Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

This unit is designed to familiarise Masters and Honours students with significant current and future issues affecting management of Human Resources in organisations. Contemporary trends and issues impacting and influencing Human Resource Management (HRM) are examined and discussed. The unit begins with a current and future search of issues impacting on HRM. Consequently, the unit content may vary each semester according to which issues are identified as significant at the time.

Aims

Contemporary issues in Human Resources Management examines major societal and business issues and trends impacting the Human Resource Profession. In this unit you will discusses how the confluence of economic, social and technological forces may impact and shape Human Resource roles and practices in organisations. It aims to develop your ability to interpret, analyse, and evaluate how current and future business trends reshape organisations and work, and the implications of this for the Human Resource profession.

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 successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Search and critically analyse literature on contemporary issues in HRM and make linkages with other organisational domains and functions.
2. Identify and evaluate the implications of contemporary issues in human resource management and report on results.
3. Apply appropriate theory and concepts to organisational settings.
4. Critique the role of HRM in organisations and identify and develop competencies of HRM professionals.

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 content of this unit covers the following areas:

Future search on contemporary issues

HRM information search and retrieval

Roles and Value Adding

Senior Practitioner Panel

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Students undertaking this unit have completed undergraduate HRM majors at a high level of performance or have completed appropriate postgraduate foundational units. Some class members will already have senior experience in HRM while others will be building upon a successful undergraduate qualification. This unit is an important extension of existing HRM knowledge, skills and abilities and will focus on contemporary challenges and directions. This unit allows you to examine advanced theory and contemporary issues.

We will provide you with opportunities to meet and discuss issues with senior HR practitioners. We will create a positive learning environment wherein class members can draw upon the collective strengths and experiences of the group.

The unit is designed on adult learning principles and you will be expected to take prime responsibility for your own learning. The unit will require extensive reading, research, analysis and application. You will be expected to actively lead and contribute to workshops, group work and class discussion.

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.

In this unit, flexible delivery includes several required Saturday classes.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the learning objectives for both Discipline Knowledge and Other Graduate Capabilities. Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment) and receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment).Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation

Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary

Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation

Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Workshop
Description: In a small group, you will develop and deliver a workshop on a contemporary HRM issue. Your group will introduce a contemporary issue impacting on the HR profession and lead a class discussion on the possible implications of the issue. This assessment incorporates a peer review. Marks will incorporate self and peer assessment of group processes.
Length/Duration: 1 hour presentation
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), KS (1.2), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), (3.2), TW (4.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Weeks 12 & 13

Assessment name: Report
Description: Choose a recent business book which you believe highlights material of strategic significance for the Human Resource profession. Prepare a written review on the implications of the book's ideas for the role and practice of HRM.
Length/Duration: 1,500 words
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Assessment name: Critique (written)
Description: Write a critique of assigned workshop papers, identify and evaluate the potential impact of the emerging issue for the Human Resource profession.
Length/Duration: 1,500 words
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1)
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period

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
There is no prescribed text for this unit.

Other Resources
A selection of readings for each session will be available on CMD (Course Materials Database).

There are no out of the ordinary costs associated with this unit.

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: 04-Feb-2013