COURSE SYLLABUS & OUTLINE
Course Title:
Compensation Programs Administration and Design
Quarter:
Winter 2011
Instructor:
Kathy Gilroy
Meeting
Times:
Online
Location:
Online
Office Hours:
Instructor available online and by personal e-mail
Course Description:
In this introductory online course, students explore compensation as a key factor in achieving
organizational goals. In addition to introducing current concepts, approaches, techniques, and terms,
instruction examines the forces that shape the development of compensation strategies, plans, and
policies. Topics include salary administration, incentive plans, and stock-based programs; the factors
of motivation, performance evaluation, labor market dynamics, and budgeting that underlie the
development of compensation programs; key steps involved in developing salary administration and
cash-incentive programs; major laws and regulations that apply to compensation; and the way
compensation programs are designed for specific job families, units/functions, and levels of
organization. The compensation plan design is presented in a business context that includes issues
and situations faced by practitioners in the field. The course also provides approaches for
communicating programs and monitoring their effectiveness. For technical requirements click here.
Prerequisite: X 450 Elements of Human Resources Management or consent of instructor
Goals & Objectives:
When you successfully complete this course, you'll be able to:
o explain why organizations are concerned about reward systems ;
o describe the major components of any organization's reward system;
o identify the factors that influence the rewards that an individual employee receives;
o describe how the structure of an organization affects its reward systems;
o describe how reward systems support the structure of an organization;
o identify how legislation influences organizational reward systems;
o describe the purpose of job analysis;
o identify some of the ways that job analysis can be designed and applied to make it effective;
o explain why job descriptions are important in most organizations;
o explain how an organization can ensure that its reward systems are internally equitable;
o identify the factors that an organization should consider in choosing a job evaluation system;
o describe the purpose of reward surveys;
o identify the factors that an organization should consider in selecting methods of gathering
information about reward systems;
o describe the factors that influence an organization's pay structure;
o identify the issues involved in developing effective reward systems for teams;
o describe what makes a performance appraisal system effective;
o identify the factors involved in an organization's choice of short- and long-term incentives;
o describe the factors that influence an organization's choice of employee benefits and services and
their delivery;
o identify the considerations in choosing methods of adjusting employee's pay.
Required Readings:
The required text for this class is: Compensation Management in a Knowledge-Based World, Richard
I. Henderson, Prentice Hall, 10th addition.
Recommended Readings:
Current articles regarding compensation.
Grading:
o Each answer to a discussion question is worth a maximum of 2 points. Answers will be evaluated
according to the information that they provide. There are a total of 24 discussion questions for the
course for a possible maximum point total of 48.
o Each comment on a class colleague's answer to a discussion question or a question regarding the
answer is worth a maximum of 1 point to a maximum of 4 points per week. Comments and questions
will be evaluated according to what they add to the week's discussion. Discussion questions are
provided for eight weeks of the course for a maximum of 32 discussion points.
The last week of the class will provide class members with opportunities to comment on their class
colleagues' projects. Bonus discussion points will be given for questions or comments that broaden
and deepen class members' understanding of compensation topics.
o Individual projects will be assessed according to how well they demonstrate the author's
understanding of the issues and options involved in developing compensation programs. Each project
is worth a maximum of 20 points.
The points that you've earned during the week will be posted in your online grade book at the end of
each class week.
Final grades will be based on the number of points accumulated during the course:
95 - 100 points A
90 - 94 A87 - 89 B+
83 - 86 B
80 - 82 B77 - 79 C+
73 - 76 C
70 - 72 C67 - 69 D+
63 - 66 D
60 - 62 Dless than 60 F
%
20
32
48
Final paper
Class participation
Answers to discussion questions
Students are expected to…
One of the strengths of the distance learning format is the opportunity for class members to learn
from others who have different experiences and points of view. Class discussion provides the forum
for the free exchange of ideas. In addition to answering the week's discussion question(s), class
members are expected to participate in the discussion at least twice a week.
Please note that ALL COURSE GRADES ARE FINAL.
Incompletes: The interim grade Incomplete may be assigned when a student's work is of passing
quality, but a small portion of the course requirements is incomplete for good cause (e.g. illness or
other serious problem). It is the student’s responsibility to discuss with the instructor the possibility
of receiving an “I” grade as opposed to a non-passing grade. The student is entitled to replace this
grade by a passing grade and to receive unit credit provided they complete the remaining coursework
satisfactorily, under the supervision of and in a time frame determined by the instructor in charge, but
in no case later than the end of the next academic quarter. At that time, the Registrar will cause all
remaining Incompletes to lapse to the grade "F". Note: Receiving an “I” does not entitle a student to
retake all or any part of the course at a later date.
Student Behavior involving cheating, copying other’s work, and plagiarism are not tolerated
and will result in disciplinary action. Students are responsible for being familiar with the
information on Student Conduct in the General Information Section of the UCLA Extension Catalog
or on the website at www.uclaextension.edu
COURSE OUTLINE
Date/Topic
Week One
1/11 - 1/17
An introduction to compensation
Week Two
1/18 - 1/24
Organizations and legislation:
Week Three
1/25 - 1/31
Job analysis and job descriptions
Week Four
2/1 - 2/7
Job evaluation
Week Five
2/8 - 2/14
Surveys and pay structures
Week Six
2/15 - 2/21
Performance evaluation
Week Seven
2/22 - 2/28
Incentives
Week Eight
3/1 - 3/7
Benefits and pay delivery
Week Nine
3/8 - 3/14
Assignments
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Readings
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapters 4 and 5
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapters 6 and 7
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapters 8 and 9
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapters 10,11, and 12
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapter 13
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapters 14 and 15
Answer discussion questions
Participate in discussion
Chapters 16 and 17
Final papers are due 3/13
Chapters 1, 2, and 3