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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Common Courses (Management School)

Postgraduate Course: International HRM Policies and Practices (CMSE11285)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits15 ECTS Credits7.5
SummaryThe globalisation of business is having a significant impact on the management of human resources. It is more imperative than ever for organisations to engage in Human Resource Management on an international scale, rather than viewing it as a collection of domestic matters. The core aims of this course are to explore the challenges posed by the internationalisation of business, and to understand the range of human resource policies and practices required for effective decision-making and management in the contemporary business environment.
Course description Today's business leaders must be able to make decisions and confront challenges in the field of HRM while working within and across different national and cultural environments. In addition to the core aims specified above, the course will review relevant theories, models and concepts in the areas of international management, organisational behaviour, cross-cultural management and other emerging disciplines, and study their implications on international HRM policies and practices. Application of the theories and concepts will be explored through lectures, discussions and case studies. The course will cover management issues that have implications on international HRM activities including: leadership, sustainability, teamwork and remote management, creating a high performance culture, and communication. The international HRM issues related to recruitment and retention, compensation and reward systems, training and development, performance management, expatriation and repatriation, and career development will be discussed. Finally, future directions, challenges and developments in the field of international HR management will be explored.


Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 150 ( Lecture Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 3, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 127 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course is assessed in two ways:

-An individual assignment, comprising 30% of marks
-A two-hour close book examination, comprising 70% of marks.

Each student will be required to write an assignment of no more than 2,500 words on one of the core topics of the course. It will require a combination of analytical, evaluative, problem solving and presentation skills. The students will be required to provide research evidence and appropriate examples to support their analysis and discussions.

The mark for the assignment will be based on:

-Clarity of structure: introduction, core arguments, conclusion;
-Content and argument: support of arguments with appropriate references, providing clear and accurate evidence to support key points. Critical evaluation of concepts and reading from the course;
-Clarity of writing style and presentation.

References should be in Harvard format.




Feedback Assessment feedback will be provided on feedback forms in an appropriate format. Marks and feedback on the individual assignment will be made available within one month of submission and before students sit their degree examination.
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. knowledge and understanding of the globalisation phenomenon and associated debates concerning its impact upon HR and broader business practices
  2. an understanding of the main issues involved in the management of human resources in an international context
  3. knowledge of human resource management policies and practices in multinational enterprises/different countries
  4. the capacity to review and develop management policy, practices and systems in the field of international human resource management
  5. acquired skills in library-based research, team working and team discussion and in written presentations
Reading List
- Dowling, P. J., Festing, M. and Engle, A. (20013) International Human Resource Management. London: Thomson. (6th Edition)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Cognitive Skills:
By the end of the course students will have developed or enhanced:
-a broad range of factual and theoretical material in reaching a reasoned and informed understanding of international developments in the labour sphere, including the role and impact of increasing MNC activity;
-demonstrate critical facility and confidence to challenge contrary viewpoints.

Subject Specific Skills:
On completion of the assessed course work, students should have:
-secured sound practical knowledge of effective approaches in such key areas as: managing expatriates, devising international reward strategies, and managing international employee engagement;
-the ability to locate appropriate academic and practitioner resources germane to the field of international HRM;
-internalised a degree of cultural sensitivity and awareness required of an international HRM practitioner;
-improved their analytical and writing skills in accordance with accepted academic conventions.

Transferable skills
On completion of the course, students should:
-be able to competently communicate and exchange ideas in both large and small group settings;
-be able to critically evaluate evidence and present a balanced argument;
-be able to plan, organise and prioritise work effectively.
KeywordsHRM-IHRMPP
Contacts
Course organiserDr Ishbel Mcwha-Hermann
Tel: (0131 6)51 5466
Email: Ishbel.McWha@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Peter Newcombe
Tel: (0131 6)51 3013
Email: Peter.Newcombe@ed.ac.uk
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