Module Directory

This module provides students with a comprehensive grounding in the origins and development of Human Resource Management in contemporary organisations today which includes an historical examination of how Human Resource (HR) practice and policy emerged from welfare and subsequently personnel management.

The aims of this module are:

• To introduce students to the origins of Human Resource Management (HRM) as a contemporary managerial function, so to understand how its foundations have shaped current practice. More broadly the module will analyse how the Human Resource (HR) profession has sought strategic legitimacy through an on ongoing HR professionalisation project.


• To expose students to the importance of domestic and international legal and regulatory foundations of HRM policy and to examine ways people practice need to remain compliant to relevant laws.


• To enable students to analyse the psychological contract and sources of motivation in organisations today, including job security which shape people management practices.


• To provide students with the opportunity toreflect on HR professional identity and strategies for continuing professional development so students can take a proactive approach to developing HR professional skills and know-how.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Critically analyse the origins and development of the contemporary Human Resource (HR) function


2. Understand stages of the ‘HR professionalisation project’ and its success.


3. Evaluate the impact of HR professional identity on the successful achievement of career and organisational goals.


4. Evaluate the legal and regulatory foundations of Human Resource Management (HRM) practice and policy and how people practices can remain compliant with relevant laws and regulations.


5. Understand the role of the psychological contract in HR practice and analyse the role of job security in other sources of motivation in organisations today.


6. Apply strategies of continuing professional development to develop HR professional skills and know-how.

The HR professionalisation project, which saw HR achieve accredited status in the UK and the implications of this for HR careers, identity and professional practice will also be explored. In doing so the legal and regulatory foundations of HRM practice will be examined, as well as the role of the psychological contract in shaping people management. Students will examine the role of job security as one of the foundations of HRM practices and its relevance in the face of the changing nature of work and organisational structures. Within this context, students will explore the significance of continuing professional development within the HR profession and their own strategies for building HR professional skills and know-how.

Syllabus

Students will be expected to prepare case-study material ahead of the sessions, which will be a mix of lecture, group work and discussion.

• Introduction to the module and historical development of the HR profession.


• Legal and regulatory foundations of HRM.


• The HR professionalisation project 2000-2022.


• Psychological contract and employee engagement.


• Introduction to case study analysis.


• Reading week.


• Job security and motivation.


• HR Professional identity.


• Continuing Professional Development within the HR profession.


• Conclusions and assessment clinic.

This module will be delivered via:

• One lecture per week.
• One seminar per week.

The lectures will be ‘interactive lectures’ that weave together methods involving some lecturing, some prompted responses to questions, and some structured discussion. All methods of teaching and learning will be as inclusive as possible.