Section One (2,900 Words)
For part one, your manager has asked you to complete a briefing paper for her to give to a visiting team of people practice graduates who are particularly interested in how evidenced-based practice is used in the context of people practices. The content needs to give them critical insight into what evidence-based practice is and how it is relevant to people professionals.
Learning Outcome 1: Understand strategies for effective critical thinking and decision-making
AC1.1 – Evaluate the concept of evidencebased practice, including how approaches to evidence-based practice can be used to provide insight that supports sound decision-making across a range of people practices and organisational issues.
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Define “evidence-based practice” (EBP), describing why it is important to effectively select and interpret evidence: Explain the “Six A’s” process (Barends et al) – available in the CIPD Factsheet on EBP. Explain how approaches to EBP can facilitate objective awareness for sound decision making across a range (i.e. at least 3 examples) of people practices and organisational issues. Explain at least one of the following approaches and how they can support / hinder sound decision making: |
including critical thinking and analysis in decision-making. Models of decision-making, for example the rational model and its limitations, bounded rationality, individual vs group decision making, group think and group polarisation. Application of evidencebased practice: effective selection and interpretation of evidence. Effective analysis of situations and issues, critical review of theory, propositions and opinion. Assessing evidence from a variety of sources; identifying bias. Forming judgements and conclusions; developing and testing out own arguments and conclusions. |
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AC1.2 – Evaluate one appropriate analysis tool and one appropriate analysis method that might be applied by organisations to recognise and diagnose current and future issues, challenges, and opportunities.
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Choose and define one tool, such as:
STEEPLE Choose and define one method, such as:
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AC.1.3 – Explain the main principles of critical thinking including how these might apply to your own and others’ ideas to assist objective and rational debate.
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Define the term “Critical Thinking”, including what elevates critical thinking from ordinary thinking. Within your definitions, include at least 2 principles of critical thinking.
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AC1.4 – Explain two decision-making processes for achieving effective outcomes.
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Define 2 decision-making approaches, such as:
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