H9MDTA Managing and Developing Talent Individual Assignment 2026: Baby Steps TM Strategy | NCI

H9MDTA Managing and Developing Talent: Individual Assignment 2026

This H9MDTA assignment places students in the role of a talent management consultant advising Baby Steps, a US sustainable clothing retailer opening ten stores in Ireland. Students identify the talent challenges the company will face, build a talent management strategy and vision, analyse five core TM practices with Irish and UK examples, and critically compare their own answers with ChatGPT output in the sections marked [AI].

The Brief

Baby Steps is a US sustainable clothing retailer opening ten stores in Ireland. You are a talent management consultant. Advise the company on the talent management (TM) strategy, policies and practices it needs so that its management team and employees help make the business a success.

Key Requirements

• Combine published theory with real-world practice throughout; support every point with the literature and more than two examples.
• Critically analyse rather than describe, and follow the set structure exactly.
• AI may only be used in the sections marked [AI]. In each, answer the question yourself first, then include the ChatGPT prompt and output, and critically compare both in a table (what it got right, missed and got wrong).
• Core text: Taylor, S. (2024) Resourcing and Talent Management, 9th edition, Kogan Page, plus CIPD, ESRI and Eurofound sources and five ABS 3/4-star journal articles. Practical examples must come from the lectures or the core textbook.

Assignment Structure

1. Cover Page

Name, student number and the signed declaration of originality.

2. Table of Contents

3. Table of Data Collection (5%)

A two-column table (Source | Data type) and an explanation of the data analysis technique(s) used. One page maximum.

4. TM Challenges (5%) + [AI] Structure (2%)

Identify five key talent problems Baby Steps is likely to face in Ireland. Present the AI-generated structure for this section and critique it.

5. Justification (2%)

Explain why Baby Steps should pay attention to these challenges, with theoretical and practical justification.

6. Consequences of Not Addressing the Challenges (2%) + [AI] Insights and Critical Analysis (3%)

Explain what happens if Baby Steps ignores these problems, then include and critically analyse ChatGPT’s insights.

7. TM Strategy, Policies and Vision (5% + 3%)

Develop a TM strategy for Baby Steps with a maximum of three sample policies, and a vision framework based on Conscious Clothing (paraphrased, not copied).

8. Five Core TM Practices (40%) + [AI] Structure (5%)

Select five core TM practices, justify the choice with theory and practice, and show how each is put into operation in sample companies in Ireland and the UK. Use AI to generate the structure for this section and critique it.

9. Recommended TM Approach (10%) + [AI] Table and Critical Analysis (5%)

Recommend which TM approach Baby Steps managers should adopt (for example inclusive or exclusive) and justify it. Tabulate ChatGPT’s recommendation next to your own with a critical analysis of both.

10. References, Citations, Formatting and Presentation (10%)

Covers the logic of ideas and arguments, Harvard in-text citation and professional formatting (12pt Arial or Calibri, numbered pages). Turnitin similarity must be below 20%.