Great Basin College
Course Syllabus
Spring 2011
Course Title:
Sections:
Credits:
Instructor:
Instructor Contact:
Classroom:
Class time:
Office Hours:
Email:
Introduction to Human Resource Management – MGT 283
I01
Three (3)
Stephen J. Theriault, MBA
Cell Phone (775) 220-5582
WebCampus
Internet
Mon and Wed. 9:00 – 11:30 AM
stephent@gwmail.gbcnv.edu
Textbook:
Human Resource Management, 12th Edition
Mathis, Robert L. and Jackson, John H. (2008)
ISBN: 978032454303
Catalog Description:
Duties and responsibilities of personnel management. Areas covered include employee
needs, human relationships, orienting and training employees, benefit programs, and
economics of supervision.
Prerequisite:
None.
Course Purpose:
Develops an understanding and be able to apply the basic principles of personnel
management.
Course Objectives:
The general goals of this course are:
a. Identify the responsibilities of a human resources department.
b. Explain the role of supervisor in human resource management.
c. Describe the trends in the labor force composition and how they affect human
resource management.
d. Explain how the three branches of government regulate human resource
management.
e. Describe how work flow is related to organizational success.
f. Explain the role of human resources in the recruitment process.
g. Describe the selection process and methods of evaluation.
h. Explain how to assess training needs and link training programs to needs.
i. Identify the importance of performance management.
j. Identify the steps in the career management process.
k. Describe how organizations contribute to employees' job satisfaction.
l. Identify the decisions involved in establishing a pay structure.
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m.
n.
o.
p.
Explain how organizations link wages to overall performance.
Discuss the importance of benefits as part of employee compensation.
Define unions and labor relations and their role in organizations.
Identify the factors that influence human resource management in
international markets
Specifically, students who successfully complete this course will:
a. Understand the basic principles of Human Resource Management
b. Understand the basics of leadership.
c. Demonstrate the ability to formulate plans and strategy.
d. Demonstrate the ability to communicate in a management setting.
e. Have college-level skills in reading, writing, and oral communication
appropriate to their degree and/or emphasis.
f. Have problem solving, creative, and critical thinking skills.
g. Have effective and efficient learning skills, including the location and
evaluation of information.
h. Understand the importance of cultural traditions, diversity, and ethics in the
modern world.
Methodology:
This course is offered as an online class. In order for students to be successful, they
should read the text, participate in the discussions, and complete the Chapter
exercises and course work as assigned.
Course content and all learning activities are presented using behavioral, affective, and
cognitive formats with the end result focused on the student’s ability to apply the theories
and concepts. Practical scenarios will be presented to allow students to develop their own
unique management skills while examining what other managers have done when faced
with these same dilemmas.
Written Papers/Cases:
Students are expected to complete the assigned “Chapter Cases” as assigned at the end of
specified chapters.
Discussions:
A discussion topic will be posted for student’s consideration. Students can earn 10 points
for an initial substantive post to the topic and an additional 10 points during the week
with thoughtful and informative replies to their fellow students that enhances the
discussion and concept development. A substantive initial post would be approximately
100 to 150 words of quality insight from the week’s assigned materials and personal
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work experience that relates to the topic. Posts of “I agree” and others of similar limited
depth do not qualify for points. Enhance our learning and engage each other in civil
discourse.
Tests:
Tests usually consist of a combination of True/False, Multiple Choice, and/or Essay
Questions. Because it is important for students to use the terms and concepts of this
course, all tests and written assignments will require the student to use the vocabulary
and apply the theories given various scenarios and practical examples whenever possible.
The primary goal of each examination and assignment is to allow the students an
opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the course concepts, within the time
constraints available, and to apply these concepts even when given several competing
alternatives. Students should draw upon their personal work and life experiences, as well
as, information in the course to successfully complete all graded exercises in this course.
Late Submission Penalty and *On Time Bonus:
Chapter Cases must be submitted within the time frames posted in the WebCampus
module. Failure to do so will cause the student to forfeit the points for that particular
Chapter Assessment. Late submission of the Chapter Cases will result in a 10% per day
grading penalty up to four days late. No assignment will be accepted after 11:59 PM on
the fourth day. Any student who posts all five of the exams and the Chapter Cases by the
original due dates; will receive a 25 point bonus at the conclusion of the semester as
identified in the “Methods of Evaluation” below.
Method of Evaluation:
A standard grading scale will be used. The following items will be graded accordingly
and with the following values on the overall course grade:
Items
Exams (5)
Chapter Cases (7)
Bi-Weekly Discussion (7)
Jung Typology Test (1)
*On-time Bonus
Total
Max. Value Per Assessment
100
50
20
10
25
Total Value________
500
350
140
10
25____________
1025
Cumulative Point Grading Scale:
Final grades for the semester where the instructor employs the plus (+) and minus (-)
grading system will be based on the following scale of cumulative points.
940 to 1000 points = A
900 to 939 points = A870 to 899 points = B+
830 to 869 points = B
800 to 829 points = B770 to 799 points = C+
730 to 769 points = C
700 to 729 points = C670 to 699 points = D+
630 to 669 points = D
600 to 629 points = D0 to 599 points = F
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Expected Learner Outcomes:




Understand the basic principles of Human Resource
Management
Understand the basics of leadership
Demonstrate the ability to formulate plans and
strategy
Demonstrate the ability to communication in a
management setting
Learner Outcome Measurements:
Discussion, Assignments, and
Exams
Discussion, Assignments,
and Exams
Assignments and Exams
Assignments and Exams
COURSE OUTLINE:
The following course outline sets forth the course work for the Spring 2011 Semester.
The course outline and schedule is subject to change and amendment at the sole
discretion of the instructor. Any and all amendments shall be announced in class.
WEEK #1
Week of January 24, 2011
Start of Spring 2011 Semester – Monday January 24, 2011
Topic – Introduction to Course Curriculum/Student review of deliverables
Introductory Questionnaire: Go to the following link and complete the assessment.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm
Post personal bio to discussion thread and respond to peers
Read Chapter 1: Changing Nature of Human Resource Management
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 2 – Ch 1.
WEEK #2
Week of January 31, 2011
Topic – Changing Nature of Human Resource Management
Discussion 1: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 2: Strategic HR Management and Planning
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 3 – Ch 2
WEEK 3
Week of February 7, 2011
Topic – Strategic HR Management and Planning
Chapter 2 Case – “Xerox Focuses on HR” pg 63
Read Chapter 3: Organization/Individual Relations and Retention
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 4– Ch 3
WEEK 4
Week of February 14, 2011
Topic – Organization/Individual Relations and Retention
Discussion 2: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 4: Legal Framework of Equal Employment
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 5 – Ch 4
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WEEK 5
Week of February 21, 2011
Topic – Legal Framework of Equal Employment
Chapter 4 Case – “Mitsubishi Believe in EEO – NOW” pg 127
Read Chapter 5: Managing Equal Employment and Diversity
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 6 – Ch 5
Exam 1: Chapters 1 - 3
WEEK 6
Week of February 28, 2011
Topic – Managing Equal Employment and Diversity
Discussion 3: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 6: Jobs and Jobs Analysis
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 7 – Ch 6
WEEK 7
Week of March 7, 2011
Topic – Jobs and Jobs Analysis
Chapter 6 Case – “Jobs and Work at R. R. Donnelley” pg 190
Read Chapter 7: Recruiting in Labor Markets
Read Chapter 8: Selecting Human Resources
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 8 – Ch 7 & 8
Exam 2: Chapters 4 – 6
WEEK 8
Week of March 14, 2011
Topic – Recruitment and Selection of Human Resources
Discussion 4: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 9: Training Human Resources
Read Chapter 10: Talent Management and Development
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 9 – Ch 9 & 10
SPRING BREAK – MARCH 21 – 26, 2011

WEEK 9
Week of March 28, 2011
Topic – Training and Development of Human Resources
Chapter 9 Case – “Training Crucial for Hotels” pg 286
Read Chapter 11: Performance Management and Appraisal
Read Chapter 12: Total Rewards and Compensation
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 10 – Ch 11& 12
Exam 3: Chapters 7 – 10
WEEK 10
Week of April 4, 2011
Topic – Performance Management, Appraisal, and Rewards
Discussion 5: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 13: Variable Pay and Executive Compensation
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 11 – Ch 13
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Week 11
Week of April 11, 2011
Topic –Variable Pay and Executive Compensation
Chapter 12 Case – “Compensation Changes at JC Penny” pg 387
Read Chapter 14: Managing Employee Benefits
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 12 – Ch 14
WEEK 12
Week of April 18, 2011
Topic – Managing Employee Benefits
Discussion 6: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 15: Risk Management and Worker Protection
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 13 – Ch 15
Exam 4: Chapters 11 – 14
WEEK 13
Week of April 25, 2011
Topic – Risk Management and Worker Protection
Chapter 14 Case – “Delivering Benefits” pg 449
Read Chapter 16: Employee Rights and Responsibilities
Reading Assignment to be completed before Week 14 – Ch 16
Week 14
Week of May 2, 2011
Topic – Employee Rights and Responsibilities
Discussion 7: Post and respond to peers in a substantive manner
Read Chapter 17: Union/Management Relations
Reading Assignments to be completed before Week 15 – Ch 17
WEEK 15
Week of May 9, 2011
Topic – Union/Management Relations
Chapter 16 Case – “Employer Liable for ‘Appearance’ Actions pg 515
Prep for Exam 5
WEEK 16
Week of May 16, 2011
Exam 5 – Chapters 15 - 17
STUDENT PREPARATION AND PARTICIPATION NOTES:
Student Preparation:
In order for a student to achieve a level of performance in this course that shall be
considered adequate work or better, the student should dedicate two (2) to three (3) hours
of work for credit value (i.e. 3 credits approximate 9 – 10 hours of outside work). This is
the expectation level established by the instructor in the construction of the curriculum
for this course and constitutes a general rule of thumb. Some students may need to
dedicate more hours in preparation. The following procedures should assist a student in
preparing for class quizzes, exams, and discussion.
a. Read the assigned chapters and deliverables.
b. Make appropriate notes to aid in material retention and understanding.
c. Review your reading outline notes in preparation for the examinations.
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Student Participation:
All students are encouraged to participate in class discussions and each student has the
opportunity to earn valuable points by their participation. An often-overlooked aspect of
class participation is thinking. Students shall be required to think. Your instructor adheres
to the philosophy that there is no such thing as a “stupid question”. However, your
instructor is not sympathetic when it comes to “ignorant questions”; those questions
asked when it is obvious that the student has not completed the assigned readings in
advance of a class session discussion.
STUDENT CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITY
Academic Integrity and Student Conduct:
Student conduct shall conform to the standards of conduct as set forth in the Great Basin
College 2010 – 2011 Catalog. Cheating in any form or manner could result in an
automatic grade of “F” for this course for this semester. The instructor has a zero (0)
tolerance policy on plagiarism and written submissions will be subject to plagiarism
detection software.
Grade of Incomplete:
The instructor shall not employ the use of and shall not issue the grade of “I”, a grade of
incomplete, in this course.
ADDITIONAL MATTERS AND CONCERNS
Disability Policy:
In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
other applicable statutory provisions, as a student with a disability you have the right to
request needed accommodations. If you have a disability for which you will need to
request accommodations, please contact the ADA Officer (Julie Brynes) in Elko at (775)
753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate
accommodations.
Email and Telephone Policy:
The instructor is available for contact via email and telephone. The instructor shall not
address via email or telephone matters relating to grades, points or student confidential
information. Assignments and Handouts shall not be sent to students by the instructor via
email. Assignments shall not be sent to the instructor by students via email.
Civility:
Civility is a requirement. Students are expected to assist in maintaining a course
environment that is conducive to learning. This includes appropriate verbiage and tone in
the discussion environment.
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Acknowledgements:
A note of acknowledgement is extended to the following colleagues who have allowed
the instructor to include formatting and material originally authored by them in previous
syllabi.
a.
Dr. Beverly Smith: Associate Professor Accountancy, Business
Administration and Paralegal Studies, Southwest Tennessee Community
College.
b.
Dr. Steve Sloan: Business Administration Department Chair, MidAmerica Christian University.
c.
Dr Bob Morin: Division Chair – Social Science, Education, Humanities,
Public Service and Business, Professor of Political Science, Western
Nevada College.
d.
Thomas L. Matula, PhD: Business Department Chair and Professor of
Management Studies, Great Basin College
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