Human Resource Management: Theory & Practice
Second Start Spring Semester 2011
HRPO 2301 Course 17909
Human Resources Management
Wednesday 7 - 10 PM Web Enhanced
Classroom 340 C Katy Campus
Instructor: Maryanne Tidwell Maldonado
Phone: (281) 610-6347
Email: maryanne.tidwell@hccs.edu
PURPOSE AND METHOD
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of human resource management (HRM). Because of the wide nature of the
topic and the limited time of the course, coverage will be broad. The main objective will be to provide a solid foundation of
knowledge of basic HRM topics. The course will emphasize a general management perspective of HRM. Specifically, rather than
assuming that the student wants to become an HR professional, we will examine HRM from the perspective of a manager who wishes
to effectively interact with and utilize the human resource. In addition, the course will emphasize student development of HRM skills.
The thrust of the course will be on developing an understanding of HRM practices and assessment of their effectiveness. Topics to be
considered in the course include job analysis, selection, performance appraisal and management, and compensation, among others.
Learning in the class will be facilitated through the use of vehicles such as textbook readings, class discussion, exercises/activities,
cases, and lectures.
TEXT
The following text is required for the course:
Gomez-Mejia, L.R., Balkin, D, and Cardy, R.L. (2007). Managing Human Resources (6th Edition).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
COURSE GOALS
The students will be able to describe the interactions that are involved in the human resource functional areas. These areas
include:
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Staffing
Human Resource Development
Compensation and Benefits
Safety and Health
Employee and Labor Relations
STATEMENT OF FOUNDATION SKILLS AND WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES (SCANS SKILLS)
A study was conducted for the Department of Labor by the American Society for Training and Development which identified the
seven skills U. S. employers want most in entry level employees. These skills are motivation to learn, basic skills, communication,
teamwork, critical thinking, career development and leadership.
HCCS is committed to preparing every student with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s dynamic work
environment. Towards this end, the following skills will be included in this course. Testing and assessing these skills will vary
according to individual instructors. The following are examples of how these skills may be incorporated in this course.

Working with information
 Acquire/evaluate data and Interpret/communicate data by completing an individual mini-research project for accessing,
evaluating and interpreting data found on a human resources topic assigned by the instructor. The student will share
these finding with the class.

Using Technology
 Select equipment and tools and Apply technology to specific tasks and Maintain/troubleshoot technologies by
participating in a team presentation using multimedia equipment. The instructor will assign topics based on the various
kinds of technology for student use, problems that can occur and when to get help.

Demonstrating Thinking Skills
 Decision-making by conducting a peer evaluation of fellow project team members. A form with performance criteria
will be completed showing both the evaluator’s and teams member’s name.
LAB REQUIREMENTS
None
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING POLICY
It is the policy of the Dean of Workforce that an Incomplete may be given only for extenuating circumstances (i.e., family illness,
accident, or an unforeseen event occurring at final exam time). Individual instructors may use a variety of grading policies and create
tailored course requirement to their courses.
TESTING
Individual instructors will create tests tailored to their course requirements.
MAKE-UP POLICY
I do not offer make up exams. The next scheduled exam will count as your grade. Late work will not be accepted. If you must miss a
class, email me your assignment.
COURSE CONTENT
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Describe and explain the development of human resources management; evaluate current methods of job analysis, recruitment,
selection, training/development, performance appraisal, promotion, and
separation; discuss management's ethical, socially responsible, and legally required actions; assess methods of compensation and
benefits planning; and examine the role of strategic human resource planning in support of organizational mission and objectives.
COURSE CALENDAR WITH READING ASSIGNMENTS
Reading assignments are associated with chapters covered on each exam. It is the student’s responsibility to review the course
syllabus insuring correct chapters are read and studied prior to each exam.
OTHER STUDENT INFORMATION
Blackboard
New Student User ID For
Your new student login user ID will be your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the “W” number). All HCC students have a
unique User ID. It is the same number you use for class registration. For students who have taken DE classes in previous semesters,
the login will no longer be “firstname.lastname” + the last 2 digit of your SS #. If you do not know your User ID you can look it up
using the following links:
o From the HCC home page, click on “Register Here”
o On the Student Web Services page, click on “Registration (Online)”
o Click on “Retrieve User ID” and follow the instructions.
Or use the direct link: https://hccsaweb.hccs.edu:8080/servlets/iclientservlet/sauat/?cmd=start
The default student password will still be “distance.” As always, students will then be prompted to change their password after their
first login. These new student login procedures apply to classes taught in both WebCT and Blackboard. Please contact
desupport@hccs.edu if you need additional assistance with your log in.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY (HCCS STUDENT HANDBOOK)
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or
disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
"Scholastic dishonesty" includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
"Cheating" on test includes:
· Copying from another student's test paper;
· Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test;
· Collaborating with another student during a test without authority;
· Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of an un-administered test;
· Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
"Plagiarism" means the appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one's own written work
offered for credit.
"Collusion" means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICIES
In accordance with HCCS rules, the instructor has the authority to drop a student from any class after the student has been absent for
periods equivalent to two classes. However, the student has the ultimate responsibility to withdraw from the course. If there are
extreme circumstances that require absence from class, it is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor. For additional
information refer to the HCCS catalog.
In order to withdraw from your class, you MUST contact your professor and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal
deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you have
earned by the end of the semester. Zeros averaged in for required assignments/tests not submitted will lower your semester average
significantly, most likely resulting in a failing grade (“F”).
Please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC
counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via email or
telephone with your professor. Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa. Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F
because of the visa consideration. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about
your visa status and other transfer issues.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
"Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the appropriate HCC Disability Support Service (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester.
Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. Students who are
requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the appropriate DSS Counselor for assistance.
Students who require testing accommodations need to schedule an appointment for testing to ensure that staff will be available for
proctoring and to arrange for any adaptive equipment that may be required. Students should contact the instructor's "Instructional
Support Specialist" (ISS) the week prior to each exam throughout the semester to confirm that the requested testing accommodations
will be met.
USE OF CAMERAS OR RECORDING DEVICES:
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and
other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a
reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable
accommodations.
GRADE APPEAL, REFUNDS, DISCIPLINE ISSUES and SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Refer to the Student Handbook, Catalog and Schedule.
ACTIVITIES
You have the opportunity to enhance your personal and intellectual growth by participating in a variety of activities. Those activities
can be located in the Student Handbook or through the HCCS Web resources at: www.hccs.edu/handbookHome2.html.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES and GRADING
We all learn and express what we have learned differently. To this end, I strive to provide several different assessment tools to
address each individual’s strengths and help them improve their areas of weakness.
Class participation, preparation, and outside assignments: While this is a subjective measure, I will try to standardize it as much
as possible by tracking your attendance and productive participation in class discussions and completed assignment activities. Several
of the in-class activities will involve small group discussions, team activities, and role plays. Arriving late to class causes a distraction
and will hurt your participation grade. Please be on time. Since there is a large interactive component to the course a large percentage
of your grade is attributed to attendance and participation, if you show up every day, on time, and participate you should easily earn a
passing grade. If you don’t meet the minimum HCC attendance requirements, you will receive not receive a passing grade.
Because Human Resource Management is a practiced discipline; i.e., not best understood in a vacuum, each student will be required to
briefly report on an aspect of HRM in practice. Using the business press (magazines such as Fortune, Business Week, Wall Street,
Harvard Business Journal, etc.) or Web sites such as those listed in the front of the course text, students will produce the following:
Mid Term Exam: There will be one mid semester exam consisting of true/false, multiple-choice, and essay questions.
Final Project: Final Project: Your final exam will be in the form of a presentation to the class to be presented in the final week of
class. This project will be completed and presented individually and will require each student to prepare a presentation on an HR
topic, of your choice. This presentation should include a power point presentation of a minimum of 15 slides and a 10-15 minutes oral
presentation. Each student must present orally. Students will submit their HR subject matter in Week 10. Examples of presentations
topics:
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Conducting interviews with current/past employee and/or HR person
A review of how these policies support the overall strategy/direction of the firm
Understanding and ability to communicate an attractive compensation package
Recruiting, selecting, and downsizing (including downsizing, diversity, outsourcing)
This presentation will require more in depth research and requires a minimum of five references (other than the textbook, also
encyclopedias are unacceptable). Students will make their presentations at the end of the semester.
Presentations will be evaluated by both the instructor. Assignments will be graded on content, details, depth, grammar, and technical
appearance / functionality, and presentation delivery. Attendance and presentation is mandatory, there will not be a makeup available
for the Final Project.
This is a web enhanced course utilizing electronic media.
4 hrs per week for 12 weeks = 48 contact hrs.
Grade determination summary:
Class participation/preparation/ON TIME
Assigned homework
Web / Electronic homework/participation
Mid Term
Final Exam Project
90-100%….………...A
80-89%……………..B
70-79%……………..C
60-69%....…………..D
< 59%..……………..F
10%
20%
20%
20%
30%
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Most class periods we will discuss the material covered in the chapter and do a brief exercise or activity related to the chapter. (This is
subject to adjustment as we move through the semester; you are responsible for keeping up required reading and assignments with the
class). Second start course assignments will be modified.
Date
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Topic
Intro/What is HR?
Work Flows & Job Analysis
Understanding Equal Opportunity & the Legal Environment
Managing Diversity
PRESENTATIONS
Recruiting & Selecting Employees
Employee Separations, Downsizing & Outplacement
EXAM
SEMESTER BREAK-NO CLASS
Appraising & Managing Performance
Training & Development
Compensation & Benefits
Employee Relations, Rights & Discipline
Organized Labor, Safety, International
FINAL EXAM PRESENTATION
Reading Assignment
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapters 8, 9
Chapters 10, 11, 12
Chapters 13 & 14
Chapters 15, 16, 17
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY and OTHER ISSUES
Plagiarism or other academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade for the course and referral to the appropriate academic standards
bodies on campus.
ADA STATEMENT
Reasonable accommodation will be given to any individual with a legitimate disability. Please contact the instructor privately for
arrangements. If you are a qualified person with disabilities who might need appropriate academic adjustments, please communicate
with me as soon as possible so that we may make appropriate arrangements to meet your needs in a timely manner. Frequently, we
will need to coordinate accommodating activities with other offices on campus. Course materials can be made available in alternative
formats.