3CO01

Business, culture and change in

context
Learner Assessment Brief
Assessment ID / CIPD_3CO01_22_01

Level 3
Foundation Certificate in
People Practice
Version 1- June 2022, the last moderation window for results for this assessment
brief is September 2023
 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

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Centre number:
Centre name:

Learner number (1st 7 digits of CIPD

Membership number):
Learner surname:
Learner other names:

Unit code: 3CO01

Unit title: Business, culture and change in context
Assessment ID: CIPD_3CO01_22_01
Assessment start date:
Assessment submission date:
First resubmission date for centre
marking – if applicable
Second resubmission date for centre
marking – if applicable
Declared word count

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IQA name (if applicable):

IQA signature (if applicable):

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

3CO01
Business, culture and change
in context
This unit assignment considers the impact of external influences and
how the digital and commercial environment shapes businesses and the
culture within which they operate. It considers the importance of people’s
behaviour on organisational culture and its ability to manage change
effectively.

CIPD’s insight
Change Management (Sep 2021).
Organisational change is a constant in many organisations, driven by a different number of forces
including customers , markets and technology. Yet research shows that most change initiatives fail
to get their intended outcomes and may even limit an organisation’s potential and its people. The
effects of not managing change effectively can be devastating and long lasting, so it’s important
that people professionals understand the issues and equip themselves with techniques to support
change management initiatives.
This factsheet looks at why change management is important, the implications of not managing
change effectively, and the potential issues that can arise in change management processes, it
also offers a series of techniques to help ensure change is effective.

https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/strategy/change/management-factsheet

Digital transformation in organisations and people functions (June 2021)

Digital transformation is a hot topic that is being widely discussed in many different contexts.
Indeed, it was on the of the critical themes people professionals identified as impacting the current
and future world of work, according to the CIPD People Profession 2030 report.

But what exactly is digital transformation? Why does it matter? How can employers and people
professionals prepare themselves, and their organisations, to embrace it and to derive maximum
advantage from it?

This and the following series of articles will explore these questions, combining the practical
implications drawn from in-depth research and study, with the insight and experience of people
professionals who have taken crucial steps in digital transformation.

https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/work/technology/digital-transformation-insights/
organisations-people

Please note that the purpose of this insight is to link you to CIPD’s research and evidence within the subject
area, so that you can engage with the latest thinking. It is not provided to replace the study required as part
of the learning or as formative assessment material

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Preparation for the Task:

 At the start of your assignment, you are encouraged to plan your assessment work with
your Assessor, and, where appropriate, agree milestones, so that they can help you
monitor your progress.
 Refer to the indicative content in the unit to guide and support your evidence.
 Pay attention to how your evidence is presented, remember you are working in the People
Practice Team.
 Ensure that the evidence generated for this assessment remains your own work.

. You will also benefit from:

 Completing and acting on formative feedback from your Assessor.
 Reflecting on your own experiences of learning opportunities and continuing professional
development.
 Reading the CIPD Insight, Fact Sheets and related online materials on these topics.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Task - Information sheet

In recent years, the environment in which organisations operate has been turbulent. People
professionals have a key role in supporting and enabling the organisation to achieve its goals at
time of greater or lesser stability. To ensure the people team have sufficient knowledge and
understanding to do this, your manager has decided the team should have good knowledge of the
external business environment, the organisation’s goals, its products/services and customers,
organisational culture, and the importance of change management. Your manager has asked you
to undertake some research, then share your learning with the rest of the team through an
information sheet.
Your information sheet can be based on your own organisation or one(s) that you are familiar with,
and should include the following:
 An examination of the key external influences impacting or likely to impact the
organisation’s activities. (AC 1.1)
 A discussion of the organisation’s business goals and why it is important for organisations
to plan for how they will achieve these. (AC 1.2)
 A discussion of the organisation’s products and/or services and main customers. (AC 1.3)
 A short review of different technologies available to people professionals and how these
can be, or are, used to improve working practices and collaboration. You might consider
for example, technologies relating to communications, information sharing, record keeping,
learning, wellbeing, productivity, or security. (AC 1.4)
 What is meant by organisational culture and why it is important to foster an appropriate and
effective workplace culture. (AC 2.1)
 How organisations are whole systems, in which different areas and aspects such as
structure, systems and culture, are all inter-related, and how people professionals work and
actions could impact elsewhere in the organisation. (AC 2.2)
 Why it is important that organisational change is planned, and effectively managed. (AC
3.1)
 The nature and importance of different roles that can be played by people practice
professionals, in relation to change agendas. You might consider roles such as:
gatekeeper, champion, facilitator, critical friend or record-keeper. (AC 3.2)
 How organisational change can impact people in different ways, such as changing their role
or status or financial situation, and the different ways people may respond to change. (AC
3.3)

Your evidence must consist of:

 An information sheet of approximately 2500 words. Please address each assessment
criteria under a separate heading.
Refer to CIPD word count policy.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Assessment Criteria Evidence Checklist

You may find the following checklist helpful to make sure that you have included the required
evidence to meet the task. This is not a mandatory requirement as long as it is clear in your
submission where the assessment criteria have been met.

Task – Information sheet

Evidenced
Assessment criteria Y/N Evidence reference

1.1 Examine the key external influences that

impact on business environments.

1.2 Discuss organisational goals and why it is

important for organisations to plan.

1.3 Discuss the products and/or services the

organisation delivers, including who the
main customers are.

1.4 Review the range of technology available

within the people profession, including
how it can be utilised to improve working
practices and collaboration.

2.1 Define workplace culture in

organisational settings and the
importance of fostering positive
approaches towards it.

2.2 Explain how organisations are whole

systems, and how work and actions as a
people professional could impact
elsewhere in the organisation.

3.1 Explain the importance of planning and

managing change within the workplace.

3.2 Consider the importance and role that

people professionals play within change

3.3 Discuss how change can impact people

in different ways.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Declaration of Authentication

Declaration by learner

I can confirm that this assessment is all my own work and where I have used
materials from other sources, they have been properly acknowledged.

Learner name:

Learner signature:

Date*

*This should be the date on which you

submit your assessment

Declaration by Assessor

I confirm that I am satisfied that to the best of my knowledge, the work produced is
solely that of the learner.

Assessor name:

Assessor signature:

Date:

3CO01
Business, culture and change in

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

context

Assessment Criteria marking descriptors.

Assessors will mark in line with the following assessment criteria (AC) marking descriptors, and will
indicate where the learner sits within the marking band range for each AC.
Assessors must provide a mark from 1 to 4 for each assessment criteria within the unit. Assessors
should use the mark descriptor grid as guidance so they can provide comprehensive feedback that
is developmental for learners. Please be aware that not all the mark descriptors will be present in
every assessment criterion, so assessors must use their discretion in making grading decisions.
The grid below shows the range for each unit assessment result based on total number of marks
awarded across all assessment criteria.
To pass the unit assessment learners must achieve a 2 (Low Pass) or above for each of the
assessment criteria.
The overall result achieved will dictate the outcome the learner receives for the unit, provided
NONE of the assessment criteria have been failed or referred.
Please note that learners will receive a Pass or Fail result from the CIPD at unit level. Referral
grades can be used internally by the centre.

Overall mark Unit result

0 to 17 Fail
18 to 22 Low Pass
23 to 29 Pass
30 to 36 High Pass

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Marking Descriptors

Mark Range Descriptor

1 Fail Insufficient demonstration of knowledge, understanding or skills (as
appropriate) required to meet the AC.
Insufficient examples included, where required, to support answers.
Presentation and structure of assignment is not appropriate and does
not meet the assessment brief.

2 Low Pass Demonstrates an acceptable level of knowledge, understanding or

skills (as appropriate) required to meet the AC.
Sufficient and acceptable examples included, where required, to
support answers.
Required format adopted but some improvement required to the
structure and presentation of the assignment.
Answers are acceptable but could be clearer in responding to the task
and presented in a more coherent way.

3 Pass Demonstrates good knowledge, understanding or skills (as

appropriate) required to meet the AC.
Includes confident use of examples, where required, to support each
answer.
Presentation and structure of assignment is appropriate for the
assessment brief.
Answers are clear and well expressed.

4 High Pass Demonstrates a wide range and confident level of knowledge,

understanding or skill (as appropriate).
Includes strong examples that illustrate the point being made, that link
and support the answer well.
Answers are applied to the organisation.
Answers are clear, concise and well argued, directly respond to what
has been asked.
The presentation of the assignment is well structured, coherent and
focusses on the need of the questions.

Includes clear evidence of the

use of references to wider
reading to help inform answer.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Unit 3CO01: Assessor Feedback to Learner

Centre number Please enter your centre number here
Centre name Please enter your centre name here
Learner number (1st 7 digits Please enter the learner number here. Must be 1st 7
of CIPD Membership number) digits of CIPD membership number
Learner surname Please enter learner surname here
Learner other names Please enter learner other names here e.g., first name
and middle name(s)

TASK

AC Assessment Criteria Mark

Number 1-4
1.1 Examine the key external influences that impact on business
environments.
Please enter your Assessor feedback here Enter
mark
here
Please enter your Assessor feedback here for resubmission 1 (if Enter
applicable) mark
here
Please enter your Assessor feedback here for resubmission 2 (if Enter
applicable) mark
here
1.2 Discuss organisational goals and why it is important for
organisations to plan.
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mark
here
Please enter your Assessor feedback here for resubmission 1 (if Enter
applicable) mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
1.3 Discuss the products and/or services the organisation delivers,
including who the main customers are.
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mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
1.4 Review the range of technology used within the people profession
including how it can be utilised to improve working practices and
collaboration.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
Please enter your Assessor feedback here Enter
mark
here
Please enter your Assessor feedback here for resubmission 1 (if Enter
applicable) mark
here
Please enter your Assessor feedback here for resubmission 2 (if Enter
applicable) mark
here
2.1 Define workplace culture in organisational settings and the
importance of fostering positive approaches towards it.
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mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
2.2 Explain how organisations are whole systems, and how work and
actions as a people professional could impact elsewhere in the
organisation.
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mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
3.1 Explain the importance of planning and managing change within
the workplace.
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mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
3.2 Consider the importance and role that people professionals play
within change.
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mark
here
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applicable) mark
here
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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
applicable) mark
here
3.3 Discuss how change can impact people in different ways.
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mark
here
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applicable) mark
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