With reference to an organization of your choice, discuss the ways in which culture can promote or inhibit change.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 2 markbands for May 2016 forward, section C.

Candidates can use any change in the organization provided the nature of the change is well explained and applied.

It is important that the candidate explain what existed before the change rather than just assert that change has occurred.

In Q7 and Q8, the exact content is not specified. It is expected that the candidates select their content like their chosen strategy or the exact change and fully and clearly explain and apply the relevant theoretical terms and content throughout.

Additional guidance in relation to the assessment criteria

For each criterion, the aim is to find the descriptor that conveys most accurately the level attained by the candidate, using the best-fit model. It is not necessary for every single aspect of a level descriptor to be met for that mark to be awarded.

• The highest level descriptors do not imply faultless performance and should be achievable by a candidate.
• A candidate who attains a high level of achievement for one criterion will not necessarily reach high levels of achievement for the other criteria and vice versa.

If only one concept is addressed:
Criteria A, B, C and E: award up to a maximum [3].
Criterion D: full marks can be awarded.

Where the question asks for the impact of two concepts on content, examiners must allow for unbalanced treatment of the two concepts throughout a candidate’s response. One concept may be more significant than the other.

It is expected that under the introduction, the candidates introduce the chosen organisation, explain nature of the relevant concepts to be use when discussing the impact.

Criterion A

It is expected that the candidate use the relevant concepts throughout the response to demonstrate the understanding of the concept. It is not sufficient just to define/ describe the concept in the introduction.

 

Criterion B

For [2]: “…connection is not developed” should be treated the same as superficial.

 

Criterion C

1+1 arguments are expected per concepts.
• Questions 6 to 8 require consideration of the impact of one concept on a second concept – therefore accept 2+2 arguments for a balanced response.
• Justification is through logic or data.
• For [2] there is no balance as there are no counter arguments at all, or the arguments are all one-sided then this would be unjustified.
• For [3] there is some balanced arguments – some of which are justified.

The arguments and the counter arguments must be relevant/ appropriate for the question. Do not accept any counter argument which does not address the question.

 

Criterion D

• Introductions need to be concise and related to the question.
• The candidate’s response does not to have explicit headings for each structural element.
• A body is the area in which the substance of arguments occur. It is usually located between the introduction and the conclusion.
• Fit-for-purpose paragraph means that ideas are presented in a clear academic way. For example, one idea per paragraph.

 

Criterion E

• One example of an “individual” could be an individual consumer or an individual manager. However this could not be considered with a “group” of consumers or a management team.
• For [4], a balanced response: need to look at the perspectives of both individual and group(s). The chosen individual, group needs to be applicable and relevant to the question with specific explanation.
• Candidates need to go beyond stating the stakeholder.
• Candidates need not explicitly say “stakeholder”.
• Candidates should support their assertions on the impact on or the impact of their chosen stakeholders. The support does not have to come in real figures but with some evidence of impact for example, ‘the market share increased’ ‘staff turnover decreased’, ‘fewer defects were evident’.

 

In the event that, when answering paper 2, section C, a candidate chooses an organization from some other part of the exam (for example, an organization in the stimulus of section B), their response should be marked as follows:

A – 1 mark maximum, as the candidate might understand the essence of the two concepts but the content selected is irrelevant
B – 0 marks, as there is no connection to a real organization.
C – 0 marks, as statements cannot be even superficial as the statements are not about a real organization.
D – 2 marks maximum. Even with technically perfect presentation, the ideas are not about a real organization. Award [2] if the response is well written with an introduction, fit-for-purpose paragraphs, and a conclusion. Award [1] mark if the essay is missing one of those elements, provided that the response is otherwise of a reasonable standard of writing and organization.
E – 1 mark, for inappropriate consideration of stakeholders. Award [1] if a candidate demonstrates some understanding of what a stakeholder is through either definition or exemplification.

Candidates seemed to have some understanding of both concepts.