Enhancing Workplace Performance-Critical Personal Factors

Topic

Enhancing Workplace Performance-Critical Personal Factors

Instructions

You must select ONE ONLY (1) of the two following Business Report Options.

Business Report Option # 1

Your CEO in a global Management Consultancy and Research Organisation (Hawkeye Research) has become interested after attending a Seminar called “Working At Peak Performance” (WAPP).  The various aspects of ‘WAPPING’ were explored and endorsed very positively by the presenter and the CEO would like further research and a Report done.  The possibility of the entire organisation WAPPING could create significant productivity gains and the CEO, a convert to Continuous Improvement and a previous US Presidential Award Baldridge Winner, has creative dissatisfaction in his DNA.  As Head of HR at Hawkeye Research (HOHRHR), you are to write a Report that demonstrates your ability to target research, reference correctly using credible sources including internet, published books and at least six reputable journal articles on the four topics of sleep, exercise, nutrition and mental health for peak human performance.  In writing the Report look at least at the academic literature on Work-Life Balance, Personal and Organisational Productivity.

The title of this report is to be: “Enhancing Workplace Performance – Critical Personal Factors”.

Your Report must provide a list of recommendations for your CEO so that staff at Hawkeye Research who want to improve and maintain their physical and cognitive acuity and their overall health can do so.  You do not need to draw up a budget or an implementation schedule at this time.  That is not within the scope of this Report.

Be sure to indicate the limitations of your Report, given its relative briefness but do point to additional matters that could need investigation for a more fulsome report.

Business Report Option # 2

The CEO of the global Hawkeye Research Corporation wants to improve the way in which training and development is conducted in the organisation. To enable this, the CEO needs a Report written that is to be called “Critical Individual Factors for Enhanced Organisational Learning”.  It is to be authored by you, the Head of Human Resources.

The Report must contain four sections addressing:

  1. A brief explanation of what the brain does when it learns
  2. Improving brain functioning for learning – practical steps
  3. Optimising individual adult learning
  4. Enhancing workplace learning

In addition to more general but reliable information, you must also look at research evidence on each of the above to come to a well-argued position, taking care to relate your findings to the operational workplace.  Your Report should conclude with Recommendations about what Hawkeye should do to improve training and organisational learning that should lead to greater organisational capability.  The Report is to generate a clear list of Recommendations flowing from your research findings.  This may include investment in specific types of programmes for employees or other activities you think appropriate.  You may make additional recommendations regarding further research that might be needed to form a more fulsome understanding of other factors that would have a positive effect on making learning at work better.

In writing the Report look at least at the academic literature on how adults learn, how the human mind can be made more ready to learn, how cognitive functioning can be enhanced and the negative effects of alcohol, opioids, “ice”, cannabis and other drugs on short and long term brain function, and the impact of such substances on the ability to learn and perform in the workplace.

You do not need to draw up a budget or an implementation schedule for your Recommendations at this time.  That is not within the scope of this Report.

Be sure to indicate the limitations of your Report, given its relative brevity.

Whichever option is chosen, the Business Report you attempt must demonstrate your ability to target suitable research and reference correctly using credible sources including internet, published books and at least six reputable journal articles on the topic. It is important that your sources are credible and that you write the Business Report in the standard Business Report format as shown in one of your textbooks.  You will need to find out about business report structures yourself as well as hearing about them in the two hour weekly meetings.  Additionally, be sure to complete the compulsory University Academic Integrity Module and the INFOSKILLS Tutorial and look at the relevant sections on research, writing and referencing of the Communications Handbook by Summers and Smith (citation below) that are part of your textbook pack.

Answer preview

Organizational productivity is the prime focus that management prioritizes. In trying to achieve productivity, specific corporate and personal factors play a role. This report aims to address how the productivity of employees can be increased by looking at personal factors. It will give an in-depth exploration of factors like sleep, exercise, nutrition, and mental health. These factors immensely contribute to the productivity as they outline the basic concept of work-life balance. Indeed, the report will give a comprehensive study into improving and maintaining physical and cognitive acuity. The report will be keen on issues of change in changes in the mental and physical condition of employees as a measure of their productivity.

Word count: 2462