Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit focuses on developing your understanding about some of the many important people issues in organisations today. It is argued in this unit that people are the most important resources in organisations and, as such, a study of the effective leadership and management of that resource is important in enhancing organisational effectiveness.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with understandings and capabilities as leaders and/or aspiring leaders to lead and manage your organisation's human resources in rapidly changing and challenging contexts.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1) Articulate the nature of work and the wider organisational context within which human resource management is relevant and the role of leaders in achieving organisational success through and for its people; GC: A, B.

2) Identify key concepts and underlying theories relevant to human resource management, particularly as they relate to issues of staffing such as workforce planning, workforce diversity and equity strategies, induction, supervision and the ongoing welfare of staff; GC: A, B, F

3) Determine the key issues in supervision and appraisal of staff and make links between appraisal and professional development and organisational effectiveness; GC: A, B

4) Analyse key principles of professional development, particularly as they relate to professionalism and the growth of a community of adult learners within the organisation, and understand the leader's role in this regard; GC: A, B

5) Apply approaches and strategies for the successful implementation of professional development programs within the workplace GC: C, D, E, G

Content

This unit includes the following topics:

Human resource management in organisations - It commences with an investigation of the nature of work and workers in the post-corporate world and provides a general framework for leading and managing people within this challenging and changing context.

Diversity and equity - This topic investigates social justice issues in human resource management. Strategies for increasing diversity and equity in organisations are considered.

Staffing the organisation - This includes topics such as workforce planning, standards and capabilities, the selection, induction and appointment of staff, along with ongoing support and welfare issues.

Supervision and appraisal - This includes topics such as the leader's role in supervision and appraisal, the practicalities of supervision, models such as performance planning and review and 360 degree feedback and issues connected with supervision and performance.

Professional development - Links are made between appraisal and professional development. Other topics include concepts related to adult learning, the issue of professionalism and the place of professional development in promoting professionalism.

Professional development relationships - Issues such as coaching and mentoring relationships, learning conversations, the creation of teams and communities of collaborative learners are discussed.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Innovative adult learning approaches will be used employing written resource materials, on-line support and activities and face-to-face lectures and/or tutorials. The emphasis in all of these approaches is student-centred with a strong focus on the application of theory to a better understanding of, and improvement in, professional practice.

Assessment

There are two pieces of written assessment for this unit. Assessment is both formative and summative.Formative assessment will be provided through feedback on initial assignment work, in electronic communication, and in class as appropriate. Feedback will be provided on the two summative tasks.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: The first assignment requires you to demonstrate an understanding of, and a capacity to critically analyse, the value and place of supervision and appraisal in organisations today and then explore some key principles of leadership that might lead to their effective implementation in practice.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Semester

Assessment name: Critique (written)
Description: The assignment comprises two parts.
Part A: The first part of this assignment requires you to write an essay where you critically analyse at least two different forms of professional development that you have organised or in which you have participated in recent years. Based on your understanding of adult learning and the principles of professional development, you should critically evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of these.
Part B is a self assessment that, requires you to reflect on your own professional development needs. You should identify these needs, consider the various ways in which they can be met and formulate a plan that will help you to achieve those goals. References to the literature should be made as appropriate.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End-Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Relevant resource materials will be available on the CMD and other references can be found in the library and on-line.

Risk assessment statement

No risks have been identified as associated with this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 31-Oct-2012