CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT
Winter Special Session 2013
Course:
MGMT 475-01 Cases and Topics in Strategic Human Resource Management
Professor: Dr. Angela Young
Office:
Simpson Tower 701
Phone:
(323) 343-2890
Email:
ayoung3@calstatela.edu (Please include MGMT 475 or class title in subject line)
Office Hours: M 5:00-6:00; T Noon -3:00 (or by appointment)
Course Description and Objectives
This course includes an exploration into relevant and current topics in HRM, challenges faced
by HR managers, and trends in the field of HRM. Of particular importance is the strategic role
HRM plays in organizational effectiveness. Learning will be achieved individually and in teams
through course materials, team and class discussions, case analysis, and class activities. The
objectives of this course are to:
 understand, analyze and discuss relevant topics and current challenges facing the HR field
and managers;
 research, understand, and present related theory and practical examples of current HR
issues;
 understand and discuss specific HRM activities and HRM’s relevance as a business
function; and
 understand and discuss HRM’s impact on organizational effectiveness.
Prerequisite
None
Text and other other links:
Annual Editions: Human Resources, 21st Edition, (12/13). Fred H. Maidment, Editor, Dubuque,
IA: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin Publishers.
Piazza https://piazza.com/calstatela/winter2013/mgmt475/home
Turnitin www.turnitin.com
http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/ayoung3
Requirements
Attendance. You are expected to be prepared for class meetings, complete all work on time and
participate fully in each class session.
 Assignments. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned date. Late
assignments will be reduced by 10% for each late day including the day the assignment is due.
Assignments must be typed double-spaced in a 12 point font (no script font) with 1" margins
(top, bottom, left, and right) unless otherwise stated by the instructor. Grammar and spelling will
affect your grade on all written assignments and projects.
Extra Credit. Additional assignments or extra credit will not be offered to any student.
General information about course work.
 Please see me during the first week of class or as soon as possible if you require CSULA
services for taking tests, attending classes, participating in class sessions, or completing course
work. If you wish to speak with someone about special services offered on campus, please
contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at 323-343-3140.
 All assignments and work are to be completed individually unless otherwise stated by the
instructor. Cheating will not be tolerated and will be dealt with based on CSLA policy.
 Please don't let time pass if you are having problems with the course material or class. It is
much easier to work together to resolve a problem if you see me as soon as problems occur.
Assistance
 Please see me during the first week of class or as soon as possible if you require CSLA
services for taking tests, attending classes, participating in class sessions or completing course
work. Contact the CSLA Office for Students with Disabilities for more information (323-3433140).
 Please don't let time pass if you are having problems with the course material or class. It is
much easier to work together to resolve a problem if you see me as soon as problems occur.
Plagiarism and Cheating
 All assignments and exams are to be completed individually unless otherwise stated by the
instructor. Cheating, in any form, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to CSLA
policy. Please refer to the CSLA catalog for a more detailed description and consequences of
cheating and related consequences.
 Any written assignments, particularly those requiring reference to other authors’ work such as
articles in periodicals, information on company or other websites, etc. require appropriate citing
and a reference page. When referring to the ideas, or to the written or spoken work of other
people, whether on websites, in electronic documents, or on the printed page, you must refer to
the original author(s) and source at every point in the paper in which those thoughts and ideas are
used. If direct wording is taken from any source, you must use quotation marks indicating all
repeated text and cite the original author(s) and source of the wording. Failure to do so properly
will result in disciplinary action according to CSLA policy on plagiarism. Written assignments
comprised primarily of quotes or cited work without original written analysis and discussion
from the student-author will not be accepted. Using portions of a paper or work or the complete
paper or work completed for another class is not appropriate and will be considered cheating. If
a student wishes to continue work on a topic previously completed in another class, please speak
with the instructor about how to differentiate current work from the previous work completed.
Please refer to the CSLA catalog for additional description of plagiarism and its consequences,
and please note that there will not be any chance for you to re-do work that has been considered
by the instructor as plagiarized or cheating. Citing work appropriately is important and can
sometimes be confusing. If you are in doubt about what to reference, how to appropriately
reference work, or any other issue related to developing your work, please see the instructor. I
am very happy to help you in developing a useful and appropriate product. You may also wish to
contact the CSLA University Writing Center to obtain assistance with written assignments and
papers.
Turnitin.com
 Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for
textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers
will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the
purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way that
no identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request, in
writing, that your papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com. However, if you choose this option
you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original
work and do not include any plagiarized material. Turnitin.com will be used in conjunction with
instructor review.
These requirements have been established to ensure that all students have the same opportunity
to earn a course grade and grades are assessed as fairly as possible.
Course Grade
 Grades will be based on scores for the following activities and calculated by dividing total
points earned by total points possible for the class. The resulting percentage will be used to
assign a grade using the grading scale below.
Class Roundtable 1 Class Roundtable 2 Class Roundtable 3 Class Roundtable 4 Class Roundtable 5 Class Roundtable 6 -
10 points __________
10 points __________
10 points __________
10 points __________
10 points __________
10 points __________
Current Topics Presentation –
60 points _____________
Online Topic Discussion -
30 points _____________
__________ / 150 = __________
Grading Scale (Points earned/Total Points Possible = %, no rounding)
Grade......Percent
Grade......Percent
A............100-93
C............76-73
A-............92-90
C-...........72-70
B+...........89-87
D+......... 69-67
B..............86-83
D............66-63
B-.............82-80
D-...........62-60
C+...........79-77
F.............59-0
Class Roundtable
Class Roundtable is a discussion session that requires students to discuss relevant aspects of
the assigned articles and extend class discussion with supporting theoretical and practical
information. For class sessions in which a roundtable is assigned, each student, individually, will
read articles and use the “Test Your Knowledge” form at the end of the textbook as a guide to
summarizing article information. In addition, students are required to research related theory
underlying the grouping of articles and at least one practical example of the issues. This activity
is discussion only, no written work is submitted. Students are expected to do more than present
their basic findings and should participate in meaningful class discussion by answering questions,
giving opinions, comparing and contrasting their own findings with those of other students, and
adding to the discussion.
Current Topics Presentation
The purpose of the Current Topics Research is to provide students an opportunity to develop
a practical and professional instructional presentation. The presentation should be created in MS
PowerPoint format and contain information for a maximum of 30 minutes of presentation time.
The slideshow should contain enough information so that viewers learn from the presentation– as
with an online learning experience. Students will make available the presentation for all students
in the class and online discussion will be required from each student about the presentation.
Students are encouraged to embed audio and short video clips into the MS PowerPoint
presentation. Text from the presentation will be uploaded into Turnitin.com to verify originality.
Students will use Piazza to discuss issues, make comments, and ask questions about the
presentation.
Online Disussion
Students are required to participate in online discussion for student presentations and for two
class roundtable discussion sessions. First, students need to view each Current Topic
Presentation and participate in Piazza discussion with a minimum of one observation for each
presentation. For any online discussion, one observational and meaningful comment is the basic
satisfactory level of performance on this activity and will earn not all points, but approximately
73% of the class points. In addition, two class roundtables will be held online using Piazza.
Participating in these online discussions by posing relevant questions to other students, posting
responses to other students’ comments and questions, and discussing issues beyond one comment
is the means by which students earn more than the minimum number of points. For each
possible online discussion, points will be accumulated. For each online discussion a total of 10
possible points can be earned. For example, if there are 10 students in class and two online
roundtables, there would be 12 possibilities to earn 10 points for each online discussion or 120
points. Total points earned in all 12 sessions would be divided by 120 possible points for a
percent. That percent would be applied to the 30 class points used to calculate a final grade.
Week
Course Schedule*
Reading/Work Due - Topic
Feb. 11 Introduction to the Course
Discussion on Roles and Responsibilities of Managers, HR, and other Leaders
Feb. 18
Class Roundtable (1) based on assigned readings:
Part A. Human Resource Management in Perspective
1. Are You a Leader or a Laggard?: HR's Role in Creating a Sustainability Culture, Robert Sroufe, Jay
Liebowitz, and Nagaraj Sivasubramaniam, People and Stratergy, vol. 33, no. 1, 2010
2. Building Sustainable Organizations: The Human Factor, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Academy of Management
Perspectives, February 2010
Part B. Human Resources and Corporate Strategy
3. The Leadership Challenges Facing HR: Top CHROs Share Learnings and Advice on What's Next, Steve
Steckler, People and Strategy, vol. 33, no. 4, 2010
4. Grooming the Next Generation, Kasthuri V. Henry, CTP, Strategic Finance, January 2011
5. Engaged Employees = High-Performing Organizations, Bob Kelleher, Financial Executive, April 2011
Feb. 25
Class Roundtable (2) based on assigned readings:
Part C. Americans with Disabilities Act
6. HR Plays Pivotal Role in Adapting Policies to ADA Amendments Act Rules, HR Focus, May 2011
7. Is Everyone Disabled under the ADA? An Analysis of the Recent Amendments and Guidance for
Employers, A. Dean Bennett and Scott E. Randolph, Employee Relations Law Journal, Spring 2011
Part D. Dexual Harassment
8. The "Equal Opportunity Harasser": The Slow Demise of a Strange Concept?, John D. Bible, Labor Law
Journal, Summer 2010
How can someone actually get away with sexually harassing his or her employees? Strange as it may sound, there
Unit 2: Meeting Human Resource Requirements
Part A. Job Requirements
9. Beat the Overqualified Rap, Julie Ann Sims, How Magazine, November 2010
Mar. 4
Class Roundtable (3) based on assigned readings:
Part B. Human Resources Planning, Selection, and Recruitment
10. Internships and Federal Law: Are Interns Employees?, Matthew H. Nelson, Employee Relations Law Journal,
Autumn 2010
11. Hiring Right, Carolyn Heinze, EquiManagement, Summer 2011
Part C. Human Resource Information Systems
12. Playing IT Big Brother: When Is Employee Monitoring Warranted?, Bruce Gain, Canadian Manager, Spring
2009
13. Make Your HR Portal a Destination Location, Dave Zielinski, HR Magazine, June 2010
Mar. 11
Class Roundtable (4) based on assigned readings:
Unit 3: Creating a Productive Work Environment
Part A. Motivating Employees
14. The "Brain Drain": How to Get Talented Women to Stay, Jennifer Millman, DiversityInc, March 2008
15. Rewarding Outstanding Performance: Don't Break the Bank, Elizabeth (Betsy) Murray and Robyn
Rusignuolo, Franchising World, January 2010
Part B. Facilitating Communication
16. Employers Use Facebook Too, for Hiring, Mary Oleniczak et al., Advances in Management, January 2010
Unit 4: Developing Effective Human Resources
Part A. Training Employees
17. Your Co-Worker, Your Teacher: Collaborative Technology Speeds Peer-Peer Learning, Ed Frauenheim,
Workforce Management, January 27, 2007
Mar. 18
Class Roundtable (online discussion) based on assigned readings:
Part B. Diversity in the Workplace
18. Strategic Organizational Diversity: A Model?, Frederick Tesch and Frederick Maidment, The International
Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, vol. 6, no. 6, August 6, 2009
Part C. Job Security
19. The Broken Psychological Contract: Job Insecurity and Coping, Courtney Keim and Amy Wilkinson,
Business Perspectives, Fall 2011/Winter 2010
Unit 5: Implementing Compensation, Benefits, and Workplace Safety
Part A. Managing Employee Compensation
20. Where Have All the High-Paying Jobs Gone?, James C. Cooper, The Fiscal Times, May 16, 2011
Part B. Incentive Compensation
21. Bonus and Incentive Compensation Awards—Navigating Section 409A, $1 Million Limit, and Golden
Parachute Rules, Edward E. Bintz and Douglas S. Pelley, Employee Benefits Plan Review, June 2010
22. Opening Keynote: Rethinking Pay for Performance, Debra Perry, Directors and Boards, Spring 2009
Mar. 25
Class Roundtable (5) based on assigned readings:
Part C. Executive Pay
23. The Politics of Executive Pay, Jerry W. Markham, Regulation, Spring 2011
Part D. Health and Safety
24. Putting the Hurt On, Jonathan L. Snare, Corporate Counsel, April 2010
25. Workplace Bullying Threatens Employers, Judy Greenwald, Business Insurance, June 14, 2010
26. Demystifying Health Reform Legislation, James C. Pyles, Psychiatric Times, March 2011
Apr. 1
Class Roundtable (online discussion) based on assigned readings:
Part E. Benefits
27. Making Benefits Matter, Torry Dell, Management Accounting Quarterly, Summer 2010
Part F. Retirement Programs
28. Ways to Phase Retirement, Eric Krell, HR Magazine, October 2010
Unit 6: Fostering Employee/Management Relationships
Part A. Disciplinary Action
29. Finding and Fixing Corporate Misconduct, Dan Currell and Tracy Davis Bradley, Risk Management Magazine,
April 2010
30. Harassment Goes Viral—What Can HR Do to Prevent It?, Lynn D. Lieber, Employment Relations Today,
Summer 2010
Part B. Temporary and Part-Time Employees
31. The Expanding Role of Temporary Help Services from 1990 to 2008, Tian Luo, Amar Mann, and Richard
Holden, Monthly Labor Review, August 2010
32. Sharing Work—and Unemployment Benefits, Diane Cadrain, HR Magazine, July 2009
Part C. Ethics
33. Fighting the Good Fight, Russell A. Jackson, Internal Auditor, June 2010
34. Strategic Human Resource Management as Ethical Stewardship, Cam Caldwell et al., Journal of Business
Ethics, 2011
Apr. 8
Class Roundtable (6) based on assigned readings:
Unit 7: International Human Resource Management
Part A. The Global Picture
35. Global Outsourcing, Sheryl Nance-Nash, Insight: The Magazine of the Illinois CPA Society, August 2010
Part B. Managing International Human Resources
36. America's Other Immigration Crisis, Vivek Wadhwa, The American, July/August 2008
37. Trends Shaping Tomorrow's World: Forces in the Natural and Institutional Environments, Marvin J. Cetron
and Owen Davies, The Futurist, July/August 2010
38. Offshored Headquarters, Allen Smith, HR Magazine, November 2009
39. Multiple Choice, Lori Chordas, Best's Review, March 2009
40. Business Is Booming, Harold Meyerson, Prospect, March 2011
*This schedule is subject to minor changes to accommodate class needs.
MGMT 475 Special Topics and Cases in SHRM
Class Roundtable
5--------------4.5-------------4--------------3.5-------------3----------2.5----------2----------1.5----------1------------0
EXCELLENT
BEYOND REQ.
GOOD
REQ. MET +
WELL DONE
SATISFACTORY
REQ. MET +
DONE SATIS.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
SOME REQ. UNMET
SOME PROBLEMS
MISSING INFO
MANY UNMET REQ.
_____ 1. Information presented included relevant theory, practical examples and article
information.
_____ 2. Participation in general discussion in relation to other students’ information was strong
with several meaningful comments, ideas and responses.
_____3. Contributions were made without strong reliance on notes.
_____4. Clear understanding of articles assigned.
______ Points of 20 Points = ______ % of 10 Class Points for a final grade of ________Points
MGMT 475 Special Topics and Cases in SHRM
Current Topic Presentation
5--------------4.5-------------4--------------3.5-------------3----------2.5----------2----------1.5----------1------------0
EXCELLENT
BEYOND REQ.
GOOD
REQ. MET +
WELL DONE
SATISFACTORY
REQ. MET +
DONE SATIS.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
SOME REQ. UNMET
SOME PROBLEMS
MISSING INFO
MANY UNMET REQ.
_____1. The presentation was well-designed and interesting, using appropriate supporting
techniques such as audio and/or video, and was within the appropriate time limit.
_____ 2. Information in the presentation was within the scope of the topic and included relevant
theory, practical examples and article information.
_____ 3. The balance of text and embedded audio and/or video was appropriate and useful. The
presentation purpose was clear and all information supported the purpose.
_____4. Research was cited appropriately and was relevant and meaningful to the topic.
_____5. Use of information on the slides was original as verified in turnitin.com.
______ Points of 25 Points = ______ % of 60 Class Points for a final grade of ________Points
MGMT 475 Special Topics and Cases in SHRM
Online Discussion
5--------------4.5-------------4--------------3.5-------------3----------2.5----------2----------1.5----------1------------0
EXCELLENT
BEYOND REQ.
GOOD
REQ. MET +
WELL DONE
SATISFACTORY
REQ. MET +
DONE SATIS.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
SOME REQ. UNMET
SOME PROBLEMS
MISSING INFO
MANY UNMET REQ.
*Meaningful comments and responses are defined as showing an understanding of the assigned material
and a relevant relationship to the overall discussion. If posed in the form of a question, the question must
include explanation related to the topic.
**Constructive and professional comments are insightful without insult to other participants. They are
devoid of unnecessary emotional judgment of others’ opinions and comments. A comment contradicting
another can be presented without personal judgment. Professional comments are well thought-out and
presented in grammatically correct English. Text-speak, inflammatory language, personal insults or
inappropriate language will result in zero points for the online discussion.
_____ 1. Comments are relevant and meaningful*. They add to the overall discussion and are
related. If tangential comments are made they are linked to the original comment and the logical
transition is clear.
_____ 2. Participation in general discussion in relation to other students’ information was strong
with several meaningful comments, ideas and responses. One comment is required and will earn
3.5 points if it is relevant and meaningful.
_____3. Participation included relevant information from assigned readings and supporting
material but not direct quotation or pasting portions of any other work directly into the comment.
_____4. Comments and responses are constructive** and professional**.
______ Points of 20 Points = ______ % of 10 Class Points for a final grade of ________Points