BE475-7-FY-CO:
Human Resource Management
2022/23
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 06 October 2022
Friday 30 June 2023
30
07 June 2022
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BE487
This module addresses the principles and practice of human resource management (HRM) and development (HRD) in different work environments. The knowledge and techniques associated with the discipline as well as recent developments which propose an alignment of human resource management with the strategic management of an organization will be considered.
The context sensitive nature of human resource management will be highlighted: including the distinctive characteristics of the public, private and voluntary sectors and the implications for human resource managers.
Other key contextual considerations concern the managerial, institutional and social context of human resource management. The impact of international developments and technological change for human resource managers will be addressed.
Employment strategies in practice will be considered, including flexible working, the contingent workforce and new forms of organisation, the management of identity in different work settings: culture management, branding and the learning organisation.
Introducing students to both orthodox and critical perspectives on the nature of HRM and emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of the HR practitioner, the module aims to provide a basis for critical judgement on the current state of theory and practice in the field.
The module aims to explore:
1. the aims and objectives of the HRM and HRD functions in different types of organizations
2. the knowledge and techniques associated with the work of the human resource practitioner and their historical development
3. concepts of commitment and engagement, their implications for work organization and critical assessments of the theories
4. theories of human capital advantage – best practice, best fit and resource based perspectives on the strategic management of human resources and critical assessments of the theories
5. theories of human resource development and organizational learning and critical assessments of the theories
6. the managerial environment in which HRM operates and the reputational problems of the human resource practitioner
7. the role of the business environment, institutional conditions, political forces, ideologies and social conditions and their implications for management and human resource management
8. globalisation, demographic and technological change and the consequences for management and human resource management
9. recent changes in the practice of HRM in both private and public sectors: including various forms of employee contingency and flexibility and attempts to redefine employee identity and their consequences
10. leadership and organizational change, the development of leaders, the major theories of leadership and critical assessments of the theories
11. the ethics of human resource management and development and the ethical and professional obligations of the human resource practitioner.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1.Identify different types of organisations and their principal environments.
2.The managerial and business environment within which HR professionals work.
3.Review and critically evaluate major contemporary research and debates in the fields of human resource management (HRM) and human resource development (HRD).
4.Evaluate major theories relating to motivation, commitment and engagement at work and how these are put into practice by organisations.
5.Critically discuss the aims and objectives of the HRM and HRD function in organisations and how these are met in practice.
6.How organisational and HR strategies are shaped by and developed in response to internal and external environmental factors.
7.The market and competitive environments of organisations and how organisational leaders and the HR function respond to them.
8.Globalisation and international forces and how they shape and impact on organisational and HR strategies and HR practices.
9.Demographic, social and technological trends and how they shape and impact on organisational and HR strategies and HR practices.
10.Government policy and legal regulation and how these shape and impact on organisational and HR strategies and HR practices.
11.Assess the contribution made by HRM and HRD specialists in different types of organisation.
12.Contribute to the promotion of flexible working and effective change management in organisations.
13.Promote professionalism and an ethical approach to HRM and HRD practice in organisations.
14.Debate and critically evaluate the characteristics of effective leadership and the methods used to develop leaders in organisations.
Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
The module will:
Enhance your oral communication skills through short presentations given in group work activities.
Enhance your critical thinking through case studies encouraging you to discern preconditions and consequences of management actions and to apply diverse theories and concepts to the analysis of practical organisational situations.
Enhance your teamwork and collaborative skills through group based practical activities.
Commercial awareness will be enhanced by practitioner guest speakers, by observation of a 'real life human resource department in action and by practical activities and cases.
Innovation will be encouraged by practical exercises encouraging you to develop solutions to human resource issues and problems.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered over 20 weeks in the Autumn and Spring terms. Students will be encouraged to engage in participative learning with presentations, case studies and group-work. It is vital that students undertake the required reading prior to the session in order to gain as much value as possible from the workshops.
Induction specific to the programme: 4 ½ hours of programme specific material covered at induction enables the completion of this module. It introduces the structure, objectives and expectations of the programme.
Teaching sessions: The module consists of 20 three hour lectures/workshops. Students will be encouraged to engage in participative learning with presentations and group-work. Total = 60 hours.
Guided set preparatory reading: Approximately 4 hours per week consisting of book chapters and journal articles related to the teaching content for the coming week as well as preparation for class exercises e.g. preparing case studies, discussing questions etc. On some occasions students will be asked to prepare class exercises in groups. Total = 80 hours.
One-to-one tutorials: Notionally 20 hours. Students will have the opportunity to discuss assignment feedback, additional self-study, and other tutorial support on a one-to-one basis throughout the term.
Independent study: Notionally 136 ½ hours. Additional reading is provided on the module reading list as a starting point, however, students are expected to continue their independent study using their own research skills to examine issues of personal interest further.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during September (Reassessment Period)
|
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 Ian Roper, email: i.roper@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Ian Roper & Dr Ed Barratt
ebarratt@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Prof Abigail Marks
University of Newcastle
Professor of Work and Employment Studies
Dr Sheena Vachhani
University of Bristol
Reader (Associate Professor) in Work and Organization Studies
Dr Ruth Reaney
University of Glasgow
Lecturer in HRM
Available via Moodle
Of 73 hours, 73 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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