Units
Strategic HRM
Unit code: MGN421
Contact hours:
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
HRM is concerned with the relationship between people management strategies and organisational goals and objectives. This capstone unit provides HRM students with the opportunity to apply their learning to this relationship in a systematic way. It requires them to produce high quality HRM advice that provides direction for practicing line managers consistent with organisational goals and objectives. The learning strategies in the unit challenge students to identify contemporary issues of organisation and management and to interpret these using the paradigms of HRM.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit is the capstone for the Master of Business (HRM) and is aimed at building on your understanding of HR functions, strategies and practices gained in other postgraduate HRM Units. The unit also encourages you to bridge the gap between HRM research and practice by engaging with scholarly research and translating this into practical advice for business leaders. Finally the unit focusses on you as an HR professional and the role you play in an organisation
Aims
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to explain how HRM can play a strategic role in organisations underpinned by a sound knowledge of the strategic HRM literature and empirical research. In addition, you should be able to provide detailed, practical advice on linking HR strategy to business strategy, and identifying critical HR issues linked to business strategy decisions.
Objectives
Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)
The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:
Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)
1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context
Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)
2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context
Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)
3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists
Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)
4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members
Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)
5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action
Unit Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Explain, analyse and apply models of Strategic HRM to an organisation.
2. Analyse an organisation's current business strategies and objectives and identify strategic HRM issues.
3. Formulate and present detailed, practical advice supported by relevant academic literature on HRM as stimulus and/or response to changing business strategy in organisations.
The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.
Content
The unit will cover three key areas: the links between HRM and business strategy, the critical elements of strategic HRM, and the role of the HR professional in integrating HR practice with business strategy.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Delivery Mode
The QUT Business School seeks to create postgraduate learning environments that help participants better manage family-work-study conflicts. For example, the units in the Master of Business (HRM) program provide a range of delivery options that offer some flexibility with respect to class timetable. These delivery options vary by unit. Your lecturer will provide details in class. Flexible delivery options are supported by educational technologies to both connect you with others in the unit and with unit content. Whatever delivery option is used, you still have the option of as much face-to-face time with teaching staff as you need to support your study. We encourage you to regularly access the HR Program portal, the unit Blackboard site, attend scheduled classes, engage in on-line activities and make effective use of staff consultation times.
The unit adopts a seminar-style approach to teaching and learning. There will be some content input from the lecturer, but much of the content of each seminar will be driven by the class, through reading groups, discussion and activities. You should not expect, therefore, to be 'lectured at' in a passive way. Much of the content will be co-created by the class and the lecturer. The focal point of teaching and learning will be the assessment activities, which require you to analyse the positioning of the HRM function in a real organisation. The seminars will help you to prepare for this work.
You will each work on a case study of an organisation and will review articles in depth from the unit readings and from a wide range of literature. Development and analysis of this case will be done individually, in small groups, and through class discussion. It is a unit with a strong focus on application, designed to assist you to develop valid and implementable HRM strategies in your own organisations, or one that you are familiar with.
This unit uses the SafeAssign tool in BlackBoard. SafeAssign is a text matching tool that assists students to develop the academic skills required to correctly use and cite reference material as well as to check citations and determine possible instances of plagiarism. You will be expected to submit draft and/or final versions of one or more assignments using SafeAssign. Your Unit Coordinator will provide detailed information on how the software will be used in this unit.
Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
Assessment name:
Case Description
Description:
Teams of students prepare a presentation applying a strategic HRM framework to a case organisation, including identifying current business and HR strategies. The presentation will take place during class. (Marks incorporate self and peer assessment of group processes.)
Length: 30 minutes
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 2 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), PC (3.2), TW (4.1).
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Weeks 7 & 8
Assessment name:
Case Analysis
Description:
Individual analysis of implications of a chosen business strategy for strategic HRM in the case organisation, including recommendations.
Length: 2,500 words
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 3 and AOL goals KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1).
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 13
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
Prescribed Text
Readings as provided on Blackboard and in the Course Materials Database (CMD).
Risk assessment statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.
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: 24-Jan-2013
