THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2014

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Business Studies

Undergraduate Course: Human Resource Management 2 (BUST08027)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaBusiness Studies Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionHRM 2 is especially suited to those who want a critical introduction to HRM and employment issues. This course examines the nature and meaning of human resource management (HRM) set against the backdrop of institutional frameworks, recent changes in the economy and the labour market as well as contemporary organizational strategies. It has both a UK and an international focus and it treats HRM as a blanket term to describe the employment relationship in any organization and wherever possible to draw out implications for HR policy and practice.

Following an overview of the economic and labour market context, the impact of key stakeholders (i.e. management, unions, the State, and global actors such as EU and multinationals) on organizations and HRM policy formulation and practice is examined in detail. The remainder of the course considers HRM in key practice areas such as recruitment and selection; training and development; performance management; remuneration; work-life balance; workplace discipline; career management, equality and diversity management and so on.

Lectures are supplemented with 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 organizational 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.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Foundations of Business (BUST08025) OR Introduction to Business (BUST08026) OR Business Studies 1 (BUST08001) OR ( Industrial Management 1 (BUST08002) AND Techniques of Management (MAEE08002))
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesFoundations of Business OR Introduction to Business equivalent.
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 12/01/2015
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge & Understanding

On completion of the course, students should:
(a) be able to explain how wider institutional frameworks shape the nature of HRM at the organisational level;
(b) be critically conversant with current managerial and public policy approaches towards key employment matters;
(c) appreciate the changing context in which HRM takes place, highlighting the factors external and internal to the organisation that shape HRM;
(d) have acquired insight into how different aspects of HRM are put into practice within organizations both in the UK and at an international level;
(e) be able to assess the interrelationship between HR practices and workers at an individual and collective level.

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 HRM and employment relations within national, regional and international contexts;
(b) display in written work developing abilities to digest, synthesise and critically 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 as well as limitations of the Web as a research tool.

Planned Student Learning Experiences

The formal lectures provide an overview of the essential features of the subject, together with guidance on the content of recommended reading and current sources of additional information. Given the contemporary nature of the subject, reliance is placed upon current periodicals as the chief source of reading material (a range of top quality titles such as Human Resource Management, Journal of Management, British Journal of Industrial Relations etc.) are recommended.

The weekly tutorial topics are detailed in the course booklet. Attendance at tutorials is compulsory. At each meeting one student/a small group of students will be responsible for preparing and presenting the tutorial topic as a basis for subsequent discussion. Topics are allocated in advance to allow adequate preparation, and include a mix of learning approaches including case studies, web-based exercises and literature-based assessments.
Assessment Information
Degree examination 70%; individual essay (2,500 words maximum) 30%. The degree examination will be composed of a choice of six questions, from which you will be required to answer TWO.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Reading List:

Given the contemporary nature of the subject, reliance is placed upon current periodicals as the chief source of reading material (a range of top quality titles such as Human Resource Management, Journal of Management, British Journal of Industrial Relations etc.) are recommended (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.
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Sara Chaudhry
Tel: (0131 6)51 5672
Email: Sara.Chaudhry@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Paul Kydd
Tel: (0131 6)50 3824
Email: Paul.Kydd@ed.ac.uk
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