| 7CO04: Business Research in People Practice |
Learner Assessment BriefDeadline date:3rd November 2025 (January moderation) |
| Assessment ID / CIPD_7CO04_25_01 |
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Level 7 Advanced Diploma in · Strategic People Management · Strategic Learning and Development |
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| Unit code: | 7CO04 | |||||||||
| Unit title: | Business Research in People Practice | |||||||||
| Assessment ID: | CIPD_7CO04_25_01 | |||||||||
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Introduction
As you develop your career as a people professional you will be involved in solving complex organisational problems. The challenge is to find reliable trustworthy solutions and not be distracted by unreliable facts, outdated and biased opinions or superficial quick fixes.
The CIPD promotes an evidence-based approach to people management to enable people professionals to increase their level of influence, making better, more effective decisions, to help organisations achieve their goals.
The purpose of this unit is for you to apply evidence-based practice to a people focused business issue, developing your research skills and ability to write a persuasive business report.
The assessment will address all assessment criteria of this unit, with a mark awarded for each of the four LOs. Watch the supporting video for this unit: https://youtu.be/IvHqCCPto5A.
Assessment task
Identify a people focused business issue that has strategic relevance to your organisation or one you are familiar with, plan and complete an original business research project that develops a set of business focused recommendations to address the identified people issue. Your research report should be approximately 4000 words and include the sections listed below. You are advised to use the section headings to help structure your report.
To address Learning Outcome 1: Be able to plan a people practice business research project aimed at adding organisational value.
An introduction
The introduction should clearly and concisely explain the issue that needs investigation and explain why the issue needs to be investigated in this organisation, at this point in time.
Terms of Reference
This sets the parameters of your research and should include the research aim, some explanation of where in the organisation the research will take place, along with the resources and timeframes necessary for its completion. It is a good idea to attach a GANTT chart as an appendix to set out the timeline for each stage of the project.
Literature Review
This is a critical analysis and thematic review of existing published material and reputable on-line sources that directly relate to the research aim and objectives. As knowledge does not exist in a vacuum, your work will only have value in relation to other people’s research evidence. The literature review should then help to develop the research questions and inform the recommendations you later make as a result of your research.
Research Questions
Drawing upon the review of the published literature, develop meaningful research questions/objectives to help guide your own primary research. It is important that these align to the research aim.
To address Learning Outcome 2: Be able to justify the most appropriate research methods to collect data for the chosen project.
Research methodology
This section of the report should explain and justify the research strategy and design for your primary research, the research population and sample, and how this was selected. In addition, it should critically discuss the potential limitations of the data collection methods and any ethical issues, along with how your research will adhere to the main ethical principles of such research. It is essential that research texts are referenced in this Learning Outcome to further support and justify your methodology.
To address Learning Outcome 3: Be able to analyse data to make decisions and provide business and people management insights.
An analysis and presentation of the data collected from the primary research
Having completed your primary research, you need to analyse the raw data collected, both quantitative and/or qualitative using appropriate methods to present this.
A discussion of the research findings
The purpose of this section is to discuss and make sense of the project’s findings. You should compare and contrast your research findings with those identified from the published literature, identifying the key themes and their significance to the research aim and strategic implications for the organisation.
To address Learning Outcome 4: Be able to propose recommendations based on conclusions derived from the research and analysis.
Conclusion
Justify the conclusions derived from the analysis of the findings. These should summarise the main threads of the research findings, both primary and secondary and be aligned to the research aim and questions/objectives and terms of reference.
Recommendations
A business focused and evidence-based set of recommendations should be developed to address the research aim and initial business issue. The recommendations should be practical strategic actions, supported by an operational implementation plan and a strategic cost-benefit analysis aimed at the decision makers. To create a persuasive business report, it is important to highlight the potential business impact, so for example, any cost savings and/or an increase in revenue that could be associated with the recommendations.
Both the action plan and cost- benefit analysis can be included within an appendix and are excluded from the word count.
Personal Reflections
Critically review your research skills and evaluate the learning that has taken place. Include what went well or not so well, what subject knowledge and research skills you have gained, and how you could improve any future research design. You should also identify any learning objectives to include as a part of your CPD.
This final section is excluded from the word count.
Your evidence must consist of:A business report of 4000 words (+/- 10%), refer to CIPD word count policy. Although it is recognised that research projects will be diverse and as a result are likely to have varying needs, a suggested allocation of words to each to Learning Outcome is: LO 1 – 30%, LO2 – 20%, LO3 – 30%, LO4 – 20% Please note the following are excluded from the word count: · Contents page · Executive summary (if included, there is no requirement to do so) · Reference list and bibliography · Essential appendices · Action plan · Cost – benefit analysis · Personal reflections The report content, its headings and subheadings, and in-text citations are all included within the word count. |
Declaration of Authentication
Declaration by learner
| I can confirm that:
1. this assessment is all my own work. 2. where I have used materials from other sources, they have been properly acknowledged and referenced. 3. I have not used Artificial Intelligence tools to generate content for my assessment. I understand the consequences of malpractice and accept that any violation of this agreement may result in disciplinary action. |
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| Learner signature:
(This must be a true signature, so a handwritten signature, or a photo or scan of a handwritten signature, or an e-signature. A typed signature is not acceptable.) |
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| Date of submission*
Date of first re-submission (if applicable) * Date of second re-submission (if applicable) * *This should be the date on which you submit your assessment for marking |
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Marking Grid
Learners will receive a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Refer/Fail result at unit level.
You should mark in line with the generic grade descriptors provided on the last page of this brief.
You must provide a mark from 1 to 4 for each Learning Outcome in the unit. You must provide constructive, developmental feedback for each Learning Outcome where you award a mark of one, so refer/fail. If it is your Study Centre’s policy, you can also provide constructive, developmental feedback for learning outcomes where you award a mark of two or above. In both cases, you must provide rich summary feedback at the end of the feedback form, following the instructions provided there.
To pass the unit assessment learners must achieve a 2 (Pass) or above for each of the learning outcomes.
The overall mark achieved will dictate the grade the learner receives for the Unit, provided NONE of the learning outcomes have been failed or referred.
| Overall mark | Unit result |
| *0 to 7 | Refer / Fail |
| 8 or 9 | Pass |
| 10 to 13 | Merit |
| 14 to 16 | Distinction |
Learners’ result should be recorded in a marking grid similar to the example below.
Marking grid:
| Learning outcome | Mark | |
| LO1 | 2 | |
| LO2 | 3 | |
| LO3 | 3 | |
| LO4 | 2 | |
| Overall mark | 10 | |
| Unit Result | Merit | |
EXAMPLE Marking grid and feedback for learner – 7CO04
This is an example feedback form. You will need to amend it so that it specifies the correct questions for the moderation window in which you’re submitting learners’ results.
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Note to Assessor – Please enter a mark for each LO. You need only provide feedback
where you have awarded a mark of 1. This feedback should be developmental.
| LO1 Be able to plan a people practice business research project aimed at adding organisational value.
(Provide rationale for judgements against each task and identify areas for development) |
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| LO1 | Be able to plan a people practice business research project aimed at adding organisational value. | ||
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Assessor feedback first submission (if applicable)
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| LO2 Be able to justify the most appropriate research methods to collect data for the chosen project.
(Provide rationale for judgements against each task and identify areas for development) |
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| LO2 | Be able to justify the most appropriate research methods to collect data for the chosen project. | ||
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Assessor feedback first submission (if applicable) | ||
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| LO3 Be able to analyse data to make decisions and provide business and people management insights.
(Provide rationale for judgements against each task and identify areas for development) |
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| LO3 | Be able to analyse data to make decisions and provide business and people management insights. | ||
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| LO4 Be able to propose recommendations based on conclusions derived from the research and analysis.
(Provide rationale for judgements against each question and identify areas for development) |
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| LO4 | Be able to propose recommendations based on conclusions derived from the research and analysis. | ||
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| Total for all Learning Outcomes | /16 | ||
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| Assessor Feedback Summary:
Please use this box to summarise your feedback on the assessment overall. This should highlight strengths and any areas for improvement, either referring to specific LOs or commenting more generally across the assessment. (Note: developmental feedback on any LOs awarded a mark of 1 should have already been provided in the relevant box of the assessment form above. Please use a different font colour for any resubmission comments.) |
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I confirm that I am satisfied that to the best of my knowledge, the work produced is solely that of the learner. |
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*This must be a true signature, so a handwritten signature, or a photo or scan of a handwritten signature, or an e-signature. A typed signature is not acceptable.
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| Generic grade descriptors for 7CO04 | REFER/FAIL / 1 | PASS / 2 | MERIT / 3 | DISTINCTION / 4 | Mark
1/ 2 / 3 / 4 |
| Appropriateness of terms of reference (ToR), quality of literature review, and focus of research questions | Inappropriate ToR, inadequate literature review, and poorly-focused research questions | Satisfactory ToR, acceptable and relevant literature review, and sufficiently-focused research questions | Good ToR, good and well-targeted literature review, and well-focused research questions | Excellent ToR, very good and extremely well-targeted literature review, and excellent research questions | |
| Depth of understanding and justification of chosen research methods, and degree to which ethical issues are addressed | Inadequate understanding and justification of research methods used, and little awareness of ethical issues | Satisfactory understanding and justification of research methods used, and acceptable awareness of ethical issues | Good understanding and justification of research methods used, and strong awareness of ethical issues | Excellent understanding and justification of research methods used, and very strong awareness of ethical issues | |
| Quality of data collection, analysis and interpretation, and ability to explain the findings | Inadequate quality of data collection, analysis and interpretation, and failure to explain the findings effectively | Satisfactory quality of data collection, analysis and interpretation, with satisfactory explanation of the findings | High quality of data collection, analysis and interpretation, with strong explanation of the findings | Excellent quality of data collection, analysis and interpretation, with excellent explanation of the findings | |
| Extent to which conclusions, recommendations and action plan are business-focused and credible, and quality of reflective analysi |
