SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
2015-16
MN5421 – MANAGING PEOPLE IN GLOBAL MARKETS
MODULE TYPE/SEMESTER: Option (20 credits), Semester One
MODULE CO-ORDINATOR AND TUTOR: Dr Andrew Timming , Reader in Management
CONTACT DETAILS:
art2@st-andrews.ac.uk
AIMS: This module will prepare postgraduate students to be effective HR managers in
multinational corporations. No prior knowledge of human resource management policy and
practice is required. We will examine critically the people-related challenges of managing
human resources in an international context. Much of the course is centred around the
management of expatriate employees and international assignments. The lectures will shine
light on the myriad challenges that multinational corporations face when seeking to balance
the managerial influence of headquarters and subsidiaries in different national contexts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the module, students should be able to:
1. understand the complexities of managing people in global markets and organisations.
2. critically assess the influence of globalisation and internationalisation in relation to
the processes of selection, deployment, development and reward of human resources
in the context of multinational operations.
3. classify HR strategies and be able to utilise them in the context of multinational
oragnisations and their employment and leadership requirements.
4. determine the key differences between human resource management and
international human resource management.
READING AND TEXTBOOKS:
Key Readings: The main textbook is:
Dowling, P.J., Festing M. and Engle A.D., (2013), International Human Resource
Management, 6th ed, Andover: Cengage Learning.
It is strongly recommended that students purchase this textbook or at least have ready access
to a current edition.
Please note, though, that at postgraduate level students are expected to consult a wide
range of sources both for broadening knowledge of the area and for specific assessment
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exercises. Other books which provide detailed and analytical perspectives on strategic and
international HRM and related topics include:
Atzeni, M. (ed) (2014) Workers and Labour in a Globalised Capitalism. Palgrave. A series of
critical readings focusing on the position of workers in societies affected by increasing
globalization.
Boxall P. & Purcell J., (2008) Strategy & Human Resource Management, 2nd edn, Palgrave.
This text adopts a critical approach.
Branine, M. (2011) Managing Across Cultures, Sage. This comprehensive text reviews
international HRM issues from a worldwide/country perspective.
Bratton, J. & Gold, J. (2012) Human Resource Management: Theory & Practice, 5th edn.
Palgrave. A good text on the general aspects of HRM with a useful chapter on international
HRM.
Crawley, E., Swailes, S. and Walsh, D. (2013) Introduction to International Human Resource
Management. Oxford University Press. A good text covering all the key areas and a useful
chapter on the very contemporary issue of migrant labour. Also has a good set of web-based
support materials.
Harzing, A-W. & Pinnington, A.H. (2011), International Human Resource Management (3rd
ed). Sage. A lot like the required text, but longer and more in-depth.
Legge K. (2005), Human Resource Management: Rhetorics and Realities, Palgrave. A now
classic and critically acclaimed text.
Lucio, M. (ed) (2014) International Human Resource Management: An Employment Relations
Perspective. Sage. Set within a comprehensive theoretical and practical context this text
comprises a series of critical chapters covering many aspects of the internal and external
features of the subject. Good companion website for students.
Students should also get into the habit of regularly consulting leading appropriate journals
available in the library. These include, but are not limited to:
British Journal of Industrial Relations (BJIR)
Work, Employment & Society (WES)
Industrial Relations Journal (IRJ)
European Journal of Industrial Relations (EJIR)
Economic and Industrial Democracy (EID)
International Journal of Human Resource Management (IJHRM)
Human Resource Management Journal (HRMJ)
Human Relations (HR)
Human Resource Management Review (HRMR)
Harvard Business Review (HBR)
Business Strategy Review (BSR)
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Strategic Management Journal (SMJ)
Sloan Management Review (SMR)
Journal of Management Studies (JMS)
Organization Studies (OS)
Of these, the International Journal of Human Resource Management is possibly the most
useful. It offers highly appropriate articles based on current research.
SOME USEFUL WEBSITES
http://www.cipd.co.uk/
The CIPD, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, is a major professional
association for those working and teaching in all aspects of HRM/HRD. Although UK-based
and with most of its members in employment in the UK, it has a growing membership around
the world. Look at the links on the CIPD’s website to various aspects of HRM and global trends
in the subject.
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm#a2
The ILO, the International Labour Organisation, is a specialized agency of the United Nations
that works with employers, government and workers around the world to promote
internationally recognized standards of employment practice.
http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
The OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, aims to promote
policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
Also, please note a number of readings will be provided through the course and will be made
available on Moodle.
TEACHING PROGRAMME
Week 1: Introduction to International HRM
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
Following a general welcome and introductions, this first session for the module provides an
outline of the course and the general area of study known as International Human Resource
Management (IHRM).
Week 2: Expatriate Staffing
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This lecture will give a general overview of how to recruit and select expatriate managers
effectively in multinational corporations. It will pay particularly close attention to ‘best
practices’ in staffing expatriates and on how to identify the best characteristics of an effective
expatriate employee.
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Week 3: Expatriate Performance Appraisal
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This lecture will outline the steps for carrying out an effective performance appraisal of
international expatriates. The key differences between international and conventional
expatriate performance management will be articulated.
Week 4: Expatriate Training and Development
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This lecture will outline ‘best practices’ for assessing and meeting the training and
development needs of international expatriates. In particular, we will focus on how to create
cross-cultural as well as technical competence to ensure the success of an international
assignment.
Week 5: Expatriate Compensation Management
This lecture examines best practices in international compensation and benefits
management. It will look at how HR managers in multinational corporations can create a
reward package that motivates expatriates to achieve their goals.
Week 6: READING WEEK
NO CLASS
Week 7: Guest Lecture
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This lecture will feature a guest contribution. Details will be announced in due course.
Week 8: Strategic IHRM and the Transfer of Best Practice
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This lecture will look at the nature of strategic IHRM, the various forces of isomorphism, the
concept of benchmarking of best practices as well as the strategy of coercive comparisons.
Week 9: Comparative Industrial Relations
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This lecture will look at comparative industrial relations, especially in the context of Europe.
We will follow a case study and demonstrate why it is important for managers to be aware of
different industrial relations systems.
Week 10: Student Presentations
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
This week students will make a group presentation.
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Week 11: Revision Session
Tutor: Dr Andrew R Timming
There will be no lecture this week. Students can attend this revision session in order to ask
questions and prepare for the final examination.
ASSESSMENT
1. Individual essay, maximum 2000 words (excluding references). Assessment Weight =
25%.
2. One group-based report, max. 3000 words (no references to be included in this
report). Assessment Weight = 20%.
3. Group presentation, 15 minutes per group. Assessment Weight = 5%
4. Unseen examination, TWO hours. Assessment Weight = 50%
INDIVIDUAL ESSAY:
To be submitted on [date to be arranged]. One hardcopy to be submitted to the
Postgraduate Office on Level 3 of the Gateway and one copy to be submitted electronically
via the Module Management System (MMS).
Individual essay, maximum 2000 words (+/- 10%), excluding references and appendices.
Topic: Critically compare and contrast human resource management practices in the United
Kingdom and one other country.
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:
To be submitted on [date to be arranged]. One hardcopy to be submitted to the
Postgraduate Office on Level 3 of the Gateway and one copy to be submitted electronically
via the Module Management System (MMS).
Step1:
Choose a work team of 5 or 6 people. We will start this process on the first
meeting. Six people are a maximum. Four people are a minimum.
Step2:
Pick any (real) British-based company that does not have any international
presence. Do some background research about the company to understand its
market situation and current challenges, especially in relation to the HR
function. Now pick and justify any international market to which you plan to
expand (either greenfield or brownfield).
Step 3:
Write a report for your CEO. In it, you need to justify the need for an
international expansion and articulate a clear plan, consisting of best practices,
for establishing an effective HR function in the new country.
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The submission is to be presented in the form of a polished company report, so no academic
references are to be included. Presentation and aesthetics will count.
Length of the written submission: 2000 words (+/- 10%).
Potential Sources:
 Internet search
 Interviews with people known in the industry
 Company databases
 Company reports
 Financial and business press, such as Financial Times, The Economist, Fortune,
Business Week, etc. But keep the use of popular sources to a minimum!
 Industry and Trade Journals (People Management)
 Specialist industry or sector books
GROUP PRESENTATION:
You and your team are expected to give a 15-minute presentation in Week 10. Imagine you
are presenting to the CEO and board of directors of your company. Your job is to convince
them that you have an effective plan in place for managing human resources in the new
market.
EXAMINATION:
Further information and guidance to be provided in due course.
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