Syllabus
Human Resource Management
Course:
Term:
Lecturer:
Human Resource Management
Spring Term 2008
Dr. Parissa Haghirian
Literature:
Carrell, M., Elbert N. and Hatfield, R. (1995). Human Resource Management. Prentice
Hall.
The lecture is strongly based on this text book. In case additional reading is required, it
will be provided by the lecturer.
Objectives
Management is about people. Regardless of size and type of business, people are the
most important asset of any organization. Successful human resource management and
its emphasis on the well-being of the employees enhance the performance of enterprises
and play an important role in creating sustaining advantages. This course attempts to
introduce the relevance as well as the most important ideas, concepts and techniques of
modern and international human resource management.
The course aims to:
 review existing literature and theory in the field of human resource management
 provide an overview on the major concepts of this field and introduce techniques of
modern human resource management to the participants
 discuss aspects of diversity in organizations and the challenges of human
resource management in multinational corporations.
 provide a basic foundation to enable the student to understand and analyze
management decisions by using case studies and experiential exercises.
Expectations
The lecture will be held in an interactive form. Students are expected to attend classes
and participate actively in class discussion. The majority of meeting will be held in a
seminar format. Students will form students` groups and work on different topics. Guest
speakers will be invited and will present their views on the topic. Accordingly, attendance
and participation in class discussions will be critical to the success of this course and will
also determine students` grades.
Course Assessment
Group Exercises
40%
Exam (Mid Term)
30%
Final Exam
30%
1
Syllabus
Human Resource Management
Group Exercises
Students will be divided into groups and work on a number of group exercises after class.
The results will be handed in during the following session.
Exam on Background Reading
Students will be given two exams on background reading. These exams assess students`
understanding of major concepts and theoretical backgrounds covered within the course.
More detail information on the exam will be given closer to the examination period.
Class Participation
Students should come to class well prepared, as they may be called upon to discuss
issues related to the assigned cases or readings. Criteria for evaluating student class
participation are noted below. The following categories will be used to evaluate class
participation:
Super
Outstanding substantive contribution
10 points
Very Good
Volunteered something
worthwhile/substantive
6 points
Good
Managed to say something
3 points
Poor
No contribution/obviously unprepared
0 points
Course Outline
Topic 1
The Environment for Human Resources
Class 1
Management is About People
- Organisation and Changes
Class 2
What is Human Resource Management
- Human Relations in Organisations
- Human Resource Management and Its
Functions in Companies
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Course Coordination
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Interactive Discussion
Case Study: “Family Feud”
Carrell: Chapter 1
Topic 2
Attracting Human Resources
Class 3
Job Analysis
- Relevance
- Methods
- Job Descriptions
Class 4
Job Design 1
- Motivation (Maslow, Herzberg)
- Satisfaction (For Love or Money)
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Students Discussion
Experiential Exercises:
“Writing Job Descriptions”
Carrell: Chapter 4
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Students Discussion
Group Exercise: “Analysing Motivation
and Satisfaction”
Carrell: Chapter 5
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Interactive Discussion
Experimental Exercise: “Can This Job
Be Enriched?”
Carrell: Chapter 5
Class 5
Job Design 2
- Designing Jobs
- Job Rotation
- Total Quality Management (TQM)
2
Syllabus
Human Resource Management
Class 6
Workplace Flexibility
- Fulltime vs. Part Time
- Virtual Teams etc.
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Interactive Discussion
Experimental Exercise:
“My Ideal Job” and Discussion
Carrell: Chapter 5
Topic 3
Recruiting
Class 7
Human Resource Planning
- Planning
- Methods of Recruitment
- Decision Making Processes
Class 8
Employee Selection
- Selection Process
Class 9
Applying for A Job 1 (Workshop)
Class 10
Applying for A Job 2 (Workshop)
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Carrell: Chapter 6
Topic 4
Assessment and Development
Class 11
Performance Appraisal
- Performance Appraisal Objectives
- The Appraisal Process
- Appraisal Methods
Class 12
Monitoring and Supervising Employees
- Monitoring and Supervision Systems
- Problem when Monitoring
Class 13
Employee Training
- Assessment and Evaluation
Class 14
Organizational Learning
- Goals of Organisational Learning
- Organisational Learning Models
- Barriers to Organisational Learning
Class 15
Career Management
- What is A Career?
- Managing Careers within Organizations
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Interactive Discussion
Individual Exercise: “It’s Great To Be
Loyal, But What Does It Mean?”
Carrell: Chapter 8
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Carrell: Chapter 7
Practical Exercise
Practical Exercise
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Carrell: Chapter 9
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Interactive Discussion
Group Discussions: “Planning my
Career”
Carrell: Chapter 10
Class 16
Mid Term Test
Topic 5
Retaining Human Resources
Class 17
Compensation and Benefits
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Lecture (PowerPoint)
Interactive Discussion
3
Syllabus
Human Resource Management
-
Monetary Incentives and Non-Monetary
Incentives
Pensions
Insurances
Services
Topic 6
Employee Relations
Class 18
Change Management and Innovation
- Organizational Life Cycles
- The Change Management and Innovation
Process
- Organizational Change Components
Class 19
Managerial Communication and Interpersonal
Processes
- The Nature of Managerial Communication
- Interpersonal Processes
- Organisational Communication Channels
Class 20
Team Work 1
- Processes in Teams
- How a Team Forms
- Group Think
Class 21
Team Work 2
- Dealing with Team Conflicts
- Team Building
Class 22
Team Building Workshop
Class 23
Leadership
- How Leaders Influence Others
- Who Is a Good Leader?
- Leaders Behaviour and Leadership Traits
- Charisma
- Discipline and Counseling
Experiential Exercises:
“How Should Employees Be Paid?”
Carrell: Chapter 11
Case Study: “Family Health Insurance”
Carrell: Chapter 12
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Case Study: “Merck”
Additional Reading Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Team Building Exercise
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
Carrell: Chapter 15
4
Syllabus
Human Resource Management
Topic 7
International Human Resource Management
Class 24
Diversity at Work
- Defining Diversity
- Workforce Diversity
- Managing Diversity
Class 25
Working Abroad
- Expatriates: A New Tribe?
- Working Overseas
- Culture Shock
- Career Planning
- Re-Entry in Home Country
Class 26
International Dimensions of HR Management
- Opportunities and Challenges
- Intercultural Communication
- Global Human Resource Management
Class 27
Organizational Development
- Managing Corporations of the Future
- Organizational Development
- Mergers and Acquisition Processes
Class 28
Final Test
Teaching Method
Teaching Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Carrell: Chapter 3
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Group Exercise: “Moving Abroad”
Carrell: Chapter 2
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
Lecture (PowerPoint) and
Interactive Discussion
Additional Reading Material
5