Undergraduate Course: Managing Employment Relations (BUST08010)
Course Outline
School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
Home subject area | Business Studies |
Other subject area | None |
Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
Course description | Building upon the Employment Relations element in Business Studies 1, the course examines the chief characteristics and institutions of British employment relations, and recent human resource management developments, set in the context of change in the economy and labour market.
Following an overview of the economic and labour market context, contemporary developments concerning the key stakeholders and their interaction in employment relations (management, unions, the State, and the EU) are examined in detail. The remainder of the course considers the management of employment relations in key practice areas such as work-life balance; recruitment and selection; training and development; workplace discipline; performance management and so on.
There are also weekly tutorials where each student (or a small group of students depending on the size of the tutorial group) is allocated a topic to present as a basis for subsequent group discussion. Topics represent a mix of approaches, including case studies, Web-based projects and practical and literature-based exercises. In addition, students are required to submit an essay from one of two essay titles, on key management topics and/or debates.
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Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 1 introductory level Business Studies course at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge & Understanding
On completion of the course, students should:
(a) have acquired secure knowledge and understanding of the chief characteristics and institutions of Britain¿s system of employment relations;
(b) be able to discuss critically current managerial and public policy approaches towards key employment matters;
(c) have acquired insight into the practical and conceptual significance of change processes currently affecting employment relations in Britain and overseas.
Cognitive Skills
On completion of the course, students should:
(a) be able to discern and comment critically upon the chief economic and ideological premises driving government and managerial approaches to employment relations within national, regional and international contexts;
(b) display in written work developing abilities to digest, synthesise and evaluate contrasting perspectives from the literature in reaching sustainable conclusions.
Key skills
On completion of tutorial, reading and essay work, students should:
(a) have acquired proficiency in presentational skills and the ability and confidence to argue, challenge or critically defend their case in a small group setting;
(b) have improved their reading and study skills and examination technique;
(c) have acquired appreciation of the value and limitations of the Web as a research tool.
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Assessment Information
In-course assessment (essay) 30% (2,500 words), and exam 70% |
Special Arrangements
None |
Additional Information
Academic description |
Not entered |
Syllabus |
Not entered |
Transferable skills |
Not entered |
Reading list |
Reading is an essential part of the course and students who rely solely on lecture material are unlikely to perform adequately.
For ease of access and reliance on up-to-date materials the course highlights a lot of electronic sources (journal articles are available through the university library website). Additionally, key textbooks can be referred to for many of the course topics:
Bach, S & Edwards, M.R. (eds.) (2013), Managing Human Resources (5th Edition), Chichester: Wiley Ltd.
Williams, S and Adam-Smith, D (2009), Contemporary Employment Relations: A Critical Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
There are multiple copies of both books in the Main Library and both are available for purchase at Blackwell¿s. |
Study Abroad |
Not entered |
Study Pattern |
Not entered |
Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Sara Chaudhry
Tel: (0131 6)51 5672
Email: Sara.Chaudhry@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Paul Kydd
Tel: (0131 6)50 3824
Email: Paul.Kydd@ed.ac.uk |
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