Assessment Task 1 – Written Questions Task Summary • Answer all of the written questions below. • Answers should be provided on a separate sheet of paper with the assessment task number clearly...

Assessment Task 1 – Written Questions
Task Summary
•    Answer all of the written questions below.
•    Answers should be provided on a separate sheet of paper with the assessment task number clearly indicated. Answers must be word-processed and sent to the assessor via email.

What you will need
 
•    Access to textbooks/other learning materials
•    Access to the internet

What do I have to submit?

You will need to provide correct answers to all questions

Instructions
Provide answers to all of the questions below:
1.    Why are workplace policies and procedures important? List five key benefits.
2.    Briefly explain why it is important that workplace policies and procedures are provided and explained to staff?

3.    When should staff be provided with policies and procedures?
4.    List three methods of informing staff about changes to policies and procedures.
5.    What is the purpose of a workplace Code of Conduct?
6.    List three behaviours that a workplace Code of Conduct can cover.
7.    List three benefits of networking.
8.    List two benefits to employers of a diverse workplace?
9.    Describe the main function of the Fair Work Act 2009?
10.    What is Equal Employment Opportunity?
11.    Describe the main function of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
12.    List the objectives of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
13.    List the objectives of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984
 
Assessment Task 2 – Policies and procedures development project
Task summary
For this assessment task you are to assume the role of General Manager of Accountancy Victoria and develop a number of policies and procedures to do with workplace communication and consultation.
What you will need
 
Computer and Microsoft Office
Access to the internet for research
 
•    Case study information for Accountancy Victoria
•    Style Guide

What do I have to submit?

•    Covering email with all of the following documents attached:
o    Code of Conduct
o    Workplace Communication and Consultation Policy and Procedure
o    Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedure
•    Covering email with all of the following revised documents attached
Instructions
Review the following case study:
Accountancy Victoria is based in Footscray, Victoria and provides accountancy and book keeping services for a range of clients.

Accountancy Victoria was established by the two Directors who are the Senior Accountants for the company. Other staff employed are three accountants, a bookkeeper and an Officer Manager. The company is expanding due to the demand for accountancy services and will employ a further three senior accountants in the next 2 months, as well as an Officer Manager and Client Services Coordinator.

You have recently been appointed as the General Manager of Accountancy Victoria.  Your role is to manage the day to day operations of the company.  The first task you have been allocated is to establish formal systems and processes for a range of areas, as currently most of the company’s systems and processes are informal.
To start the process of creating formal systems and processes, you have been asked to develop systems and processes for workplace communication, consultation, as well as a Code of Conduct and dispute resolution processes.  
You are required to complete the following activities either in relation to the case study information or for your own workplace.
Each document must be written in clear and concise English, be approximately 2 pages and follow the style guidance provided in the Style Guide.
1.    Research and develop a Code of Conduct
You are required to research and develop a Code of Conduct so that staff are aware of and follow the standard of behaviour expected of them in relation to their fellow employees, as well as clients. Your research could include review of other staff Codes of Conduct. The document you develop must be in your own words.

The Code of Conduct needs to include as a minimum the following guidance:
•    Introduction - purpose of the Code
•    Scope – who it applies to
•    Details of expected personal and professional behaviour (as a minimum, this should address a range of ethical behaviours, as well as behaviours appropriate to working within diverse workplace)
•    Conflict of interest requirements
•    Gifts, benefits and hospitality
•    Outside employment/consulting
•    Use of social media

2.    Workplace Communication and Consultation Policy and Procedure
Research and develop a workplace communication and consultation policy and procedure is needed to describe the mechanisms that will be used for internal communications, as well as how staff can provide input into a range of workplace related matters.  Your research could include review of other workplace communication/consultation policies and/or procedures. The document you develop must be in your own words.
The policy and procedure should include the following minimum information:
•    Purpose
•    Scope
•    Communication strategies for communicating with staff – type, purpose and frequency. You should include at least four strategies in your policy and procedure.
•    Communication protocols for meetings in relation to sending out of agendas and writing up of minutes.
•    Consultation process – ways in which staff can contribute to workplace issues (e.g. surveys, suggestion forms, etc) – you must include at least three.  Provide specific detail about the consultation mechanism e.g. for a suggestion box – indicate the location of the box and how suggestions will be recorded and actioned.

3.    Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedure
Research and develop a dispute resolution procedure needs to be established so that all staff are aware of dispute resolution procedures in place. The dispute resolution policy and procedures needs to address the following:
•    Purpose of the policy
•    Scope – who it applies to
•    What constitutes a dispute
•    Responsibilities of managers in disputes
•    Responsibilities of employees in disputes
•    The process by which a dispute will be handled.

4.    When you have completed all of the above documents, you must submit them via email to your assessor (as though he or she is a staff member of Accountancy Victoria).  

The email should provide a clear and simple summary of the documents attached and refer to the opportunity for staff to provide feedback.  As the staff have varying levels of education and the bookkeeper’s first language is not English, ensure your email is written in plain English so as to be easily be understood by all recipients.
Your assessor in the role of a staff member will provide you with feedback which you should incorporate into your documents.

When you have incorporated the feedback, you will need to send the final versions to the staff (your assessor) via email again and indicating in a covering email that the feedback has been incorporated and outlining changes made based on staff feedback.
Assessment Task 3 – Networking project  

Task summary
For this assessment task you are required to in the role of General Manager of Accountancy Victoria to plan networking opportunities for the next 12 months.
What you will need
 
  Access to the internet for research
 Professional development plan template

What do I have to submit?
•    Professional development/networking plan
Instructions
Complete the following activities:
1.    In the role of General Manager of Accountancy Victoria, research at least three networks that may be relevant to the General Manager. This could be an association for managers or a local business network. It could also be a Facebook Group set up specifically for managers.  

2.    For each of the networks that you have identified, identify events provided by the network over the next 12 months. Identify at least 4 events that are of interest to you in the role of General Manager of Accountancy Victoria and that would be of benefit to the team and/or company.

3.    Complete the professional development/networking plan provided by your assessor for the next 12 months.  You will need to complete the plan in full to show the details of the networking events you have identified as relevant to the role of General Manager of Accountancy Victoria.

The plan should show full details of the event including the name of the event, where it will be held, date and time and the cost of the event. You should also provide a brief description of the expected benefit to yourself (in the role of General Manager), as well as for the team of staff that you are responsible for in the role of General Manager of Accountancy Victoria.