Contemporary Issues and debates in Human Resource Management

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• develop effective HRM policies and practices with appropriate sensitivity and responsiveness to diversity management, pursuit of CSR as a part of the HR function in addition other strategic areas of organisational management;
• develop in-depth and critical evaluation skills using multiple and competing perspectives in constructing written and oral arguments;
• recognise the limitations of contemporary organisations in managing challenges involved in diversity management, ethical and responsible leadership and how to tackle those limitations;
• work in, and contribute effectively to, contemporary organisations in terms of awareness of contemporary issues involved in HRM;
• develop your personal skills including; working within your own learning style, resourcefulness in problem solving, academic and reflective portfolio writing, reflective and problem based learning skills, and knowledge sharing.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• principles and main challenges of diversity management, and implications for policy makers and HR specialists;
• corporate social responsibility (CSR) and HRM implications, including ethical and responsible leadership;
• changing notions of career and career development, with an emphasis on boundaryless careers and career self-management;
• the global workforce and related challenges facing HR practitioners.
• differences between a range of theoretical perspectives suitable to analyse and review “theories in use”, taken for granted assumptions and approaches to HRM in contemporary organisations;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of HR function in terms of diversity management in contemporary work organizations;
• operate with appropriate sensitivity and responsiveness in managing global workforce and changing needs of employees in terms of work-life balance and flexible work arrangements.
• manage or professionally influence management of human resources in organisations of different size, scope and ownership structure;
• develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of contemporary themes and issues associated with HRM, with their implications at strategic, policy and operational levels;
• plan for and organise recruitment, selection, appraisal, training and career development of employees, taking into account the contemporary issues of diversity, career management, and ethical and responsible leadership;

• Theoretical approaches for critical thinking – what are organisations?
• Diversity management: Are we talking real concern relating to global challenges or just political correctness?
• Ethics and Corporate social responsibility (CSR) – Implications for HRM
• Highly Educated and Employable? The Importance of employability in 21st century organisations. Changing concept of careers and implications to career management
• Entrepreneurship vs. intrapreneurship. The tension between Innovations versus performance driven organizations
• Leadership: are you being a responsible leader in an HRM context?

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

Lectures, case studies, directed reading, small and large group discussion, debating, learning tasks and mini- presentations during lectures, and practitioner involvement.

Learning activities include:

• Case study problem solving activities
• Directed reading
• Individual journal portfolio
• Action learning sets based on individual learning styles

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Human Relations. Journal

The International Journal of Human Resource Management. Journal

Journal of Business Ethics..

Journal of Management. Journal

Human Resource Management. Journal

Guidance:. There is no mandatory text; however these will be referred to throughout the module, and some chapters will be placed on Blackboard. References from quality journals will also be given on blackboard as mandatory reading. You may also like to look at the listed journals.

Textbooks

Ashleigh, M.J. & Mansi, A (2012). The Psychology of People In Organisations. UK: Pearsons.

Konrad, A. M. (2006). Cases in Gender and Diversity in Organisations. London: Sage Publications.

Meyer, E & Ashleigh, M.J. George J.M & Jones, G.R (2007). Contemporary Management (European Edition). UK: McGraw-Hill.

Formative

Formative assessment description

Summative

Summative assessment description

Referral

Referral assessment description

Repeat

Repeat assessment description

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External