| Unit name | Human Resource Management in the Global Economy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFIMM0131 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Alex Wood |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
HR managers face numerous challenges in a global world economy dominated by trans-national corporations, not least recruiting and retaining talent, enhancing employee engagement and motivation, managing diversity and inclusion, protecting work-life balance, managing change and cultural transformation, and adapting to technological change and new ways of working. This leads us to ask: what determines rewards and the distribution of benefits from work? How do HR managers promote and protect health and safety at work, ensure respect and dignity, provide meaningful work, prevent discrimination, harassment and violence, guarantee democracy and promote employee voice? In short, how do we ‘future proof’ the human resources of the organisation? This unit aims to understand the myriad causes of conflict and the foundations of cooperation at work. More importantly, how to understand how these conflicts are resolved and how cooperation is maintained in different socio-economic, political and cultural settings.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit provides students with a strong conceptual foundation for understanding human resource management and the future of work. The unit does this by introducing key theories of control, conflict and cooperation from the fields of human resource management and employment studies as well as key debates in the future of work. This foundation is then further developed in the programme’s concurrent and subsequent units that take a more specialised focus on specific topics.
An overview of content
The unit content is research-rich and updated annually to ensure it covers cutting edge developments in human resource management and the future of work. Topics include key theories from the fields of human resource management and employment studies on control, conflict and cooperation and how they are shaped by different socio-economic, political and cultural settings. The content also covers key and emerging issues in the future of work.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The unit will equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to manage people in a variety of social and institutional settings, in ‘old’ and ‘new’ industrial sectors, in their home or host country, in the public, private or ‘third sector’. By the end of the unit, students will be able to: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human resource policies and practices in different countries, industries, and firms. Apply social, economic and political theories to questions pertinent to the management of human resources in an international context. Demonstrate an ability to evaluate and formulate policies relating to the management of workforces in international organisations, including conformance to national law and international labour standards. Exhibit the ability to work collaboratively with others to solve problems associated with the management of people across borders and apply their knowledge and intellectual abilities to new human resource management situations. Communicate ideas, analyses, results, conclusions associated with HRM in the global economy to a range of audiences through comprehensive written and oral communication skills.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to:
The unit will be taught through weekly lectures and tutorials. The unit structure offers 30 contact hours in total (10 x 2-hour lectures and 10 x 1-hour tutorials). The lectures have the principal purpose of introducing the content of the course and are research-informed being based on current empirical research by experts in the field. The tutorials provid students with an opportunity to test their understanding of the key concepts and develop their analytical skills through discussions based on key readings as well as role plays and other interactive activities. The lectures and tutorials will be structured around weekly topics. The unit structure offers 30 contact hours in total. The remaining 170 learning hours will be spent in independent study and in the preparation of assessment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Individual 500-word write-up of a podcast of the student’s choice from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development’s website (non-assessed). This task will provide an opportunity to learn about how a specific future of work issue is affecting human resource management in practice. You will receive feedback on your understanding of the issue, application of concepts from the unit, and approach to written work. This task is scheduled for the middle of the unit so that feedback can be learnt from for the summative assessments.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Group 20-minute presentation on a company’s HR practice (30% of overall unit mark), ILOs 1-4. This task is scheduled at the end of the unit.
Individual 2000-word essay on a HR issue (70% of the unit), ILOs 1-4. This task is scheduled at the end of the unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
Group assessment
Marks for group work are awarded based on the overall submission but also in light of the equity share statement written and signed by group members. Group work is not appropriate for resubmission on this unit, and will, therefore, be replaced by a 1,000-word individual reflection on the topic presented this will account for 30% of the overall unit mark and covers all the intended learning outcomes.
Individual 2000-word assignment
This individual 2000-word assignment will be reassessed via another individual 2000-word assignment on HR challenges (70% of the overall unit mark) that will cover all of the above intended learning outcomes.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIMM0131).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
