MANA 4330: INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SPRING, 2022
INTRODUCTION
The following syllabus is provided to students solely as a source of information and
general guide to MANA 4330. No contractual agreement is expressed or implied. The
professor retains exclusive rights to unilaterally change, modify, add, or eliminate any
policy, procedure, administrative detail, or provision contained in this syllabus without
notice. The provisions of this syllabus apply to all students registered for this course.
Any promises made to a student which conflict with the provisions of this syllabus are
effective only if in writing and signed by the professor of record for this course.
Regi a i i hi c
e e e e
a
de
e d e ent and acceptance of this
syllabus.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Title:
Introduction to Human Resource Management
Days/Times: 100% Asynchronous Online Instruction
Goals:
This course is designed to provide students with a broad overview of the strategies,
processes, and methods available to organizations as they fulfill the essential functions
of managing their human assets. As an introductory course, a diverse number of topics
will be discussed and/or mentioned. However, none will be addressed at an in-depth
level. The real focus of this course is on providing students with a survey of the
incredibly broad body of knowledge subsumed by human resource management.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name:
James Phillips, Professor of Management and Frustrated Amateur
Golfer
Office:
Melcher Hall 315L
Email:
jphillips@central.uh.edu
To communicate with me, email using the above-mentioned address is the best
form of contact. I check it frequently. I d
i e d be gged i
B ackb a d
any regular schedule. Th , I ha e di ab ed he Me age f c i i B ackb a d. In
any email regarding the class, be sure to give me your name, your PS ID number, and
the class (e.g., MANA 4330) about which you are communicating.
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This class will be asynchronous which means that the specific times when you engage
with the class activities and assessments will be largely self-determined. There will be
no mandatory meeting times. However, please understand that to do well in the class,
you must actively engage and you must keep up with class assignments. Asynchronous
does not mean detached or unwilling to interact.
Email communications related to this course should be sent from your Exchange email
account which each University of Houston student receives. The Exchange mail server
can be accessed via Outlook, which provides a single location for organizing and
managing day-to-day information, from email and calendars to contacts and task lists.
Exchange email accounts can be accessed by logging into Office 365 with your
Cougarnet credentials or through Access UH. If I need to send you an email, the
Exchange server will be used. If you use gmail or some other program for your daily
emails, it is entirely your responsibility to be certain that it points to your official UH
address. Failure to check your UH address is not an excuse for missing a
communication from me. Additional assistance can be found at the Get Help page.
Resources for Online Learning:
The University of Houston is committed to student success, and provides information to
optimize the online learning experience through our Power-On website. Please visit this
website for a comprehensive set of resources, tools, and tips including obtaining access
to the internet, AccessUH, and Blackboard; requesting a laptop through the Laptop
Loaner Program; using your smartphone as a webcam; and downloading Microsoft
Office 365 at no cost. For questions or assistance contact UHOnline@uh.edu
IMPORTANT POLICIES
COVID-19 Information:
Students are encouraged
i i he U i e i
COVID-19 website for important
information including on-campus testing, vaccines, diagnosis and symptom protocols,
campus cleaning and safety practices, report forms, and positive cases on campus.
Please check the website throughout the semester for updates.
Vaccinations:
Data suggests that vaccination remains the best intervention for reliable protection
against COVID-19. Students are asked to familiarize themselves with pertinent vaccine
information, consult with their health care provider. The University strongly encourages
all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated.
Conduct:
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner.
Students are expected to be familiar with standards of conduct deemed reasonable and
appropriate by the university and college. Although not an exhaustive discussion of
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such standards, students are expected to be familiar with the University of Houston
Student Handbook as a minimum. The Handbook can be found at:
http://www.uh.edu/dos/hdbk/. Students should additionally read and adhere to the Bauer
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct,
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/BCBE/BauerCode.htm.
Academic Honesty:
The University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy (https://uh.edu/provost/policiesresources/honesty/index.php) is strictly enforced by the C.T. Bauer College of Business.
No violations of this policy will be tolerated in this course. Students are expected to be
familiar with this policy.
Students with Disabilities:
The C. T. Bauer College of Business would like to help students who have disabilities
achieve their highest potential. The University of Houston System complies with Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
pertaining to the provision of reasonable academic adjustments/auxiliary aids for
students who have a disability. In accordance with Section 504 and ADA guidelines, the
Student Accessibility Center strives to provide reasonable academic
adjustments/auxiliary aids to students who request and require them. If you believe that
you have a disability requiring an academic adjustments/auxiliary aid, please call the
Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center at (713) 743-5400 or email them at
JDCenter@central.uh.edu.
Counseling Services:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can help students who are having
difficulties managing stress, adjusting to college, or feeling sad and hopeless. You can
reach CAPS (www.uh.edu/caps<http://www.uh.edu/caps>) by calling 713-743-5454
during and after business hours for routine appointments or if you or someone you know
is in crisis. No appointment is necessary for the "Let's Talk" program
(http://www.uh.edu/caps/outreach/lets_talk.html ), a drop-in consultation service at
convenient locations and hours around campus.
Excused Absence Policy:
Regular class attendance, participation, and engagement in coursework are important
contributors to student success. Absences may be excused as provided in the
University of Houston Undergraduate Excused Absence Policy and Graduate Excused
Absence Policy for reasons including: medical illness of student or close relative, death
of a close family member, legal or government proceeding that a student is obligated to
attend, recognized professional and educational activities where the student is
presenting, and University-sponsored activity or athletic competition. Under these
policies, students with excused absences will be provided with an opportunity to make
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up any quiz, exam or other work that contributes to the course grade or a satisfactory
alternative. Please read the full policy for details regarding reasons for excused
absences, the approval process, and extended absences. Additional policies address
absences related to military service, religious holy days, pregnancy and related
conditions, and disability.
Recording of Class:
Students may not record all or part of class, livestream all or part of class, or
make/distribute screen captures, without advanced written consent of the instructor. If
you have or think you may have a disability such that you need to record class-related
activities, please contact the Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center. If you have an
accommodation to record class-related activities, those recordings may not be shared
with any other student, whether in this course or not, or with any other person or on any
other platform. Classes may be recorded by the instructor. Students may use
i
c
ec di g f hei
d i ga d
e aki g. I
c
ec di g a e
not authorized to be shared with anyone without the prior written approval of the
instructor. Failure to comply with requirements regarding recordings will result in a
disciplinary referral to the Dean of Students Office and may result in disciplinary action.
READING: (REQUIRED)
Jackson, S.E., Schuler, R.S., & Werner, S. (2018). Managing Human Resources
(12th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780190857561
READING: (SUGGESTED)
The U.S. Government, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the
Society of Industrial/Organizational Psychologists (SIOP) have a lot of material that is
relevant to this course. Websites will be suggested during the semester.
GRADE INPUTS:
Acronym Quiz:
The profession of HRM utilizes many acronyms and everyone should become familiar
with these. A list of 35 of these will be distributed to students via Blackboard. There will
be a 50 point quiz that covers these terms. This quiz will be comprised of fill-in-theblank(s) questions. It is a closed book; closed note quiz and you may not seek help from
any source or person while you are taking the quiz.
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JSW Knowledge Checks:
JSW refers to Jackson, Schuler, Werner, the textbook for the course. Chapters 1
through 13 are assigned during the semester. I have uploaded a U e G ide f h
the book will be used in the course. Read it so you get the maximum value out of the
book. Material contained in the book and your mastery of it will constitute a substantial
portion of your grade h gh a e ie f K
edge Check .
A K
edge Check is a multiple choice quiz that covers one or two chapters from the
book. These knowledge checks are open-book, open-note, open-any source of
information other than me that you d like to use. You may complete them on your
own or you are welcome to complete them cooperatively with other students in the
class. The choice is yours.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE EACH OF THE
KNOWLEDGE CHECK EXERCISES TWO TIMES. Yes. Twice, even if you get a
perfect score the first time that you take it. Why? Proficiency and learning are derived
from feedback and repetition. Thus, taking a Knowledge Check a second time after
receiving feedback from the first administration serves the purpose of reinforcing your
learning about HRM.
In terms of your course grade, only the higher of the two scores will be counted.
However, a failure to complete the quiz twice, in good faith, will result in a 10%
reduction to your points for that particular Knowledge Check. Wha d I ea , i g d
fai h ? As a minimum standard of good faith , you must respond to each question on
the quiz. These Knowledge Checks are designed to motivate you to read the book, use
the book, and learn the most important points contained in each chapter.
The total number of possible points that can be earned from these knowledge checks is
110. Notice, that the grading scale assumes that there are only 100 points available
from these Knowledge Checks. This means that there are 10 bonus or extra credit
points being offered through the completion of these open-book quizzes.
Students have some discretion to e f-pace h gh he a e ia i c ded i he JSW
book and the Knowledge Checks. All eight of the Knowledge Checks will be available
beginning on the first day of the semester. You may complete them whenever you wish.
BE WARNED: Although there is an opportunity for self-pacing, I have established a
minimum mandatory pace for completion of these Knowledge Checks. The due dates
for the individual Knowledge Checks appear on the Weekly Schedule. As you can see,
you are required to complete, on average, one Knowledge Check per week. Again, you
may work at a faster pace if you wish, but all students are required to keep up with the
minimum pace that I have prescribed. These dues dates refer to when a Knowledge
Check is due in its entirety. In other words, you must have completed a Knowledge
Check twice, in good faith, by the deadline.
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D
i a Knowledge Check deadline. Once a deadline for a Knowledge Check has
passed, those points will no longer be available.
JSW Knowledge Check – Final
Working through an entire text on Human Resource Management, even at an
introductory level can be challenging. The JSW Knowledge Checks are my way of
rewarding students for their willingness to tackle this task. Yes, they are graded quizzes
but being able to take each one of these quizzes twice, with feedback, should
substantially increase the average number of points that students earn.
A a addi i a a f ei f ci g
de
ea i g and their willingness to work
through the book, there will be a Final JSW K
edge Check. Thi fi a
i be
comprised of 50 questions, each of which is worth one point. The 50 questions will be
taken verbatim from the prior Knowledge Checks. Thus, I will include the 50 most critical
learning points from the JSW book. This final is closed book, and you only get to
take it once. But you will have seen the questions two previous times. The answers
might be in a different order, but otherwise, they will be taken directly from the prior
Knowledge Checks.
Phillips Tests:
There will be three Phi i Tests administered during the semester. Each of these
Phillips Tests will be worth a possible 100 points. Although none of the tests is explicitly
cumulative in nature, it is obvious that blocks of material can and should build upon
previous material. Thus, it is a good idea to hang on to your notes for at least the entire
semester. Test material f he e Phi i Te
i c ef
D . Phi i
e
i
slide shows, hi
d g ide that accompany the slide shows, and other materials as
explicitly noted. These three tests are NOT DESIGNED to cover the same material from
the book that was tested with the Knowledge Checks, although Dr. Phillips power point
slides obviously overlap with the book. The number of questions on each of these tests
will vary but they are typically between 25 and 35 multiple choice questions. These
tests will be closed book, closed note, and no group efforts allowed.
There is no opportunity for self-pacing through the Phillips material, at least in terms of
graded assessments. These three tests will only be available on the days indicated on
the Weekly Schedule. Notice that these tests occur after the parallel information from
the JSW book has been assigned and assessed via the Knowledge Checks.
The Power Point slide shows that are posted on blackboard are, within reason, the
same lecture notes that we would be using if this class was being taught face-to-face.
The slides are not designed to summarize JSW book chapters. Rather, they represent
outlines of the major issues that Professor Phillips believes should be highlighted or that
need supplemental time and focus as a part of an introductory HRM class.
The S d G ide ha acc
a
he ide h
a e, within reason, a script of what
and how we would cover this focal information in a face-to-face class. In other words,
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the study guides should be considered written executive summaries of the lectures that
Professor Phillips would have delivered in a face-to-face class. These written scripts are
his substitute for videotaping lectures. Yes, a written script loses some personal
interactive touches, but their written format allows students to work through them at their
own pace without the need for taking notes. They might also unintentionally highlight
how inefficie
a c
ica i
ca be, b
eae c
ai i g, a e e?
Summary of Grade Inputs:
Acronym Quiz
50 points
Phillips Tests 1, 2, 3
300 points (100 points each)
JSW Knowledge Checks
100 points
JSW Knowledge Check Final
50 points
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOTAL
500 points
GRADES:
460 500
450 459
405 449
395 404
A
AB
B-
350 394
340 349
300 339
< 300
C
CD
F
I think that any Bauer student should be capable of doing well in this class if they are
conscientious and they keep up with the work. This is BASIC HRM, but it does take a
willingness to be organized and structured to work through the material.
If, for some reason, you are not performing up to a level that you believe you are
capable, get in touch with me i
edia e . D
ai f a 11th hour reprieves. This
grading scale is FIRM.
Please take notice that bonus points have already been built into the grading scale and
the points that are available from the various graded assessments. For example, as you
ca ee ab e, he
ab
hi k he e a e 100 i
a ai ab e f
he JSW
Knowledge Checks. As I noted previously, however, there are 110 points available from
these. Because the extra 10 points are not factored into the grading scale or calculation
of grades, he a e e a c edi
b
i
a ai ab e
. Like i e, a h gh
he
ab
hi k ha each Phillips test will be worth 100 points, each of these three
tests will provide you with an opportunity to earn a few more than 100 points.
Good luck this semester. Communication is key to success in an
asynchronous, online class. Please let me know if you have any questions
c ce
i
e a e
k h gh he e e e
a e ia .
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Miscellaneous information:
COVID-19 Updates: https://uh.edu/covid-19/
Coogs Care: https://www.uh.edu/dsaes/coogscare/
Laptop Checkout Requests: https://www.uh.edu/infotech/about/planning/offcampus/index.php#do-you-need-a-laptop
Health FAQs: https://uh.edu/covid-19/faq/health-wellness-prevention-faqs/
Student Health Center: https://uh.edu/class/english/lcc/current-students/studenthealth-center/index.php
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