MGMT308-15S2 (C) Semester Two 2015

Applied Human Resource Management

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2015
End Date: Sunday, 15 November 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 October 2015

Description

This course focuses on the application of human resource management strategies and practices in real settings. Attention is also given to the role of human resource planning and approaches to strategic human resource management.

The effective management and sustainability of the human resource is a major concern of any organisation.  This course examines some of the specific actions organisations can take to effectively manage their human resources.

The course is designed to be integrative drawing on principles that students have been exposed to in MGMT207 (or equivalent) and other MGMT papers. The course focuses on the application of human resource management strategies and practices in real organisational settings. As such the course aims to provide students with both in-depth knowledge of human resource management principles and theory as well as the skills to apply this knowledge in a practical manner. Attention is also given to the role of human resource planning and approaches to strategic human resource management.  A scenario and case-based approach is used, including examples of human resource management practices used in successful New Zealand, Australian and other international businesses.

Topics include:

• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Strategic Human Resource Planning
• International Human Resource Management
• Contemporary employee recruitment
• The science of employee selection
• Providing effective performance feedback
• Essential New Zealand employment law
• Rewarding performance
• Demonstrating HRM impact - efficiency and effectiveness
• Human Resource Information Systems

This course compliments other 300-level HR & OB courses. It is also relevant for students aiming to undertake post-graduate study in HRM.

Course Workload
In previous years MGMT308 students have commented that the workload in the course is quite high compared with other 15 point courses. We have taken this feedback into account this year and reduced the number of tutorials. We have also addressed the balance and weightings between the various pieces of assessment in the course. That said, MGMT308 is a third year and applied paper in which we expect you to do some self-directed reading and preparation for tutorials and lectures. Please note that the LEARN course website has a number of additional readings on it, but these are not all compulsory readings. Your lecturer will point you to the most important readings.

The estimated workload breakdown for MGMT308 is provided below:

• Lecture/Tutorials 30 hours
• Lecture/Tutorial Preparation 35 hours
• Test Preparation 15 hours
• Assignment 37 hours
• Exam Preparation 30 hours
• Final Examination 3 hours
 Total 150 hours

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course students should be able to demonstrate knowledge, comprehension, analysis, and application related to HRM. In particular students will be able to:

1. Analyse situations in organisational settings and determine what problems exist, which HRM systems may have bearing on the problem, and what interventions (e.g., changes to HRM systems) are appropriate responses.
2. Show how responses to individual employee and HRM system issues must be aligned with and can contribute to the overall strategic direction of the organisation.
3. Apply knowledge of HRM systems in developing an organisation's Strategic HR Plan through developing an outline of such a plan for a case situation.
4. Appreciate the inherent complexity that stems from internationalising an organisation’s operations and the human resource implications of the decision to do so.
5. Discuss contemporary issues in staffing organisations in the 21st century.
6. Understand the complexity of measuring and managing employee performance, and apply this knowledge to impact individual and organisational performance.
7. Measure and demonstrate the impact of HR interventions at both the individual and organisational level.  
8. Discuss the role of information technology and Human Resource Information Systems in the efficient management of HR information.

BCom Graduate Profile
MGMT308 addresses the BCom learning goals in the following manner:
1. Graduate can demonstrate advanced knowledge of HRM informed by the broader context of commerce.
Recall, understanding, and application of advanced HRM knowledge are assessed in the final exam and in-class test. Additionally advanced understanding of human resource concepts, and the application of these concepts, is addressed through a number case studies discussed in class, tutorials and the final examination.  
2. Graduates are able to use analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to address specific problems.
The case-based approach to teaching and assessment in MGMT308 requires graduates to human resource concepts and problem-solving skills in the analysis of real world case studies. These skills are assessed with three separate case studies in the final examination.
3. Graduates can understand issues from a range of ethical, global, and multicultural perspectives.
Not specifically addressed in this course, although key ethical and multicultural issues are discussed as part of employee recruitment, selection, and reward management. Additionally MGMT308 covers the topic of international human resource management, which provides students with a global perspective on HRM.
4. Graduates are able to communicate effectively both orally and in written form.
Written communication is assessed in this course through the assignment. Verbal communication is not formally assessed in this course.

Prerequisites

Restrictions

MGMT307

Timetable Note

Tutorials
There will be 3 tutorials in the semester. These will be used for case study analysis and discussion. While they are not compulsory, attendance is highly recommended. Tutorials take place in weeks 2, 5 and 9.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Russell Wordsworth

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Mid-semester Test 19 Aug 2015 20% Mid-semesterTest
Assignment 25 Sep 2015 40% Assignment
Final Examination 40% Final Examination


Grading
The marks for tests and exams may be scaled before a final grade is determined.  You should not automatically regard 50% as a pass mark.

Class test – 20% (Theory and application in-class test covering the first six lectures and consisting of both theoretical and applied questions)

Individual assignment – 40% (Written paper based on business and research articles and applied examples on a topic of your choice)

Examination – 40% (Theory and case study based examination covering all of the work in the syllabus)

Late Submission
Late submission of assignments will be NOT be accepted without the approval of the course coordinator. Late submission is granted at the discretion of the course coordinator only and each application will be evaluated on its merit. The following guideline will be strictly applied by the course coordinator:

If an assignment is submitted in the first three days after the close-off time, then it will have 10% of the maximum possible grade deducted, for every 24 hours after the due date.  No assignments will be accepted beyond 72 hours after the close-off time.    

The only exception to the above is where formal aegrotat conditions are satisfied; (for details on aegrotat requirements, see the university website. Please note that an aegrotat application must be submitted within seven days of the due date for the assessment.

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Stone, Raymond J; Managing human resources ; 4th ed; John Wiley and Sons, 2013.

While this is an Australian text it has several references to the New Zealand context. The best of all is that it comes in eBook for only AU$50 (about NZ$60). The eBook can be loaded on multiple devices and lasts forever (i.e. it does not disappear from your device after 1 year). Even better the book comes packaged with another textbook on Management in New Zealand for FREE.

If you would like to purchase the eBook you do so by visiting the publisher’s website directly.

Additional readings will also be made available via LEARN.

Notes

Class Representative
A class representative may be asked to volunteer in the first few weeks of class. Any problems with the course can be raised with the class rep. Their email can be found at UCSA. The class representative will take up any issues raised by class members with the lecturer concerned as they occur.

Departmental Academic Policies
The Department assumes that you have read this document.

You should also read the General Course and Examination Regulations

IMPORTANT:
Students repeating MGMT308 are requested to get in touch with the course coordinator within the first two weeks of the semester to discuss their assignment and approach to the course.

Dishonest Practice
The University of Canterbury considers cheating and plagiarism to be serious acts of dishonesty.  All assessed work must be your own individual work unless specifically stated otherwise in the assessment guidelines. Material quoted from any other source must be clearly acknowledged. You must not copy the work of another person (student or published work) in any assessment including examinations, tests and assignments. Any person, who is found to have copied someone else's work, or to have allowed their work to be copied, will receive a fail grade for that piece of assessment and may face disciplinary action which may lead to a fine, community service or exclusion from the university.

IMPORTANT: Where there are concerns regarding the authorship of written course work, a student can be required to provide a formal, oral explanation of the content of their work.

Coversheets - Group and Individual

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $737.00

International fee $3,125.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Management, Marketing and Tourism .

All MGMT308 Occurrences

  • MGMT308-15S2 (C) Semester Two 2015