BE433-6-AU-CO:
Human Resource Management
2022/23
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 06 October 2022
Friday 16 December 2022
15
18 November 2021
Requisites for this module
BE410
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
Over recent decades, political, economic and socio-cultural 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 – recruitment, training & development, performance & reward management and industrial/employment relations – are correspondingly aligned with this aim. However, the empirical evidence that HRM achieves these strategic objectives and, more fundamentally, the nature and role of HRM in an organization is highly contestable. While exploring existing dominant theories and approaches, this module focuses on contemporary HRM issues through a critical lens. We examine how a wide range of institutional and cultural contexts shape the way in which employer-employee relationships are constructed, enforced and normalised. In particular, we contest popular norms and assumptions that lie behind the dominant HRM theories and approaches and seek to highlight and explain the oft-observed gaps between theory and practice. Students will develop a critical understanding of contemporary HRM challenges and an acute awareness of their impact on individuals, organisations and wider society.
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:
• Demonstrate an understanding of key perspectives, theories and concepts that inform contemporary understandings of HRM
• Analyse the effects of HRM practices and ideologies within a wider social, economic and political context
• Critically evaluate the significance of HRM for firms’ performance
• Show awareness of current debates and the challenges facing HRM in a contemporary context
Any additional information is available on the Moodle page
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 for this module.
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.
The classes will be an opportunity to discuss case studies and to do exercises (individually and in small groups) on different key topics of this module. Each class will last two hours.
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. The assigned readings (i.e. cases and/or articles) for each class will be uploaded on Moodle before class.
Each group will meet for a total of 4 classes during the term. Please check the dates of your classes on your individual timetable.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Reassessment |
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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 Beatrice Piccoli, Dr Elaine Yerby, Mr Emmanuel Owoade
Email: ebsugcol@essex.ac.uk
No
Yes
No
Dr Natalia Slutskaya
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 179 hours, 90 (50.3%) hours available to students:
89 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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