LIPC1110 De Montfort University Leicester Amazon Company Analysis
De Montfort University International College
Programme title: IFY, BAL
Module Title: Academic and Professional Practice
Module code: LIPC1110
Owning Board: Joint Academic Board (DMU/OIEG)
Faculty: University Wide Learning (DMU)
Term/semester: Autumn Term, October 2019
Module Tutor: Neeha Goswami
Email address: Neeha.goswami@dmu.ac.uk
Assignment 1: Course work, Individual Essay
Weighting – 50%
Word count: 1,200 words
Submission date: Wednesday 6th November 2019, by 9am, via Turnitin
Learning outcomes:
LO2. Manage their time effectively
LO3. Manage their studies effectively
LO4. Demonstrate academic reading, writing and reflection skills
LO5. Think critically
LO8. Think and act in a professional manner
A major expectation of all assessments whilst at DMU/DMUIC is that students work in the English language and generate their assignments in the English language. Initial work should therefore be produced in English, NOT a second language. This means that the use of any language generation, paraphrasing or translation software, or web sites, is actively discouraged. The use of such tools may be considered as Bad Academic Practice and as such the consequences outlined in the module guide will apply. Failure to observe these instructions may result in a loss of mark awarded.
Assignment 1
Case Study
Amazon’s hiring process is notoriously difficult.
The company believes that every new employee should increase the average level of productivity on whichever team they join, ensuring that the company’s standards get higher and higher as time goes on.
Its interviews are no joke either, having in the past used difficult questions ranging from “How would you solve problems if you were from Mars?” to “You are Amazon, and Samsung offers you 10,000 Samsung Galaxy S3s at a 34% discount. Is that a good deal?”
Back in the early days of the company, founder and CEO Jeff Bezos shared with a colleague an idea that perfectly encapsulates Amazon’s hiring philosophy.
According to a Fast Company story, Bezos said, “I’d rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person.”
This philosophy explains why the company uses employees it calls “bar raisers” to weed out people who aren’t a perfect fit for company.
Bar raisers are full-time employees who, in addition to all their other duties, spend 2o to 30 hours a week interviewing potential job candidates for positions in other parts of the company.
Excluding warehouse workers, each prospective employee goes through five interviews that take two to three hours each. And if a bar raiser has an objection to Amazon hiring the candidate, they can simply veto the application.
In addition to making sure every hire fits in with the company’s culture, the bar raiser program smartly prevents a manager from hiring the wrong person because there is an opening that needs to be filled. Since the bar raisers come from other parts of the company, they have less pressure to hire someone quickly.
As Bezos put it in his 1998 letter to shareholders, “Working to create a little bit of history isn’t supposed to be easy, and well, we’re finding that things are as they’re supposed to be! … Setting the bar high in our approach to hiring has been, and will be, the single most important element of Amazon.com’s success.”
Assessment: This assessment will contribute to 50% of the total module marks. Individually you are required to read the case study detailed on the previous page and write a 1,200-word essay providing solutions to the following issues.
Questions
1. Identify and explain Amazons recruitment process in America. How might the recruitment process at Amazon UK differ? (10)
Marks
Description
No relevant content.
1-2
Knowledge of recruitment process is limited, poorly focused or absent. The answer as a whole lack’s clarity, has many inaccuracies and is poorly organised. Specialist terminology either absent or inappropriately used.
3–5
Knowledge of the recruitment process is present. Focus is mainly on description. The answer lacks clarity, accuracy and organisation in places. Specialist terminology used inappropriately on occasions.
6-8
Knowledge of the recruitment process is evident. There are occasional inaccuracies. The answer is mostly clear and organised. Specialist terminology is mostly used with research to support any claims.
9-10
Knowledge of recruitment process is accurate and generally well detailed. Clear comparison with reasoning. The answer is clear, coherent and focused. Specialist terminology is used effectively. Research used to support answer.
2. Identify and explain where Amazon advertise, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method? (15)
Marks
Description
No relevant content.
1–3
Knowledge of advertising methods is limited, poorly focused or absent. The answer as a whole lack’s clarity, has many inaccuracies and is poorly organised. Specialist terminology either absent or inappropriately used.
4–6
Knowledge of advertising methods is present. Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of recruitment methods is limited. Focus is mainly on description. The answer lacks clarity, accuracy and organisation in places. Specialist terminology used inappropriately on occasions.
7-9
Knowledge of advertising methods is evident. Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of recruitment methods is apparent and mostly effective supported by research. There are occasional inaccuracies. The answer is mostly clear and organised. Specialist terminology is mostly used.
10-15
Knowledge of advertising methods is accurate and generally well detailed. Clear discussion of advantages and disadvantages of recruitment methods. The answer is clear, coherent and focused. Specialist terminology is used effectively. Research used to support answer.
3. Identify and explain what type of contracts Amazon provide to the new recruits. Discuss why you think they do this. (15)
Marks
Description
No relevant content.
1-3
Knowledge of contract types, poorly focused or absent. The answer as a whole lack’s clarity, has many inaccuracies and is poorly organised. Specialist terminology either absent or inappropriately used.
4–6
Knowledge of contract types is present. Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of different contract types is limited. Focus is mainly on description. The answer lacks clarity, accuracy and organisation in places. Specialist terminology used inappropriately on occasions.
7-9
Knowledge of contract types is evident. Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of different contract types is apparent and mostly effective supported by research. There are occasional inaccuracies. The answer is mostly clear and organised. Specialist terminology is mostly used.
10-15
Knowledge of contract types is accurate and generally well detailed. Clear discussion of advantages and disadvantages of different contract types. The answer is clear, coherent and focused. Specialist terminology is used effectively. Research used to support answer.
4. Jeff Bezos believes having ‘bar raisers’ involved in recruitment is effective. Evaluate how this would be seen to motivate or demotivate the employees. (30)
Marks
Description
No relevant content.
1-7
Knowledge of motivation is very limited. Application is limited, poorly focused or absent. Evaluation is limited, poorly focused or absent. The answer as a whole lack’s clarity, has many inaccuracies and is poorly organised. Specialist terminology is either absent or inappropriately used.
8-14
Knowledge of motivation is present. Focus is mainly on description. Any application is of limited effectiveness. Any evaluation is of limited effectiveness. The answer lacks clarity, accuracy and organisation in places. Specialist terminology is used inappropriately on occasions.
15-22
Knowledge of motivation is evident but there are occasional inaccuracies/omissions. Application/evaluation of the explanations is mostly effective. The answer is mostly clear and organised but occasionally lacks focus. Specialist terminology is used appropriately. Research used to support answer.
23-30
Knowledge of motivation is accurate and generally well detailed. Application is effective. Evaluation of the explanations is thorough and effective. Minor detail and/or expansion of the argument is sometimes lacking. The answer is clear, coherent and focused. Specialist terminology is used effectively. Research used to support answer.
5. “Setting the bar high in our approach to hiring has been, and will be, the single most important element of Amazon.com’s success”. – In light of Amazon’s current performance, evaluate this statement. (30)
Marks
Description
No relevant content
1-7
Knowledge of business success is very limited. Application is limited, poorly focused or absent. Evaluation is limited, poorly focused or absent. The answer as a whole lack’s clarity, has many inaccuracies and is poorly organised. Specialist terminology is either absent or inappropriately used.
8-14
Knowledge of business success is present. Focus is mainly on description. Any application is of limited effectiveness. Any evaluation is of limited effectiveness. The answer lacks clarity, accuracy and organisation in places. Specialist terminology is used inappropriately on occasions.
15-22
Knowledge of business success is evident but there are occasional inaccuracies/omissions. Application/evaluation of the explanations is mostly effective. The answer is mostly clear and organised but occasionally lacks focus. Specialist terminology is used appropriately. Research used to support answer.
23-30
Knowledge of business success is accurate and generally well detailed. Application is effective. Evaluation of the explanations is thorough and effective. Minor detail and/or expansion of the argument is sometimes lacking. The answer is clear, coherent and focused. Specialist terminology is used effectively. Research used to support answer.
Assessment Deadline: Before 9.00am on Wednesday 6th November 2019 via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Contact: Please email Neeha.goswami@dmu.ac.uk if you have any queries, prior to the submission date.
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