SYLLABUS
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
INSTRUCTORS/CONTACT*
Lecturer
Prof. Ing. Lubica Bajziková, PhD.
Teaching assistants:
Mgr. Karolína Kubelová
Mgr. Hana Pesková
Mgr. Andrea Rakytová Valentová
Mgr. Zuzana Buciová
Mgr. Branislav Vargic, PhD.
Office hours
Wed.: 12:30-14:00
by appointment
Room
404
Wed: 10:45-11:45
Wed: 14:00-15:20
Tue: 16:00-17:00
Mon: 11:00-12:00
Tue: 18:00-18:30;
Tue: 20:00-20:30
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402
402
402
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E-mail
lubica.bajzikova@fm.uniba.sk
Karolina.kubelova@fm.uniba.sk
Hana.peskova@fm.uniba.sk
Avalentova@centrum.sk
Zuzana.buciova@gmail.com
Brano.vargic@gmail.com
* If you want to discuss anything with your instructor, please, use the office hours or write e-mail for a different appointment.
AIM OF THE COURSE
Familiarize students with the major human resource management (HRM) functions and with their relations to
other managerial functions within a company
• Stress the importance of link between business strategy and HRM
• Develop understanding of critical issues in managing human resources from both employee and employer
perspective
• Combine theoretical framework with a real-world application
•
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & EVALUATION CHART
For successful completion of the course, students must achieve minimum 60 out of 100 possible points (%),
qualifying for grade ‘E’ (for evaluation scale, please see EVALUATION section of this syllabus). The
semester’s work is worth 65 points (%) of the grade and the oral exam the remaining 35 points. The course is
graded continuously and ALL the activities are calculated towards the FINAL GRADE. The oral exam is just
one part of the grade and not a substitute for the grade. Failure to achieve grade ‘E’ (as defined in study program)
results in a transfer of the subject to the following academic year. All the requirements and their values are
specified in the chart below.
The students must deliver the following work on time (at the beginning of the assigned seminar session) and in a
desired quality (see below): an academic paper on a selected topic (for topics please see SEMINAR TOPICS
section of this syllabus) a case study and a take home exam.
ACADEMIC PAPER: Paper is to be 8-10 pages long (NOT including cover pages, content and bibliography),
written in 12 Times New Roman, double-spaced, all margins 2.5cm. Students must quote the materials used
according to the norm (APA or ISO). There should not be two identical paper topics in one group. Students can
write a theoretical paper on the topic of their choice (theoretical topics are listed in the SEMINAR TOPICS
section of this syllabus, each bullet representing one topic) or a “practical” paper about a real businessexperience (the topics cover the main lecture topics written in bold letters in a SEMINAR TOPICS section of
this syllabus). If a “practical” topic is chosen, students need to select a company to visit and analyze practices
regarding the topic in the company. The evaluation of the corporate practices should be based on the theoretical
arguments and literature search.
The topics will be distributed and assigned during the first seminar class of a semester. The papers should be
handed in not later than on the date the topic is due to be discussed (at beginning of the seminar). Papers should
be on the topics from week three onwards. The evaluation criteria for an academic paper are listed in the chart
below.
CASE STUDY: will be assigned during the fifth (5th) week of semester. The case study has to be solved in teams
of four (or five) people and handed in during the eleventh (11th) week of the semester. The case study should
have between 8 - 10 computer typewritten pages (for further requirements see academic paper). Maximum
amount of points for a case study is 15. The number of points (0-15) received is then multiplied by the number of
team members and the distribution of this total is decided by the team members and reported to the teaching
assistant in the final week of the semester. Example: If a 3-member team receives 13 points for a case, total
amount of points is 39, which is divided upon consensus of the team members according to the amount of effort
and work put into the case study. Thus, one team member can receive 20 points, other 15 and the last one 4
points.
The team composition is decided by the instructor in the class during the week 5 seminar class.
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Failure to fulfill these requirements will lead to a lower grade. Therefore it is highly recommended to keep preset deadlines as well as make use of the office hours for consultation.
EVALUATION CHART: The assigned works and exams will bear the following weight of the overall grade
and will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Assignment
Academic
Paper
Case study
Take home
exam
Midterm test
Final test
Oral exam
Max possible
points
(points = %)
15
15
Evaluation criteria
Grade for late handing in
Layout – 1 point
Bibliography, Citation – 3 points
Identification of the issue – 2 points
Content, Argumentation, Addressing the issue – 9
points
late or re-written* – maximum 10
points
Identification of the main issues and problems - 2
points
Analysis of the identified problems and issues - 3
points
Solution alternatives proposals - 3 points
Solution argumentation, defense, implementation
strategy, conclusions – 7 points
late handing in or re-writing not
accepted – 0 points for every team
member
5
To be assigned in the fourth week
late is not accepted – 0 points
15
15
35
-
no re-tests**
no re-tests**
there are two terms for each student
* if the student achieves 5 points or less for academic paper, he/she has a chance to re-write a paper. The new (rewritten) paper must be turned in within 14 days from the day of receiving the original paper with evaluation,
with maximum points to be achieved amounting 10. In case case of receiving 0 points for a „copy-paste”
technique the student looses the option of re-write.
** if a student has a long term excused absence, he/she is eligible to take the test on a different date. The teaching
assistant will resolve this issue.
The FINAL GRADE will reflect the work during seminars, test scores and oral examination. It will therefore be
a sum of the individual activities with the following scale:
Grade A: 100% - 91%
Grade B: 90% - 81%
Grade C: 80% - 73%
Grade D: 72% - 66%
Grade E: 65% - 60%
Grade F: 59% and less
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Any form of academic dishonesty (e.g. plagiarism or cheating during exams) will be penalized as follows:
1. If a „copy-paste“ technique or improper citation (i.e. plagiarism) is used in an academic paper, the work will
receive 0. In case of receiving 0 points for a „copy-paste” technique the student looses the option of re-write.
2. If a student is caught cheating on the test, he/she will receive automatically 0 points for that test and will loose
one term for the oral exam. In this case, the test shall not be re-sat.
INDIVIDUAL STUDY PROGRAM
If a student receives an individual study plan, he/she is required to contact (personally or via email) the teaching
assistant about the requirements of the course under the individual study plan. This must be done within a period
of 7 days from the official declaration of the individual study plan by the dean or by the Vice-dean of studies
(this means, that the student has to present the teaching assistant with the official agreement of the individual
study plan. signed and dated by the authority). Consequently, the student and the TA will agree on the plan of
study from that point on.
LECTURES
Lectures provide the same topics as discussed in the seminars (see below).
SEMINARS
The main goal of the seminars is to enhance the knowledge acquired during lectures and from individual study
prior to the seminar. As we are aiming for an active learning experience, it is required that all students come to
class ready for a discussion on a given topic. It is highly recommended to get involved into the discussions as
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they will shape the questions in midterm exam, final exam, as well as for the oral exams. STUDENTS ARE
REQUIRED TO READ THE ASSIGNED MATERIAL, AS STATED IN THE SEMINAR TOPIC
SECTION IN ADVANCE AND COME PREPARED. Each unexcused absence will result in a special
assignment of an additional paper (topic will be given by a teaching assistant). Work submitted after its official
deadline follows the rules written in the section “Evaluation”. Exceptions can be made only in case of serious
circumstances and are subject to a decision of a teaching assistant.
READINGS
1. Milkovich T., Boudreau J., Human Resource Management, 6th edition, Richard Irwin, 1991
2. Bajzíková, ., Luptáková, S., Rudy. J., Vargic, B., Weidlich, R.: Manažment udských zdrojov, Comenius
University Bratislava, 2004
3. Rudy J., Bajzikova L., Introduction to Personal Management, Comenius University Bratislava, 1997
4. Personal Management, Human Resource Graduate and undergraduate Fall 1994 course syllabus and
materials, FMUK library
5. Personal Management special topics, undergraduate spring 1996 course reading materials
6. Koubek J., Rizeni lidskych zdroju, Management press Praha, 1995
7. Periodicals on Disc, FMUK library
8. Other HR – related sources.
SCHEDULE FOR SEMINAR TOPICS:
Week
Topic
Week 1
Sept 24 – Sept 28
Strategic approach to HRM, diagnostic model of HRM; demographic trends, external and
internal influences
Seminar: introduction to the class, work assignments and clarification of expectations
Week 2
Oct. 1 – Oct 5
HR Planning. Job Analysis and Work Design
Week 3
Oct. 8 – Oct. 12
Week 4
Oct 15 – Oct 20
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•
•
Use of Job Description to manage performance (to be handed in during the week 3)
Means of information input for job analysis (to be handed in during the week 3)
Goal setting and strategic planning in HR (to be handed in during the week 3)
Recruitment and Selection (external staffing)
Topics for academic papers:
• Advantages and disadvantages of using Professional Recruitment Agencies and employee.
• Flexible employment forms in the organization
• Traditional and innovative ways of external recruitment
• The main indicators of effective interview.
• Analysis of effectiveness of a recruitment process in an organization.
• Reliability and Validity of a selection process
• Skilled focused selection process
Performance Appraisal (PA)
Topics for academic papers:
• Effects of PA on employee attitudes and performance.
• Feedback acceptance.
• Difference between evaluating employee’s development goals and performance goals. Should they be
linked?
• The ethics of PA system. Advantages and disadvantages of 360 feedback
• Self appraisal – advantages and disadvantages of using it as part of PA.
• Do poor and strong performers react to performance appraisal differently?
Week 5
Oct 22 – Oct 26
Midterm exam (weeks 1-5)
Deadline for theTake home exam
Distribution of the Case Study
Week 6
Oct 29 - Nov. 2
Training - Development
Topics for academic papers:
• Tools and methods used to measure and improve the effectiveness of training.
• Soft skills trainings.
• Trainings for top mangers.
• How to assess the employee’s needs for training?
• Relationship between training vs. development.
• Training as investment in human capital or as a useless cost?
• Knowledge sharing and knowledge management.
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Week 7
Nov. 5 - Nov. 9
Week 8
Nov. 12 – Nov 16
Careers, Internal Staffing, Retention
Topics for academic papers:
• The differences in the external and internal selection process & importance of both for an organization
• Is long-term employment a source of competitive advantage?
• Glass ceiling – what it is a how to combat it?
• Advantages and disadvantages of defining formal career paths in the company.
• Advantage and disadvantages of using assessment center. How to increase its validity and reliability?
• What kind of non-monetary programs or tools can stabilize today’s workforce?
• Talented employee as a main focus of retention programs.
Compensation systems
Topics for academic papers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Week 9
Nov 19 – Nov 23
Week 10
Nov. 26 – Nov. 30
Week 11
Dec 3 – Dec 8
Week 12
Dec 10 - Dec 14
External competitiveness – how does market drive pay? What are its possible impacts on Internal
Equity in the company?
Benefits and allowances used in the organizations. What is their effect on employees?
Should pay be driven by performance? When and why?
How to determine executive compensation?
Difference between managerial and non-managerial compensation.
Group vs individual forms of compensation.
Issues of Motivation
Topics for academic papers:
•
Are financial rewards the main motivator for employees?
•
What is the link between Expectancy theory and performance management system?
•
The implication of Adams Equity theory in pay for performance.
•
Psychological contract – how can it enhance or hinder individual motivation?
•
Relationship among Job Satisfaction, Motivation and Performance.
Second Exam (weeks 6-9)
Case study Deadline
Employee/Labor relations
Managing people across borders
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