Research Skills 2

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ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

WRITING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

exceed the specified maximum number of words. When a written assignment is marked, the
excessive use of words beyond the word limit is reflected in the academic judgement of the
piece of work which results in a lower mark being awarded for the piece of work (regulation
6.74).

SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
In order to achieve full marks, you must submit your work before the deadline. Work that is
submitted late – up to five working days after the published submission deadline – will be accepted
and marked. However, the element of the module’s assessment to which the work contributes will
be capped with a maximum mark of 40%.
Work cannot be submitted if the period of 5 working days after the deadline has passed (unless
there is an approved extension). Failure to submit within the relevant period will mean that you
have failed the assessment.
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Requests for short-term extensions will only be considered in the case of illness or other cause
considered valid by the iCentre Adviser. Please contact iCentre@lca.anglia.ac.uk. A request must
normally be received and agreed by the iCentre Adviser in writing at least 24 hours prior to the
deadline. See rules 6.56-6.65: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf
Mitigation: The deadline for submission of mitigation in relation to this assignment is no later than
five working days after the submission date of this work. Please contact iCentre@lca.anglia.ac.uk
See rules 6.103 – 6.132: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/academic_regs.pdf
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ASSIGNMENT QUESTION
Write a 1500 word essay that examines factors that impacted behaviour in the case
study on pp.6-8.
You are expected to examine aspects of personal, environmental, and
behavioural factors from Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory model discussed in
the course.
 You must support your explanation with
THREE academic sources from the module’s Key Reading list and
ONE additional source from the Recommended Reading list that you
can access through the Anglia Ruskin Library website

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
This is a skills module. As a result, you will be assessed on how well you have
developed the research and writing skills practiced during the year.
Allocation of Marks
Your grade will be based on how well you address the following points:
1. Task response: a direct answer to the task, supported by explanation of
relevant theory, and direct application to an organisation from the case
study.
2. Structure: clear paragraphs and logical flow.
3. Use of information from the required sources: including interpretation,
evaluation and application.
4. Clarity of expression.
Guidance
Make sure that you use texts from the reading list in the module guide, and that
additional sources you select are relevant and academic.
Points to consider

o write about enough factors that your essay is a full response to the
task, but
o examine each factor in detail,
 Interpreting the theory

On the VLE, you will find guidance on the key writing skills from the module.
 Paragraph structure and flow.

The guidance documents from Research Skills 1 will also be helpful
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Case Study: Tesco
Tesco is a retailer with more than 300,000 UK employees and more than 3,400 stores. Their primary
focus is on providing value for money to customers, and tries to target all types of customer.
Currently, they are focused on maintaining sales levels in a competitive and changing retail market.
One area that Tesco spends most of its money on is staffing.
In summer 2019. Tesco announced that it would cut 4,500 jobs at 153 high street Tesco Metro
supermarkets, adding to the 9,000 roles the UK’s biggest retailer warned were at risk earlier that
year. The cuts at Tesco are part of plans by the chief executive, Dave Lewis, to slash £1.5bn from
Tesco’s cost base.
The supermarket chain said it was responding to changes in customers’ habits, including a shift
towards using the larger Metro stores for convenience shopping rather than large weekly food
shops. It is also facing tough competition from discounters Aldi and Lidl, which are continuing to
open new shops.
Although it hoped to redeploy up to half into other customer service roles. Fishmonger, butcher and
baker jobs at the retailer were expected to be at risk, along with counter staff. This is because these
services do not need to be open as long as others, especially in small communities.
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw, which represents over 160,000 Tesco staff, said it is calling for
Government action to tackle the crisis in retail. “We will be working hard to make sure that any
members potentially affected by these proposals are supported at this difficult time and throughout
the consultation period. This issue is not confined to Tesco, our high streets are in crisis, with jobs
being lost due to shops closing, retailers folding and businesses engaging in significant restructuring
to survive.”
Key sources
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/05/tesco-cut-jobs-latest-redundancies-counterstaff
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business/business-news/950243/tayside-and-fife-staff-to-losejobs-as-tesco-announces-thousands-of-redundancies-at-metro-stores/
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Daily Mail: What it’s REALLY like to work at Tesco:
Anyone who struggles to drag themselves to the supermarket for a weekly ‘big shop’ should spare a
thought for the employees tasked with manning the shop floor on a daily basis. Tesco workers have
come forward to reveal what it’s really like to work for one of the UK’s most popular supermarkets.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, anonymous Tesco employees spilled the beans on the worst aspects
of the job – from avoiding the ‘boring’ shifts on the till to grumbling over customers who ‘graze’ as
they shop.
One said: ‘When you ask us to check the storeroom for something, we don’t actually look. Or if we
do we also take a little break in the back.’
Another surprising admission came from an anonymous employee who said staff were urged to
make conversation about the weather if they’re struggling to think of small talk when serving
customers at the till.
They also said that this was the most boring part of the job, as they say they have to ‘pretend you
don’t hate’ speaking to customers.
One revealed how, while they don’t want to escort you to the location of a particular product you’re
struggling to find, they’re obliged to.
One said that customers make a mess in the stores and don’t care that employees have to clear it up
The employees also shed some light on the downsides of dealing with people doing their shopping,
and confessed to witnessing some very bad behaviour.
One said customers will often eat the food while walking around the store without buying it, and
don’t worry about the mess they make. They said: ‘Customers literally don’t care that we have to
clean up any mess they make.
‘But the worst are the ones who graze as they shop. Picking at French sticks and eating half a bag of
grapes before you get to the till. We see you.’
Many were also tired of the conversations they’d had with shoppers, particularly when they would
all make similar jokes. A lot of customers would jokingly ask if their groceries were free if they didn’t
scan properly.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5477941/Employees-reveal-REALLY-like-workTesco.html
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Comments of Tesco staff at Indeed
Staff member 1
no day is the same, fast ever changing environment. time management and prioritising knowledge is
handy. Leading colleagues by example. each days motto is Plan, Do and Review. a huge customer
focussed role ensuring every customer goes away happy and is sure to return again. hardest part of
the job is long hours, however benefits do make up for this. Hardest part of the job is how soon your
moved on to other stores and dept.
Staff member 2
The bond you get with your fellow colleagues is second to none. But the moment something
happens no manager will take change and nip it in the bud. Complain about it and get offered to be
moved when the person at fault gets no discussion ect. Customers are great you get some really
loyal ones you meet over the years and end up knowing on first name basis. It is the only good thing
i can say. Pay was decent too and did fit hours to peoples needs. Sadly Tesco has screwed people out
of money too often over the past years. It is in a state having to sell off most areas and it will
continue to do so which was proved by removing deli staff… be warned.
Staff member 3
I have been working at Tesco for just over a year and still enjoying it I work with a great bunch on
checkouts everyone is so nice. Management they are all nice too if you have any health problems
they will happily help you out. A typical day at work it can get very busy on checkouts especially
Christmas. The most enjoyable part of the job being part of the checkouts team. The hardest part of
the job Christmas pandemonium completely flat out especially the last week to Christmas.
Staff member 4
Not supportive for transgender women
Everyday is the same but I enjoy helping and advising female customers with clothing styles and
makeup to suit them. Management and staff are rude, judgemental and not educated with
transgender issues.
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Tesco/reviews