BE433-6-AP-KS:
Human Resource Management
2020/21
Essex Business School
Kaplan Singapore
Autumn & Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 26 March 2021
15
07 February 2020
Requisites for this module
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Over recent decades, social and political shifts have culminated in the emergence of Human Resource Management (HRM) as an organizational practice distinct from more traditional 'personnel' approaches to managing people at work.
An HRM approach takes a strategic view of the organizations' employees as drivers of competitive advantage and HRM functions – resourcing, performance and reward management, employment relations, and learning and development – are correspondingly aligned with this aim.
However, the evidence that HRM achieves these strategic objectives and, more fundamentally, the nature and role of HRM in an organization is highly contestable. Whilst exploring the dominant theories and approaches to the subject, this module explores HRM through a critical lens. We explore the social and institutional context that shapes the way in which the employment relationship is managed. We explore and question the norms and assumptions that lie behind the dominant approaches to HRM today.
We also seek to analyse some of the key employment strategies adopted by organizations today, highlighting and seeking to explain the gaps between theory and practice. Students will develop a critical understanding of the theory and practice of HRM and an awareness of how HR practices impact on individual employees and workers and reproduce wider social structures.
The aims of the module are:
1. To introduce students to the theory and practice of HRM
2. To provide critical approaches to understanding the impact of HRM on a range of stakeholders
3. To consider the strategic influence of HRM on business performance
4. To review contemporary HRM developments and debates
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of key perspectives, theories and concepts that inform contemporary understandings of HRM
2. Analyse the effects of HRM practices and ideologies within a wider social, economic and political context
3. Critically evaluate the significance of HRM for firms’ performance
4. Show awareness of current debates and the challenges facing HRM in a contemporary context
Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
By the end of the module, you will be able to:
1. Evaluate issues related to people management from a range of different perspectives and be able to integrate these into a considered and practical approach to management
2. Think critically about HRM practices by discussing current case studies and academic articles
3. Work effectively and efficiently in small teams (in classes)
4. Solve problems creatively and collaboratively (in classes)
5. Enhance your oral communication skills through short presentations given in group work activities (in classes)
6. Develop your commercial awareness by practical activities and cases (in classes)
7. Encourage innovation by practical exercises encouraging you to develop solutions to human resource issues and problems (in classes)
8. Reflect on your own future managerial practice in relation to HRM
No additional information available.
The module will consist of weekly one-hour lectures and fortnightly two-hour classes over the ten weeks of the Autumn term, with the exception of week 7 that will be reading week i.e. with no lectures and no classes.
Lectures
In particular, the nine lectures will run from week 2 to 6 and from week 8 to 11.
Classes
You are allocated to a group for the classes. Once allocated to a group for the fortnightly classes, students must not change group.
It is vital that students undertake the required reading prior to the session in order to gain as much value as possible from the classes.
Each group will meet for a total of 4 classes during the term.
- (2017) Human resource management: a contemporary approach, Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson Education.
- Wilton, Nick. (2019) An introduction to human resource management, London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
- Guest, David E. (1987-09) 'HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS', in Journal of Management Studies. vol. 24 (5) , pp.503-521
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Stefano Cirella, email: scirella@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Stefano Cirella and Dr Huiyan Fu
Email: ebsugcol@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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