The University of Lethbridge
Faculty of Management – SMOHR Area
MGMT 3050 – Human Resource Management
Spring Semester, 2003
Instructor: Dr. Richard Perlow
Office: University Hall E – 463
Phone: 394-3942 Fax 329-2038
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 8:45-9:45; and by appt.
E-mail: richard.perlow@uleth.ca
How do you select a person for a job among a pool of applicants? What is the best way to train
people? How do you evaluate job performance? People in the field of human resource management
address these kinds of questions. Their work has many practical implications for executives and
managers. Over the next few months we will address questions like those posed above. Material
covered includes topics such as selection, job analysis, training, compensation, performance appraisal,
and diversity.
Course objective
As this is an introductory course, I would expect you to demonstrate knowledge of basic human
resource management concepts, results of projects focusing on how people behave in organizations,
and how to apply what you learn to organizational problems and dilemmas. We’ll accomplish these
objectives through readings, lectures, and other activities. A second objective of my course is to give
you experience working with others.
Required Texts:
Stewart, E. B., Belcourt, M., Sherman, Jr., A., Bohlander, G., & Snell, S. (2001). Essentials of
Managing Human Resources (Canadian Edition) Scarborough, ON: Nelson.
Nkomo, S. M., Fottler, M. D., & McAfee, R. B. (1999). Applications in human resource
management: Cases, exercises, and skill builders (4th ed.). Cincinnati: South-western.
Preparation: Read the assigned chapters before coming to class.
Attendance:
I expect students to attend every class. I reserve the right to check attendance and to implement an
attendance policy that includes grade deductions for no attendance at any time. Attendance is
important because it is difficult to meet our objectives and to do well in the course when attendance is
irregular. It is also difficult to do in-class exercises and group work should there be an activity on the
day you miss. Finally, your team members will be evaluating your contributions to marked as well as
unmarked group activities. My recommendation is to attend every class.
Examinations:
There will be two examinations: a mid-term exam and a final exam. The question format for exams
could be short answer, multiple-choice, essay, or some combination thereof. I can develop questions
based on the class, handouts, or from the texts. Questions can include textbook material not included
in the class. The final exam is cumulative.
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Make-up exams for unexcused absences
You might earn a grade of zero (0) for the midterm or the final if you do not have a valid reason for
your absence and approved supporting documentation. I reserve the right to deduct 10 points off of
your mid-term exam score for each 24-hour period between the exam date and when you actually take
the exam. Keep in mind that the day you want to take the make-up may not be convenient for me. In
those instances, you will still receive the maximum penalty deduction for all 24-hour periods that have
elapsed between the exam date and the date you take the exam.
Make-up exams for approved (excused) absences
If you have a valid excuse and supporting documentation, you can retake the midterm exam without
penalty provided you notify me of the absence on or before the exam day. Telephone or e-mail are
satisfactory means of notification. If you notify me after I administer the exam, I reserve the right to
deduct up to 10 points off of your exam score even if your absence is valid and University-approved.
You need to secure the Dean’s approval for final exam make-ups.
Group work
Your group will do a case study that I will assign in class. I will discuss a suggested format for cases
responses in class, and give you more detail on marking at that time. You will learn that good
responses include thorough discussion and sound rationales for the recommendations that you make.
I will derive your group grade on your project mark and from group participation ratings that your
group members give you on both marked assignments and any unmarked assignments/group activities.
Keep in mind that your project grade influences your participation grade. The scoring sheet is at the
back of the syllabus. Pease note that you risk getting an overall group work grade of zero (0) if you do
not make a contribution to the group.
Late work:
I will subtract 10 points from your group grade for each 24 hour period that your assignment is late.
However, I do not count weekend days. Thus, I will only deduct 50 points from your grade when you
hand in a project on a Monday that was due the previous Monday. I will not grant a due date extension
other than for special circumstances. I do not consider equipment malfunctions as a reasonable excuse
for late work. The late policy applies to the entire group even when the responsibility lies with only
one group member.
Please type out all homework assignments and TYPE your name and ID on ALL pages. I will not
grade handwritten work. I will announce due dates in class and I will assign late homework
assignments a grade of zero except for special circumstances.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit: I may offer extra credit for participation in certain research as a subject. I will inform
you of the studies, if any, that are acceptable for extra credit. My offer for extra credit does not
guarantee the availability of acceptable research and/or participation slots. Whether I offer the
opportunity for research participation, you can choose to do a one page write up of a course related
newspaper or magazine article accompanied by a 5 minute review for the class. You cannot do the
same article review as a classmate. It is strictly first-come first serve. You will need to get my prior
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approval of the article. Finally, you can earn credit for either research participation or the write up.
You can not earn additional credit for participating in both activities.
I’ve designed the extra credit so that it helps all borderline students. That is, if your overall
average at the end of the course is 1 point away from the next highest grade, the extra credit will push
you into the higher category. You must complete the write-up by the last class day to earn credit.
Grading
You can ask me to reevaluate a grade that you received on your work within ten (10) days from date I
return the work to class. Weekend days are not included in the 10 day time limit. You will need to
submit a statement that specifically describes the reason(s) why you think the marking you received
was incorrect. I will consider your statement and make a decision regarding reevaluation. Note that
reasons such as the marking was too strict/easy, or that you need a higher grade are not sufficient
reasons for reevaluation. Work I evaluate within 10 class days from the end of the last final exam day
(e.g., final exam) have a different time line. You will have thirty (30) days after the first class day of
the next new semester to ask me to reevaluate your grade.
Grade Derivation
Grade weighting is:
Mid-term Exam
Final Exam
Group Work
Home Work
35% of total grade
40% of total grade
20% of total grade
5% of total grade
Final grade scale
I use Faculty of Management guidelines for grades.
A+
A
A-
95-100
90-94
86-89
B+ 82-85
B 78-81
B- 74-77
C+ 70-73
C 66-69
C- 62-65
D+ 58-61
D 50-57
F 00-49
All grades are subject to final approval by the administration.
Academic Integrity
I adhere to University of Lethbridge policy regarding academic integrity. The policy is in the
University Calendar.
Notice
Please review the outline of the course that follows. I view it is a fluid schedule rather than a rigid
document or contract. For example, I reserve the right to spend more time on a topic to aid student
learning even when it means spending less time on another topic. While I am assuming that all
information and dates are accurate at the time of printing, I reserve the right to correct any errors found
in, or make modifications to, the syllabus. I will announce changes in class. Students are responsible
for keeping up to date of any changes. Continued enrollment in the course indicates your agreement to
the conditions set forth in the syllabus.
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COURSE OUTLINE
Week of
January
Topic
6
Stewart, et al.
Introduction
January 13
Strategic HRM
Ch. 1
January 20
Human Resource Planning
Homework: Nkomo #23 HR Forecasting Assignment
January 27
Legal Requirements
Ch. 2
Critical Thinking: Reverse Discrimination Discussion
February
3
February 10
Job Analysis/Design
Ch. 3
Homework from Nkomo: Case 21 Job Descriptions
Recruitment
Ch. 4
102-117 only
Work Teams Announced
Nkomo Team Project Assigned on February 10
February 17
February 24
March
Reading Week (no classes)
Performance Appraisal
Ch. 6
Homework: Evaluating Performance Appraisals Assigned
3
Performance Appraisal/Test Review
Class Discussion: Evaluating Performance Appraisals
Mid term is on Wednesday, March 5
Material covered is from Introduction To Performance Appraisal
March 10
Selection
March 17
Orientation and Training
March 24
Compensation/Benefits
Ch. 7
Homework: Nkomo #54 Job Evaluation at Smithfield
Team Project due in class on March 26
March 31
Employee Health and Safety
Homework Nkomo #62: The Safety Problem
Ch. 8
April
Labour Relations and Wrap-up
Ch. 10-11
7
Final Exam to be announced
Ch. 4
117-140 only
Ch. 5
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GROUP PARTICIPATION WORKSHEET
NAME _____________________ GROUP # ________ COURSE & SECTION __________
Your group grade is a multiplicative function of your average grade on the group project(s) and the
participation factor that your group members provide. Here are the details on how to provide the
participation factor.
DIRECTIONS: List all group members in the “Name” column in alphabetical order by last name
followed by the first name. Include yourself in the list. You are to rate the other group members on
the degree of their overall contribution to all group projects – marked and unmarked. You do not rate
yourself, and you do not include people who were members of your group but who have dropped the
class. Scores can range from 0 (No contribution on any project) to 1.1. The sum of the scores for all
group members cannot exceed the number of people in your group – 1 (yourself). For example,
assume that you have a 6-person group. You can allocate any number of points among your five group
members up to a maximum of 5 (6-1). For example, assume that everyone contributed equally. You
would give each group member one point. Leave the space beside your name blank. THESE
SCORES ARE DUE BY THE END OF THE LAST DAY OF CLASS. I may not count the ratings
of people submitting scores after that period, and I reserve the right to deduct 10 points from their
overall group grade.
Deriving participation grades
I will collect all participation factor ratings. I will take the mean of the factor scores to derive the
average participation factor. For example, Randy Smith’s factor score would be 1.075 if he/she
received the following scores: 1.1, 1.1, 1.0, and 1.1. I will take that factor score and multiply it by the
average of the group project grades to get a participation grade. Thus, Randy’s grade would be 80.625
if his/her two group project grades were 73, 77 (75 average), and his/her participation factor was 1.075
(75 X 1.075 = 80.625). Finally, note that an overall group score can not be greater than 100.
NAME (LAST NAME FIRST AND
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY LAST NAME)
PARTICIPATION
FACTOR
1. _____________________________
________
2. _____________________________
________
3. _____________________________
________
4. _____________________________
________
5. _____________________________
________
6. _____________________________
________
7. _____________________________
________
TOTAL (MUST NOT EXCEED THE NUMBER OF GROUP MEMBERS
*I reserve the right to correct any errors in this document at any time.
________