HRM2603 Assignment 3 2026 - Distinction | Due 14 September 2026

HRM2603 Assignment 3 2026 - Distinction | Due 14 September 2026 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Remuneration Practices (HRM2603) Assessment 3 Lessons 02 to 06 on the myUnisa module site and the corresponding chapters in the prescribed book This is a mandatory assessment, which contributes 28% towards your final mark for the module. Due date: 14 September 2026 at 16:00 Unisa requires its students to uphold the values of academic integrity (i.e., honesty, fairness, trust, respect and responsibility) in all its interactions with the university. To ensure that you have familiarised yourself with the relevant Unisa rules, policies and procedures, you were required to complete a compulsory Academic Integrity Course (see Announcement 10 on the module site). Please ensure that you apply the principles that you learned in this course when completing this assessment. 1 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) 1. Introduction This document contains information about Assessment 3 for HRM2603. Please read the instructions carefully. The assessment information is summarised in the following table: Assessment number Assessment 3 Contribution to final mark (weight) 28% (If you don’t submit this assessment, you will forfeit 28% of your final mark for the module) Assessment available from 31 August 2026 at 08:00 Due date 14 September 2026 before 16:00 Type of assessment Individual written assessment Link to the assessment ?id=1359506 Assessment submission Use the template provided and upload your answer file to the myUnisa module site. Number of attempts allowed A maximum of three submissions is permitted. This means that you can upload a file and replace it twice. Once the due date and time have lapsed, however, no further submissions or replacements will be permitted. Number of questions Three questions Mark allocation 40 marks Feedback Feedback will be shared in the HRM2603 module’s discussion forum after the assessment due date, once marking is complete. Study material assessed Lessons 02 to 06 on the myUnisa module site and the corresponding sections in the prescribed book. By completing this assessment, you will work towards achieving some of the following learning outcomes of lessons 02 and 06: • Differentiate between the building blocks of the remuneration framework • Relate the remuneration building blocks and their use in remuneration processes to a case study • Examine appropriate types of pay for diverse organisational contexts 2. Assessment plan for HRM2603 Information about the assessment strategy that is followed in this module is provided in tutorial letter HRM2603/101/0/2026 (available under Official Study Material on the myUnisa module site) and in the HRM2603 Assessment Information (S1 2026) document (available in the Assessment Information folder under Additional Resources on the myUnisa module site). As indicated in these documents, you must submit several formative assessments and write a final summative assessment (online examination) for this module. 2 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) The module offers three (3) formative assessment opportunities, but only two (2) will contribute to your final mark. Completing these assessments is extremely important. Not only are you required to submit assessments to be admitted to the examination, but these assessments also prepare you for the final examination and contribute to your final mark for the module. As indicated in the HRM2603 Assessment Information (S2 2026) document, Assessment 3 is a mandatory assessment. This document explains that a mandatory assessment will always contribute to your final mark for the module. This means that you will forfeit the marks if you fail to submit the mandatory assessment, as there is no alternative assessment. Therefore, if you do not submit Assessment 03 for the HRM2603 module, you will forfeit 28% of your final mark. While your marks for the module will not be withheld if you do not submit Assessment 03, you are encouraged to submit it as it serves as an example of what to expect in the examination, contributes to the learning process and allows you to develop essential competencies. 3. Format of Assessment 3 Assessment 3 addresses some of the learning outcomes of Lessons 02 and 06 and the subject matter covered in these lessons, and the corresponding sections in the prescribed book. Ensure that you work through these lessons thoroughly before attempting the assessment. The assessment is an individual written assessment comprising three questions (40 marks). See Appendix B of this document for the assessment questions that you are required to answer. 4. Assessment due date Assessment 3 will be available on myUnisa at 08:00 on 31 August 2026, and is due before 16:00 on 14 September 2026. There is no restriction on the time you may spend completing the assessment. You may, therefore, access and work on the assessment at any time during this period. You must, however, submit your assessment on or before the stipulated due date and time. The system will close after this date and time, after which no further submissions will be possible. You are advised to start with your assessment well in advance and to submit it at least three days before the due date and time. This will allow you to access the Turnitin report before the closing date and make changes to your submission if needed. It also means that unexpected events, such as illness, access problems (e.g., due to load shedding), or other personal matters (e.g., work commitments) on or shortly before the submission date, will not prevent you from submitting the assessment. From time to time, circumstances may require Unisa management to allow for the extension of assessment submission dates. This will, however, only happen in exceptional circumstances and should not be the general expectation. If such a decision applies to this module, the amended dates will be communicated to you on the myUnisa module site. Without such decisions, the lecturer will not grant an extension for the assessment submission. The onus is on you to ensure that you submit the assessment on time. Make provision for system downtime or times when the system might be slow due to a large number of 3 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) students accessing the system. Therefore, when planning your activities, aim to submit the assessment a few days before the due date. 5. Format and technical presentation You must meet certain requirements regarding your assessment's layout and technical presentation. The Department of Human Resource Management’s requirements are summarised in Appendix B, Section 2 in Tutorial Letter HRMALL6/301/4/2026. This tutorial letter is available in the Tutorial Letters folder under Additional Resources on the myUnisa module site. Detailed guidelines for this assessment are provided in the assessment instructions (see Appendix B). You are provided with an MS Word template that you can use when completing the assessment Your assessment answers must be typed and saved as a PDF file You must type your assessment answers in MS Word, and then save the document as a PDF file. The University no longer accepts assessments that are handwritten or printed and scanned to a PDF format. This is required to enable Turnitin similarity checking. Assessments not submitted in the correct format will not be marked and a 0-mark will be awarded. Therefore, ensure that you submit it in the correct format. To save a Word document as a PDF, you need to: (1) Open the document you want to convert and then click the "File" tab. (2) Select "Save As" from the list on the left. (3) Click the Browse button or option to select a location on your computer to save the file. (4) In the Save as type drop-down list, select the PDF (*.pdf) option. (5) Click the Save button to save the Word document as a PDF. Please do not convert your MS Word file with your assessment answers to a PDF document in any other way (e.g., by using an online tool or app). Doing this may mean that a Turnitin report cannot be generated for your submission. As a result, we will not be able to accept your submission for assessment and will have no option but to award a 0 mark. 6. Submission of the assessment The assessment must be completed online on the myUnisa module site. Follow the guidelines below: (1) Log in to myUnisa and access the HRM2603 module site. (2) Access Assessment 3 by using either one of these options: Scroll down to the bottom of the welcome message and access OR Scroll down the menu on the lefthand side of the module page and select Assessment 3: 4 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Assessment 3 by clicking on the following icon: (3) Once you have clicked on the selected assessment, it will take you to the submission screen, which will give you basic information about the assessment. (4) Click on Add submission at the bottom of the submission page. (5) You will be directed to the actual assessment submission page. The first action that you must take on this page is to accept the Turnitin End User Licence Agreement by selecting “I accept the Turnitin EULA”: Once you have accepted the EULA, you will see the following message when you access the submission page: You must accept the EULA. If you do not accept it, you will contravene Unisa’s assessment rules and, as a result, your submission will not be accepted for grading. A 0 mark will be awarded. (6) The next step is to accept the submission statement (honesty declaration): Note that you will not be able to submit your assessment file unless you accept this declaration. By accepting the submission statement, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted the honesty declaration in Appendix A of this document. (7) Now attach the assessment file and upload it to myUnisa. 5 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) You can choose to either drag and drop the assessment into the submission upload field provided, or you can choose to manually browse your file manager on your PC/laptop and then add the assessment. (8) Once you have uploaded your answer file (this must be a single file in PDF format), click on Save changes. (9) You will now be directed to a Submission Status page where you will see the submission status of your assessment and the actual file submission. Please view your submission by clicking on the link and opening the file to ensure you attached the correct file. (10) You will also see at the bottom of your submission page that you can edit or remove your submission. The uploaded file may be replaced twice (a maximum of three submissions are permitted) before the due date and time. Once the due date and time for the assessment have lapsed, the system will close for submission. No further submission or replacement of documents will then be possible. The last file uploaded will be assessed. (11) Once you have submitted your assessment file on the module site, a Turnitin originality report will automatically be generated. You will see either a queued or a pending status under your file name. The pending status refers to the similarity report and not to the submission of your assessment file. If you see a queued or pending status, it means the Turnitin report is being generated. No further action is required. The Turnitin similarity report will be available within 48 hours. Once completed, a percentage (referred to as the similarity index) will replace the “pending” status shown above. This is a typical example: Note that you must submit your assessment before the due date. While it is strongly recommended that you submit your answer file at least three days before the due date so you have an opportunity to review the similarity report and make changes if needed, this is not required. Your submission will not be regarded as late if the similarity report is not generated before the due date and time. (12) You may open the similarity report by clicking on the percentage indicated. The Turnitin similarity report identifies and highlights sections of a student's assessment answers that may contain text-matching content from Turnitin's database. This database includes websites, books, journals, student submissions (at Unisa and other higher education institutions) and other publications. Therefore, the similarity index (i.e., the percentage that you see) is not a sign of plagiarism, but rather an indication of the portion of your submitted document that corresponds with other texts in the Turnitin database – in other words, aspects that are not original. We, therefore, do not set a minimum acceptable percentage. Instead, we analyse the report to determine where similarity was detected. 6 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) The Turnitin report is not intended as a punitive measure but provides you with an opportunity to enhance your academic writing skills. You will have the opportunity to look at the similarities that have been detected (the relevant text is highlighted in the report) and to amend and resubmit your file if needed. A maximum of three submissions is permitted, and a similarity report will be generated following each submission (you will only see the last one). A final similarity report will be generated after the assessment closing date to detect similarities in student submissions. This means the similarity index may change when the final report is generated if similarities to other student submissions are detected. Note that some similarities are expected (e.g., references to the online lessons or prescribed book) and will inadvertently increase the similarity index. Therefore, we don’t focus on the similarity index (percentage) but on the specific similarities detected. If we find that you have copied information from sources (e.g., the study material, websites or textbooks) or submitted a similar answer to one or more of your fellow students, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The similarity report will also give the assessor an indication of any text generated using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT or Copilot). [Note: This information is available in the lecturer/assessor report and not included in the student report that you will be able to access and download.] Unless it is specifically indicated in the assessment instructions that using artificial intelligence tools is permitted for a particular purpose, using these tools will be considered plagiarism (i.e., presenting another’s work as your own). In this assessment, you are required to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter by applying what you have learned to address remuneration issues in a given scenario. You can use AI to help with language editing (checking spelling and correcting grammatical errors – refer to section 9). Answers that are detected by Turnitin as being AI-generated will not be marked. Unisa has zero tolerance for any form of plagiarism or cheating in assessments. Not only will marks not be awarded if plagiarism or dishonesty is detected in assessment answers (including the use of generative AI), but appropriate disciplinary action will follow (see section 7 below). The use of Turnitin in assessments should be regarded as a positive measure to ensure the integrity of assessment in the University and, as a result, the qualification that you aim to complete. It is not something to fear. If you complete your own assessments, answer the questions in your own words and cite all your sources in the correct format, using the guidelines provided, there is nothing to be concerned about. When submitting your assessment, you may see the following Turnitin status messages – some of them require you to take further action: 7 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) It is recommended that you access the short open course on Basic Skills in myModules on myUnisa, which is available online. For more information on how to submit a written assessment on myUnisa, work through Lesson 12: Submitting assignments. You may also refer to the following videos that provide guidelines on various aspects relating to written assessments: • Submitting a written assessment (see • Editing or replacing a submission (see • Assignment submissions status page (see The following Turnitin guideline is also available: • Turnitin Unisa FAQs for undergraduate students (available in the Turnitin folder under Additional Resources on the module site) 8 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) IMPORTANT Ensure that you meet the following submission requirements: • You must accept the Turnitin EULA (this is done only once and not for each written assessment). • You must type your answers and save the MS Word file in PDF format. Neither typed nor handwritten documents that have been scanned will be accepted. • Don't use any other software or applications to convert your typed answer file to PDF format, as this may affect the generation and accuracy of the Turnitin report. • Your PDF document must not be encrypted to a "secured" mode or password protected. • Your file must not be virus-infected or corrupt, as it cannot be marked. • Your file should not exceed the maximum file size of 50MB. • Ensure that you upload the correct document. There will be no opportunity to resubmit your assessment either in the system or to the lecturer via e-mail after the assessment's due date. The last document that you uploaded will be assessed. Once you have submitted your file, open it again to double-check that it is the correct file. If any of the above requirements are not met, your submission will not be accepted for grading, and a mark of 0 will be awarded. 7. Feedback on the assessment Feedback on the assessment will be shared online on the myUnisa module site after the assessment due date, once grading and moderation have been completed. When the assessment results and feedback are available, an announcement will be sent to all students from the myUnisa module site. 8. Academic integrity This is an individual assessment, meaning that you may not obtain assistance from any other party. The assessment answers that you submit must be your own work, demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. Academic integrity is guided by the following principles: human dignity, honesty, trust, fairness, truthfulness, accuracy, respect and responsibility. As a Unisa student, you must uphold these principles in your interactions with the university, especially when completing and submitting assessments. Unisa has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of academic dishonesty. It is therefore essential that you familiarise yourself with the relevant policies and rules. 9 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as your own. It is a form of theft which involves several dishonest academic activities, such as the following: • Cutting and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source. • Not including or using incorrect references. • Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information. Note: Even when you cite your source, you cannot simply copy information from a source. This still amounts to plagiarism. You need to paraphrase (i.e., answer questions in your own words). Cheating Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following: • Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you. • Using social media (e.g., , Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate assessment information. • Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files. • Buying or obtaining completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating). More information on plagiarism and cheating is available from the Study @ Unisa website. Also, see section 8.2 in tutorial letter HRMALL6/301/4/2026 (available in the Tutorial Letters folder under Additional Resources on the myUnisa module site). The Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism, the students’ disciplinary code and the Unisa rules for students should also be consulted. Take specific note of section 25.8 in the rules: Plagiarism is a violation of academic integrity, and students who plagiarise by copying from published work or online sources (e.g. websites or course material) or using generative Artificial Intelligence Software (e.g. ChatGPT) will be in violation of the Policy on Academic Integrity and the Student Disciplinary Code, and such students may be referred to a disciplinary hearing. Unisa has zero tolerance for plagiarism and/or any other forms of academic dishonesty. You must answer the questions in your own words and acknowledge all your sources using the prescribed referencing style. Detailed referencing guidelines are provided under Referencing and Plagiarism in the CEMS Harvard Referencing Style: Introduction to Referencing and Plagiarism LibGuide. As indicated above, academic dishonesty is not limited only to plagiarism. It also includes various forms of cheating, such as completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you; using social media (e.g., , Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate assessment information; submitting corrupt or irrelevant files; and buying completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating). While we encourage you to form study groups and interact with fellow students, this does not mean that you can submit the same answers. This amounts to cheating. If any form of academic misconduct (plagiarism and cheating) is detected in your assessments, you may be subjected to disciplinary action by the university. Marks will not 10 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) be awarded for plagiarised work or if any form of academic dishonesty is detected in your answers. 9. Ethical use of AI in HRM2603 Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a valuable tool for learning if used ethically and responsibly. Here are ways students can integrate AI into their studies without compromising academic integrity: Appropriate uses of AI: • Research assistance. AI can help summarise academic articles, generate ideas, or explain complex topics, but students must verify information and cite sources appropriately. • Writing support. AI-powered tools can assist with grammar checks, structuring essays, or improving clarity, but students should avoid using AI to write entire assignments. • Study and revision. AI-based tutoring systems, flashcards, and personalised learning platforms can reinforce understanding of concepts. Unethical uses of AI: • Submitting AI-generated work as original. Passing off AI-generated content as one's own violates academic integrity and may lead to penalties and/or disciplinary action. • Using AI for unauthorised assistance in summative assessments. AI tools should not be used during summative assessments unless explicitly allowed. • Misrepresenting AI contributions. Failing to acknowledge AI-generated input in academic work can be considered plagiarism. Best practices for ethical AI use • Disclose AI use. If AI-assisted tools are used, students should follow institutional guidelines on acknowledgement and citation. • Verify accuracy. AI-generated information may be incorrect or biased, so students should crosscheck facts from credible sources. • Engage critically. AI should enhance learning, not replace independent thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. • Follow university policies. Each institution may have specific AI usage guidelines that students should adhere to. By using AI as a learning aid rather than a shortcut, students can maintain academic integrity while benefiting from technological advancements. Click on the following link to find out how to use AI tools responsibly and ethically: Responsible use of AI in HRM2603 • You CAN use AI to help you with language editing (checking spelling and correcting grammatical errors) • You can NOT use AI to generate answers to assessment activities and present those answers as your own work. • You can NOT use AI to paraphrase whole sections of text produced by someone else and present those answers as your own work. 11 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Consequences of being flagged for AI use in HRM2603: • The work that is flagged as AI-generated by Turnitin will NOT be marked, and you will receive no marks for these sections of the assignment. • If you persist in passing off AI-generated work as your own throughout the module, you may be referred for disciplinary action. • If you are found guilty of misconduct, you may be prevented from registering for this module for two years. 10. In closing We realise that you might need assistance from time to time. To enable us to assist you, it is essential that you direct your enquiries to the correct individuals or departments. Module-related enquiries Do not hesitate to contact me () if you have any questions or concerns about this assessment or if you have any other module-related questions. Additional contact details are provided on the myUnisa module site and in tutorial letter HRM2603/101/3/2026. Administrative enquiries Address any enquiries about administrative matters to the relevant administrative section as indicated in the Study @ Unisa ( Letter HRMALL6/301/4/2026 (available under Additional Resources on the myUnisa module site). When in doubt, you can go to the Unisa website (), click on Contact Us, then on Student enquiries ( Technical difficulties with myUnisa If you need assistance regarding the myModules system, you are welcome to use the following contact details: • Toll-free landline: (select option 07 for myModules) • E-mail: You may also obtain assistance by using the Self-help FAQs, Chatbot, or Live Chat platforms available on myUnisa. 12 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) To access these platforms, access the myUnisa home page () – don’t log in. Click on the blue speech bubble icon, which can be found at the bottom-right corner of the webpage: Reporting identified instances of academic misconduct All of us need to protect the integrity of our qualifications. If you have any information on instances of academic misconduct related to Unisa assessments, please report it to the Whistle-blowing Hotline (telephone number or e-mail ). This is an independent platform, and your identity will not be disclosed. Wishing you all the best. Dr AM Furtak Primary lecturer: HRM2603 13 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) APPENDIX A: HRM2603 HONESTY DECLARATION By accepting the submission statement as part of the myModules submission process, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted this honesty declaration and its information. 1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or inventions of another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes verbatim copying, but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper acknowledgement (which includes the proper use of quotation marks) or any attempt to cheat the plagiarism checking system. I know that plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual sources and from the Internet. 2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong and accept Unisa’s values in terms of academic integrity (see 3. I understand that my assessment answers must be accurately referenced by applying the Harvard referencing style prescribed by the College of Economic and Management Sciences (see 4. I confirm that this assignment is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s work, or part of it, is wrong and that submitting identical work to others constitutes a form of academic dishonesty. 5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as their own work. 6. I have not used text-generating Artificial Intelligence (AI) or paraphrasing software to answer the assessment questions. The work presented reflects my own understanding of and ability to apply the subject matter covered in this module. 7. I understand that my assessment will automatically be submitted to Turnitin and that the generated report will be used to identify and investigate potential academic dishonesty. I also accept that any attempt to deceive or mislead Turnitin in any way will be regarded as academic misconduct and may result in disciplinary action. 8. I understand that academic dishonesty is not limited to the similarities detected by Turnitin, but may also be identified by assessors and/or moderators during the marking process. 9. I confirm that I have read and understand the following UNISA policies: a. Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism b. Policy on Academic Integrity (available under Master’s and doctoral policies, procedures and forms) c. Students’ Disciplinary Code d. The Unisa Rules for Students (see policies-&-rules) 10. I understand that any academic dishonesty or misconduct may be reported to the Academic Integrity Committee of the College of Economic and Management Sciences and the Student Disciplinary Unit (SDU) for further investigation and action. I acknowledge that, should formal disciplinary action by the SDU be required, my mark will be withheld pending the outcome of the disciplinary investigation and hearing. 14 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) APPENDIX B: ASSESSMENT 3 (SEMESTER 1, 2026) HRM2603 Assessment 3 instructions: 1. Submission format • Your written assessment must be submitted in PDF format via myUnisa. • Also, refer to the instructions for submission provided in Section 6 of this document. • Handwritten or scanned assessments will not be accepted. All answers must be typed in MS Word, then saved as a PDF to enable Turnitin similarity checking. • Assessments submitted in the incorrect format will not be marked, and a zero will be awarded. 2. Layout and Technical Presentation • The cover page must include: o Module code o Assignment number o Semester and year of registration o Your full name and student number • Do not include a table of contents, introduction, or conclusion. • Do not repeat the assignment questions in your answer file. Instead, number each response clearly to match the corresponding question. • Responses must be written in full narrative form, using well-structured paragraphs. o Submissions using bullet points or numbered lists for content will be penalised for lacking analytical depth. • Your answers should relate to the case study or scenario relevant to each question. No marks will be awarded for simply copying and pasting information from the related lesson, or chapter in your prescribed book or any other source. • A 10-page limit is set for this assignment (excluding the cover page and reference list). 3. Referencing • Cite all sources consulted within the text and include a full reference list at the end of your assessment. • Use the Harvard referencing method. Detailed referencing guidelines are provided under Referencing and Plagiarism, in the CEMS Harvard Referencing Style: Introduction to Referencing and Plagiarism LibGuide. • Unisa maintains a zero tolerance for plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Any suspected misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action. 4. Turnitin submission • The full originality report will be automatically generated and reviewed by the lecturer. • Assessments without a valid Turnitin report will not be marked. 5. AI use • You may not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate and/or paraphrase your answers. • No marks will be awarded for plagiarised, AI-generated, or paraphrased text. 15 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Answer the following questions by applying and critically engaging with the subject matter contained in lessons 02 to 06. ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS Layout and technical presentation [2 marks] Two (2) marks will be awarded for the layout and technical presentation of your assignment. Please follow the guidelines provided on pages 15 and 19 of this document. Question 1 [11 marks] 1.1 Explain why some industries make greater use of pay-for-performance plans (incentives) than others. Use concepts from remuneration management covered in the module to explain when incentives are likely to be effective and when they may be less effective. (5) 1.2 Reflect on your understanding of remuneration before [3 marks] you registered for this module. Explain how your perspective has changed after working through lessons 2 to 6. Use relevant remuneration principles and concepts from the module [3 marks] to support your reflection and demonstrate how different concepts have influenced your understanding of remuneration. (6) Question 2 [11 marks] Read the following scenario and answer the questions that follow: A remuneration survey at BuildMore Construction reveals that salaries are at the 90th percentile compared to competitors. Despite declining profitability, the CFO argues that reducing employee pay will have a negative impact on motivation and turnover. 2.1 Explain what it means to pay at the 90th percentile [2 marks], identify [1 mark] and discuss [2 marks] the external market positioning strategy BuildMore Construction is using. (5) 2.2 Critically discuss the tension between cost efficiency (controlling costs) and external competitiveness in this scenario. (6) Read the scenario on the next page and answer the question that follows: Question 3 [16 marks] 16 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Spot On Textiles Managing Director Thabo Tshabalala Human Resources Manager Cindy Zulu "The purpose behind the job evaluation system is to ensure equity, alignment and fairness in the pay rates at Spot On Textiles," explains Thabo Tshabalala. "I understand all of that, Mr Tshabalala," protests Cindy, "but David is the best chemist in the country. We now have an opportunity to get him to work for us." Tshabalala speaks firmly. "Look, Cindy, the grade for chemists is grade C; only managers from grade D upwards get a company car. Can you imagine what will happen? I will have the other chemists demanding cars as well. You were part of the job-evaluation panel; you concurred with the evaluation; now you want the job to be pushed to grade D. I have a major problem with that – I do not want the system to be manipulated." Cindy, however, is determined. "Employing David would be in the interest of the business, Mr Tshabalala. We cannot afford to lose a resource of that calibre. There must be a way that we can get around this problem.” "I'm sorry, I do not know of any way. If you can think of one, come and tell me, but I doubt that you will." 3.1 Explain the purpose of job evaluation [4 marks] and analyse how it is applied at Spot On Textiles [4 marks]. (8) 3.2 Analyse the tension between internal alignment [3 marks] and external competitiveness [3 marks] in the remuneration strategy of Spot On Textiles. In your answer, apply both concepts to the scenario and explain the remuneration trade-offs that may arise from balancing internal and external considerations [2 marks]. (8) Total marks for assessment 3 [40] 17 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) ASSESSMENT CRITERIA The following assessment criteria will be used to evaluate your answers to Assessment 3: Question Poor Satisfactory Excellent Mark 1.1 No explanation of why some industries make greater use of pay-for-performance plans (incentives) than others, or the answer is off topic/not relevant A superficial explanation of why some industries make greater use of pay-forperformance plans (incentives) than others is provided, but it is not linked to remuneration concepts covered in the module An explanation of why some industries make greater use of pay-forperformance plans (incentives) than others is provided and linked to remuneration concepts covered in the module 0 1–2 3–5 /5 1.2 No reflection provided, or the answer is off topic/not relevant A reflection is provided, but it is not linked to relevant remuneration principles and concepts from the module A reflection is provided, and it is linked to relevant remuneration principles and concepts from the module 0 1–3 4–6 /6 No response or incorrect 2.1 discussion of paying at the 90 th percentile Basic idea is conveyed, but the discussion is vague Clear and accurate explanation of paying at the 90 th percentile Attempts to identify and Fails to identify a relevant Accurately identifies and discusses an external market positioning strategy relevant to the scenario external market positioning strategy discuss an external market positioning strategy, but it is unclear or not directly relevant to the scenario 0 1–3 4–5 /5 2.2 No explanation of the tension between cost efficiency (controlling costs) and external competitiveness, or the answer is off topic/not relevant The tension between cost The tension between cost efficiency (controlling costs) and external competitiveness is explained, but not linked to the scenario efficiency (controlling costs) and external competitiveness is explained and linked to the scenario 0 1–4 5–6 /6 3.1 No explanation of the purpose of job evaluation, or the answer is off topic/not The purpose of job evaluation is explained, but not linked to how it is applied at Spot On The purpose of job evaluation is explained, and linked to how it is applied at relevant Textiles Spot On Textiles 0 1–5 6–8 /8 3.2 No explanation of the The tension between cost The tension between cost tension between cost efficiency (controlling costs) efficiency (controlling costs) and external competitiveness, or the answer is off topic/not relevant and external competitiveness is explained, but not linked to the scenario efficiency (controlling costs) and external competitiveness is explained and linked to the scenario No explanation of the The remuneration trade-offs remuneration trade-offs that may arise from balancing internal and external considerations that may arise from balancing internal and external considerations are explained, but not linked to the scenario The remuneration tradeoffs that may arise from balancing internal and external considerations are explained and linked to the scenario 0 1–5 6–8 /9 18 HRM2603: Assessment 3 Semester 02 (2026) Professional and consistent layout; logical structure and appropriate numbering; accurate and consistent referencing; correct technical presentation with minimal errors. 2 19 Technical presentation and layout Generally clear and appropriate presentation, but with some inconsistencies or minor errors in layout, formatting, referencing or technical presentation. No credible sources provided. 1 Poor or inconsistent presentation with significant technical, formatting or referencing problems. 0 /2 TOTAL MARK FOR ASSESSMENT 3 %