Business, Culture and Change in Context: Organisational Acquisition Case Study
This CIPD Level 3 assessment examines how the external business environment, organisational culture and planned change influence organisations and their people. The assessment is based on a case study involving Best Pharmacy Ever (BPE), a small group of local pharmacies considering the acquisition of Emrosu, a much larger national pharmacy chain with approximately 100 stores and an established online pharmacy operation. The acquisition creates significant implications for organisational structure, culture, technology, people practices and change management. Learners are required to provide written responses to nine case-based questions. The assessment begins by examining external factors that may affect the acquisition and identifying appropriate post-acquisition business goals. It also requires consideration of the organisations' products, services and customers and the ways technology could support people professionals, improve working practices and strengthen collaboration following organisational growth. A central component of the assessment concerns organisational culture. Learners must explain the meaning and importance of culture, consider organisations as interconnected systems, and assess how the actions of people professionals can influence wider organisational outcomes. The final questions focus on planned organisational change, the contribution people professionals can make during periods of transition and the potential impact of significant change on employees. The unit therefore develops understanding of environmental analysis, organisational systems, workplace culture, technology and effective change management from a people-practice perspective. Written answers should make clear and consistent use of the case study and demonstrate application of relevant people-practice concepts rather than providing generic theoretical descriptions. The required submission is approximately 2,500 words, with a permitted variation of ±10%, subject to the CIPD word-count policy.
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