course-details-portlet

AL500000 - Current topics in Human Resource Management

About

New from the academic year 2024/2025

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Letter grades

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
Home examination 70/100 3 days
Oral exam 30/100 30 minutes A

Course content

Overview: This course examines Human Resource Management (HRM) as a critical function within organizations. Recognizing employees as the most valuable asset in an organization, we delve into the multifaceted role HRM plays in enhancing employee productivity, effectiveness, and engagement. We further explore how HRM can facilitate innovation, diversity, and leadership. As organizations are increasingly part of a global landscape, we also focus on how the international aspects of managing people across cultures and countries, influence the other topics in the course.

Key Topics:

  1. HRM Practices:
    • Recruitment, Selection and Diversity: Techniques for attracting and choosing the best talent, both individually and as a group.
    • Training and Development: Methods for enhancing employee skills and career growth.
    • Compensation and Performance Appraisal: Strategies for fair remuneration and effective performance evaluation.
    • Network analysis, Information Sharing and Suggestions: Encouraging open communication and innovative ideas from employees, and leveraging insights from social network analysis for how to facilitate innovation.
  1. Contemporary HRM Trends:
    • International HRM: Addressing the challenges of managing a global workforce.Talent Management: Identifying and nurturing high-potential employees.
    • HRM and sustainability: Leveraging and integrating sustainability into HR practices and strategy.
    • HR Analytics and evidence based HRM: Using data to inform and improve HR decisions, and how to take a scientific approach to implementing practices.
  1. Strategic HRM:
    • Approach to HRM: Understanding the tension between control and commitment based HRM and leadership.
    • SHRM: Understanding SHRM as an alignment of HR strategies with the organization's long-term goals.
    • Mutual Gains Approach: Adopting a holistic view that balances employer and employee interests for sustainable organizational success.

Learning outcome

Learning Outcomes - Knowledge:

By the end of the course, students should have the following:

  • Advanced HRM Knowledge: Gain an in-depth understanding of HRM's history, purposes, practices, and the current challenges and opportunities in the field.
  • Theoretical Mastery: Acquire comprehensive knowledge of the theories, perspectives, and methods prevalent in HRM.
  • Contemporary Trends: Understand the shift towards international, digital, and sustainable HRM practices.
  • Impact Assessment: Learn to evaluate the effects of HR initiatives on business performance and employee well-being.
  • Stakeholder Perspectives: Recognize and understand the varying interests of employers and employees within HRM contexts.

Learning Outcomes - Skills:

After completing the course, students should demonstrate:

  • Critical Analysis: Develop the ability to critically assess HRM policies and practices, leveraging HRM theories to understand their organizational and individual impacts.
  • Practical Application: Apply course knowledge to identify and solve HRM issues with solutions beneficial to both employees and organizations, considering geographical and national contexts.
  • Effective Communication: Enhance skills in conveying advanced HRM knowledge and analytical findings to managerial audiences.

General Competence:

  • Critical Reflection: Cultivate the ability to analyze and critically reflect on HRM-related issues.
  • Impact Identification: Become adept at identifying and assessing the impact of HR initiatives, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
  • Evaluation and Solution Proposal: Gain competency in evaluating HRM initiatives for social sustainability and proposing improvements.

Professional Communication: Develop proficiency in discussing HRM issues, analyses, and conclusions with both HR specialists and general management.

Learning methods and activities

  • Format: The course includes a blend of lectures, class discussions, hands-on activities, and assignments.
  • Preparation: Students are expected to prepare before each class, which includes reading assigned materials.
  • In-Class Participation: Active engagement during class is essential. This includes contributing to discussions and participating in group activities.
  • Outside Work: Students are required to complete assignments and continue their study of course topics outside class hours.
  • Class Attendance: While attending classes is not mandatory, regular attendance is strongly advised. Missing classes can impact your learning and academic performance due to the loss of valuable interactive sessions.
  • Responsibility for Missed Content: If a student misses a class, it is their responsibility to catch up on any information or material covered during their absence.
  • Course Material Acquisition: Students are responsible for obtaining all course materials, including any case studies or additional resources that might be used in assignments, whether or not these are provided during class sessions.

Further on evaluation

There is one take-home exam, which will be solved in small groups, that will account for 70% of the grade. In addition, there will be an individual oral exam, covering both the take-home exam, and other topics in the course, which counts 30%.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

  • Redman, T. (2021). Contemporary human resource management: Text and cases (A. Wilkinson & T. Dundon, Red.; Sixth edition). SAGE.
  • Articles and book chapters will be made available on Blackboard at start of term.

More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  AUTUMN 2024

Language of instruction: English

Location: Ålesund

Subject area(s)
  • Industrial Management and Work Science
Contact information
Course coordinator:

Department with academic responsibility
Department of International Business

Timetable

List view
Calendar view

Examination

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Autumn ORD Home examination 70/100 INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
Autumn ORD Oral exam 30/100 A
Room Building Number of candidates
Spring UTS Oral exam 30/100 A
Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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