges, negative organisational reputation, health and safety issues, legal challenges, and negative impacts related to people and organisational capabilities in creating high levels of engagements.

Financial implications relate to the evidence realised on the costs of implementing the solutions and solving the people practices solutions. Indirect financial costs relate to the evaluation of the working time that professionals take in gaining the skills to solve and manage the problems. Other financial implications associate with budget limitations and the costs associated to returns on investment and other short or long-term benefits of the realised solutions.

 

AC 3.1 Appraise one approach an organisation can take to measure financial and non-financial performance

Guideline

Students should compare financial performance measures such as:

• Revenue
• Gross and net profit
• Return on investment
• Cash flows

Students also explain the non-financial measures such as:

• Customer satisfaction
• Key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Stakeholder benefits and feedback
• Organisational legal compliance.

AC 3.4 Explain how a variety of people practices add value in an organisation and identify a range of methods that might be used to measure the impact of a range of people practices

Guideline

Students explain ways through which people practices such as recruitment, improved L&D capability and increased employee retention among others, add value to organisations. For example, effective recruitment attracts more talent, enhances employee productivity and increases employee retention.

Additionally, students explain the methods that measure people practices’ impacts to organisations, such as cost-benefit analysis, return on investment, validation and evaluation.