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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Business Studies

Undergraduate Course: Applications of Human Resource Management (BUST10129)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe aim of this course is to enhance our understanding of the intricacies and complexities of managing people in the modern workplace. It is intended to build on existing knowledge of the subject area from Organisational Behaviour 2 and/or Human Resource Management 2 (formerly Organisation Studies and Managing Employment Relations). The course will focus on the policy, adoption and outcomes of contemporary HRM. Throughout, the course will take a critical perspective on the implications of human resource policies and practice for all stakeholders: managers at all levels, employees of all types, and society as a whole.
Course description The course will begin by considering the different theoretical approaches to understanding human resource management. It will then consider some contemporary issues in depth, for example, diversity, flexible working, well-being, managing emotion, work-life balance, and ethics and HRM.

Topics will reflect contemporary issues and are updated regularly. Indicative topics include:

- Objectives, adoption and outcomes of contemporary HRM
- Recruitment and Selection
- Managing flexible working and work-life balance
- Employee well-being
- Trust in the workplace
- Performance Appraisal
- Technology and HRM
- Training and Development

Syllabus

- Introduction to AHRM and overview of course
- The changing nature of work, technology and HRM
- Recruitment and selection
- Flexible working and work-life balance: winners and losers
- Training and development
- The role of trust in HRM
- Evidence-based management: HRM in academia and practice
- Managing employee well-being
- Performance appraisal
- Introduction to leadership studies (CR)

Student Learning Experience

The course comprises a mixture of formal lectures, group discussions and class exercises. The lectures will provide an overview of key issues, supported by a range of suggested readings. Group discussions will focus upon understanding of the study and practice of HRM and its implications for organisational stakeholders. Depending on student numbers, students may be given responsibility, as individuals or in groups, for analysing a particular topic, practice or research contribution. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions.

The course project is integrative in nature, bringing together insights and understanding from more than one topic in order to encourage the development of stronger evaluative, rather than descriptive, skills.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Organisational Behaviour 2 (BUST08028) OR Human Resource Management 2 (BUST08027) OR Organisation Studies (BUST08011) OR Managing Employment Relations (BUST08010)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesCourse equivalents to Organisational Behaviour 2 BUST08028 (formerly entitled Organisation Studies BUST08011) OR Human Resource Management 2 BUST08027 (formerly entitled Managing Employment Relations BUST08010) recommended.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 172 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback Generic feedback on coursework, together with individual marks, will be available on Learn on within 15 working days of the project submission deadline. Students can also look at individual feedback in the UG Office and take away a copy of the feedback form, but students will not be able to take away the original piece of coursework, as it may be required by the Board of Examiners.

Finalised examination marks will be posted on Learn (together with generic feedback and examination statistics) as soon as possible after the Boards of Examiners' meeting (normally early-mid June). During the summer months (i.e. mid/end June-end August), students may come into the UG Office to look at their examination scripts. However, students will not be able to remove any examination scripts from the UG Office as they may be required by the Board of Examiners.

There will be both formal and informal student feedback on the course. Students will be requested to complete an online course evaluation questionnaire towards the end of the course. In addition, an end of course review session will provide an opportunity for less structured feedback from students. Both these sources will be analysed in line with School and College quality audit procedures. In addition, where relevant, the feedback will be conveyed to the external examiner prior to the Board of Examiners meeting.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe and discuss critically key issues and controversies associated with current debates in human resource management.
  2. Critically assess the objectives, rationales, uses and limitations of various managerial policies and practices in human resource management.
  3. Identify and discuss critically the scale and nature of adoption of specific human resource policies; Identify and critically evaluate the perspectives of key stakeholders in the theory and practice of human resource management.
  4. Understand and discuss critically the nature of contemporary HRM research.
  5. Discuss the longer term consequences of current trends in HRM.
Reading List
Recommended Texts

Students are strongly encouraged to purchase one of the following books:

Torrington, D., Hall, L., Taylor, S and Atkinson C (2011) Human Resource Management (Eighth Edition). FT Prentice Hall. Pearson Education.

Roper, I., Prouska, R. and Na Ayudhya, U.C. (eds.) (2010) Critical Issues in Human Resource Management, CIPD books: London.

This course relies heavily on academic journals and students should be familiar with the University Library¿s electronic journals system. In addition, students will be expected to keep up-to-date with developments in the area through newspaper and business reports.

Please note: the Torrington et al. textbook is now also available as an e-book via the library website.

Relevant Journals

There are a number of relevant journals in this area. Useful material is to be found in the following:

- Human Resource Management Journal (available in electronic form)
- Employee Relations (available in electronic form)
- People Management (available in hard copy in the library)
- Personnel Review (available in electronic form)
- International Journal of Human Resource Management (available in electronic form)
- British Journal of Industrial Relations (available in electronic form)
- Industrial Relations Journal (available in electronic form)
- Work, Employment & Society (available in electronic form)

Relevant Websites

Some relevant websites are listed below.

- www.bis.gov.uk
- www.cbi.org.uk
- www.cipd.co.uk
- www.equalityhumanrights.com
- www.theworkfoundation.com
- www.tuc.org.uk
- www.bestcompanies.co.uk
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Develop critical perspective on the implications of human resource policies and practice for all stakeholders: managers at all levels, employees of all types, and society as a whole.
Additional Class Delivery Information Sessions will take place on Tuesdays in Semester 1 from 2.10-4.00 pm.
KeywordsAHRM
Contacts
Course organiserDr Ishbel Mcwha-Hermann
Tel: (0131 6)51 5466
Email: Ishbel.McWha@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Paul Kydd
Tel: (0131 6)50 3824
Email: Paul.Kydd@ed.ac.uk
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