Human Resources Planning Course Outline
Winter 2013
Instructor: Patrick Payne B.Comm., B.Ed., F.M.P., M.Sc. (Ed.)
Class Time: Tuesdays 6:30 – 9:30
Office: JH 147
email: ppayne@uoguelph.ca
Classroom: Rm 312, MacKinnon Hall
Extension 56282
Required Text
Belcourt, M. & McBey, K (2010) Strategic Human Resources Planning (5th edition), Thomson- Nelson, Toronto: Canada.
Additional Readings: To be distributed in class
Course Instructor
Patrick Payne has a background that includes a variety of Human Resource disciplines including labour relations/contract
negotiation, recruitment, planning as well as training and development in the public and private sectors. He has served as
Director of Human Resources with a major national firm of Chartered Accountants and was Director of Finance and
Administration for the Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre, a national labour-management consultative
organization. He has experience in the private sector as a multi-unit business operator and District Manager two nation-wide
hospitality firms. He was Director of Organizational Development during the merger of 5 Ontario health care service
providers (CCAC-HNHB) into one regional organization.
In addition to an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree (Windsor) with a concentration in Industrial Relations, Patrick also
has a Bachelor of Education degree (Brock) specializing in Adult Education and a Master of Science degree in Education
(California State University, East Bay). Patrick is a full-time Instructional Designer in the Centre for Open Learning and
Educational Support at the University of Guelph. He previously has been an instructor at Fanshawe College and currently
teaches several courses in the B.Ed. program at Brock University’s Faculty of Education. At the University of Guelph he
taught Labour Management Relations for 5 years and for the past 4 years has taught Human Resource Planning.
Course Description:
This course introduces the strategic planning role that Human Resources Professionals contribute to organizations with an
emphasis on Human Resources Planning (HRP). Students will examine the challenges and demands of organizational and
technological change, corporate positioning, cost containment, benchmarking, productivity improvements, forecasting, and
other considerations of Human Resources Management. An understanding of the fundamentals and essential elements of
HRP process in organizations will be provided. Students will acquire knowledge about analysis, assessment, and
programming related to Human Resources in organizational development, business, and strategic planning. The theory about
quantitative methods as well as qualitative concepts, approaches and techniques will be explored.
Course Learning Goals:
Learn:



How the economy and legislation affect the thinking and direction of HRP organizational strategies that require
appropriate and outcome-oriented HR management practices and policies
How Human Resources Managers plan and make decisions about the allocation of resources for the effective
management of people in organizations
Identify and understand the role of an HR professional as a business partner in organizational and functional strategy
formulation and implementation.
1
Learning Strategy
The routine students are expected to follow is to read the text as indicated in advance of attending the class. A web site will
be provided that refers to readings as well as other resources such as videos, websites and self-study, ungraded practice
quizzes. Class time will be spent reviewing some, but not all, the material from the text and other resources. We will also
discuss the practical application of the material, draw upon the real life experiences of class participants and seek current
examples of theory in practice in current events.
Course Evaluation
Midterm exams
Final Exam
Group Presentation
Class Participation
30%
30%
25%
15%
100 %
Exams
The mid-term and final exams will each be an opportunity to assess your level of knowledge and understanding of the
material presented in the textbook, other readings, class discussions, and presentations.
The mid-term exam will be held in-class during Session 5 and cover the content up to the end of the previous session. You
will have 90 minutes to complete each exam. There will be a combination of Multiple Choice, True/False, Matching, as well
as short answer questions.
The final exam will be held in-class during Session 11 and cover the content from Session 5 up to the end of the last session.
There will be a combination of Multiple Choice, True/False, Matching, as well as short and essay questions.
Presentation
Enrollment levels will determine if the presentations will be made in pairs or teams.
Partners or groups will prepare and deliver a 45-minute presentation on your selected topic. Suggested topics will be
distributed in class, however these are only suggestions and you are free to modify your topic as long as it falls within the
scope of the chapter topic you have chosen. Please discuss your chosen topic with the instructor by the end of session 3.
You will be given class time in session 1 to seek out a partner (or team) and session 5 to confer about this assignment
however you should be prepared to collaborate outside of the class time. There are a variety of collaborative tools available
to simplify that process. Please ask the instructor if you would like suggestions.
The Group Presentation is not to take the form of reiterating the chapter contents but should be about the application of the
ideas, theories and concepts in that chapter. For example presenting an actual company or organization and their use of some
or all of the practices and techniques included in the course content on the topic. You should design your presentation to
include a significant amount of class involvement. Your group must present the instructor with a copy of the presentation
notes before class and also provide each member of the class with a copy of the presentation notes. The evaluation of the
presentation is 25% of your final mark. Your grade will be determined by instructor and class evaluation in the following
proportions: Instructor 50%, Class 50%. The evaluation form is attached and can be used as a guide to planning your
presentation.
Evaluation of Presentations / Attendance
Your attendance at each presentation is expected. If you miss one or more presentations or fail to complete the evaluation
form properly, your final grade will be reduced. Those not presenting will complete the evaluation form and submit it to the
instructor at the end of the session.
2
Course Schedule*
Session
Date 2012
1
January 15
2
January 22
Chapter/Topic
1. Strategic Management
2. Aligning HR with Strategy
3. Environmental Influences on HRM
3
January 29
4. Job Analysis
5. HR Forecasting
4
February 5
6. Determining HR Demand
7. Ascertaining HR Supply
5
6
February
12
February
19
Mid Term Exam #1 30%
Preparation time for presentations
9. Information Technology for HRP
Group Presentation Preparation
7
8
February
26
March 5
8. Succession Management
Group Presentation
10. Downsizing & Restructuring
Group Presentation
9
March 12
Jeanette Haller
April Atkinson
Sasha Antonenko
Nick Albu
Lora Halliburton
Sarah Neundorf
12. Mergers & Acquisitions
Group Presentation
10
March 19
13. Outsourcing
14.Evaluation of HR Programs and
Policies
Group Presentation
11
March 26
Catia Georgiou
Amanda Brown
Said Mohamed
Final Exam 30%
* Note: There is not a “Winter Break” provided for in this schedule
3
Academic Misconduct
The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and enjoins all members of
the University community – faculty, staff, and students – to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as
much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. The University of Guelph takes a serious view of academic
misconduct, and it is your responsibility as a student to be aware of and to abide by the University’s policy. Included in the
definition of academic misconduct are such activities as cheating on examinations, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and
submitting the same material in two different courses without written permission from the relevant instructors. To better
understand your responsibilities, read the Undergraduate Calendar, in particular the Statement of Students’ Academic
Responsibilities; also read the full Academic Misconduct Policy.
You are also advised to make use of the resources available through the Learning Commons and to discuss any questions you
may have with your course instructor, TA, or an academic counselor.
Instructors have the right to use software to aid in the detection of plagiarism or copying and to examine students orally on
submitted work. For students found guilty of academic misconduct, serious penalties, up to and including suspension or
expulsion, can be imposed. Hurried or careless submission of work does not exonerate students of responsibility for ensuring
the academic integrity of their work. Similarly, students who find themselves unable to meet course requirements by the
deadlines or criteria expected because of medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances should review the
University’s regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration in the calendar and discuss their situation with the
instructor and/or the program manager or other academic counselor as appropriate.
4