HRM400 2025 ASSIGNMENT 1 2025 HRM400 2025
DISCLAIMER
THE DOCUMENT PRESENTED IS A DEMOSTRATION ON HOW STUDENTS CAN
APPROACH THE ASSIGNMENT FOR HRM400. IT IS BASED ON PRESCRIBED MATERIAL
AND EXTERNAL RESEARCH. THE DOCUMENT CONTAINS BOTH SHORT NOTES AND A
RESPONSE EXAMPLE FOR EACH QUESTION. STUDENTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED
NOT TO COPY AND PASTE BUT USE THE DOCUMENT AS A RESEARCH GUIDE THAT
WOULD HELP THEM DRAFT THEIR OWN FINAL COPIES.
, HRM400 2025 ASSIGNMENT 1 2025 HRM400 2025
Table of Contents
QUESTION 1 ............................................................................................................. 3
1.1 What is your understanding of a company having a “competitive advantage”?
Give reasons for your answer. (10) ....................................................................... 3
1.2 Jay Barney’s resource-based view (RBV) model describes every organisation
as a unique bundle of resources that allow it to implement strategies to give it a
competitive advantage and lead it to good returns (profits). Barney indicates that an
organisation’s resources can be categorised into four groups. Name these groups
and identify how Amazon.com fits into these groups. Make use of an appropriate
example. (15) ......................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Compile a list of what is needed to create a competitive advantage and assess
Amazon.com’s competitive advantage in those terms. Make use of practical
examples. (15) ....................................................................................................... 6
QUESTION 2 ............................................................................................................. 8
2.1 Leadership [15] ................................................................................................. 8
2.2 The electronic era [10] .................................................................................... 10
2.3 Strategic role of human resource management [10] ....................................... 12
References ............................................................................................................... 15
DISCLAIMER
THE DOCUMENT PRESENTED IS A DEMOSTRATION ON HOW STUDENTS CAN
APPROACH THE ASSIGNMENT FOR HRM400. IT IS BASED ON PRESCRIBED MATERIAL
AND EXTERNAL RESEARCH. THE DOCUMENT CONTAINS BOTH SHORT NOTES AND A
RESPONSE EXAMPLE FOR EACH QUESTION. STUDENTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED
NOT TO COPY AND PASTE BUT USE THE DOCUMENT AS A RESEARCH GUIDE THAT
WOULD HELP THEM DRAFT THEIR OWN FINAL COPIES.
, HRM400 2025 ASSIGNMENT 1 2025 HRM400 2025
Table of Contents
QUESTION 1 ............................................................................................................. 3
1.1 What is your understanding of a company having a “competitive advantage”?
Give reasons for your answer. (10) ....................................................................... 3
1.2 Jay Barney’s resource-based view (RBV) model describes every organisation
as a unique bundle of resources that allow it to implement strategies to give it a
competitive advantage and lead it to good returns (profits). Barney indicates that an
organisation’s resources can be categorised into four groups. Name these groups
and identify how Amazon.com fits into these groups. Make use of an appropriate
example. (15) ......................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Compile a list of what is needed to create a competitive advantage and assess
Amazon.com’s competitive advantage in those terms. Make use of practical
examples. (15) ....................................................................................................... 6
QUESTION 2 ............................................................................................................. 8
2.1 Leadership [15] ................................................................................................. 8
2.2 The electronic era [10] .................................................................................... 10
2.3 Strategic role of human resource management [10] ....................................... 12
References ............................................................................................................... 15
