Write a 3000-word essay on the following essay title:
“Selection and assessment reproduce social inequalities in organisations rather than challenge them”. Critically discuss this statement, drawing on both mainstream and critical literature and analyses.
You are welcome to use headings as you see fit, but this is not compulsory.
Some guiding questions to help you unpack the question and structure your essay:
· What is the mainstream ‘best practice, evidence-based’ approach to designing a selection process? Describe the key steps in the selection process, paying particular attention to the mainstream literature on assessment methods and how choices should be made in relation to which methods to include in a selection process.
· Consider the extent to which a ‘best practice, evidence-based’ selection process can be considered to be ‘fair’. You should aim to demonstrate an understanding of how ‘fairness’ is discussed and debated within a) the mainstream literature and b) the critical literature.
o Is fairness about neutrality and objectivity and if so, then how can this be achieved and what are the limitations to this approach? What assumptions does the mainstream approach to selection and assessment make about ‘selecting the right person for the right job’?
o Or is fairness about social justice and therefore relates to tackling social inequalities? To what extent does the mainstream selection process, with its different assessment methods, help advance this aim of challenging social inequalities in organisations?