It is common in HR practice to have to identify HR problems, analyze them, identify potential solutions, and propose a recommended solution. In the context of most workplaces, proposed and recommended solutions are usually made to the senior team and/or an individual decision maker. Briefing notes are intended to provide concise and accurate information for a decision maker to decide (make a decision) on an item or problem. A well-written briefing note accurately conveys the topic, the issue, analysis, and potential solutions. In this assignment, you will prepare a briefing note that:

Identifies an HR problem (e.g., What is the problem? How do we know this is a problem? Who defined it as a problem?)

Analyzes the HR problem (e.g., Why is this a problem? What should we consider when thinking about or defining the problem?)

Proposes potential solutions to the HR problem (e.g., What are some potential options we could use to solve this problem?)

Makes a recommendation to solve the HR problem (e.g., Which solution is preferred or recommended?)

You may choose to focus your briefing note on one of four areas below: Job analysis/recruitment/talent management Discrimination/human rights/harassment Culture/employee engagement Health and safety

For example, if you were interested in the content from week two (legislative frameworks, discrimination, human rights, etc.), you might want to choose this area to focus your briefing note.

You will need to identify an HR problem that organizations are facing, for example, perhaps you find literature or research that identifies most human rights training is ineffective and does not lead to a reduction in human rights and/or discrimination complaints. This would be a key issue.

In your briefing note, you might explore this as a problem, identify how you know it is a problem (you need research and literature in this section!), and focus your analysis in this area.

Research and Literature You must include research to support your points within your briefing note. For example, if you identify a problem, you need to articulate why and how you know that is a current issue this must be academic literature (not webpages, blog posts, etc.) If you need support in this area, book a library appointment and/or an academic skills appointment Remember, we are using APA 7 for referencing and citation format

Briefing Note Template:

SUBJECT The subject serves as your title. It offers a one sentence description of the topic of your briefing note.

ISSUE The issue entices the reader to pay attention to the note it identifies the problem that you are addressing in the briefing note. In this section, you identify what the problem is (answering the question what is the problem?)

BACKGROUND The background section provides history and any other relevant information needed for the reader to be knowledgeable about the issue. It identifies how we know this is a problem, using evidence and literature to support our ideas (just saying it is a problem that organizations experience is not sufficient who experiences the problem? How do we know this?)

ANALYSIS The analysis section provides the facts, arguments, opinions, and options analysis needed to show that the conclusion and/or recommendations is an appropriate response to the issue. This section is where you will demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of a problem. Ensure that your analysis is supported by academic literature/evidence. For the purposes of this assignment, academic literature should be articles/resources from peerreviewed sources. Answers the questions Why is this a problem? What should we consider when thinking about the problem?

SOLUTIONS In this section, you present potential solutions to the problem. Solutions should be evidence-informed and directly connected to the problem you have outlined.

RECOMMENDATION(S) The recommended solution or course of action, summarized in a sentence or two