Strategic Human Resources Management

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• identify and evaluate key HR issues which critically impact on organisational performance and strategic direction;
• demonstrate the interventions needed to generate commitment among key Stakeholders and business partners for a strategic HR agenda;
• identify relevant metrics in strategic human resource management;
• make sense of and critique scholarly publications on HRM.
• interpret and integrate human resources management into the strategic thinking, direction setting, planning and operation of the organisation;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• aspects of continuity and change embedded in the strategic human resource management paradigm;
• the complex relationships between business strategy and human resource management;
• the contribution that strategic human resource management can make to promoting and achieving the organisation’s strategic intent;
• the main differentiating features and characteristics of the strategic human resource management paradigm;
• different ways in which HRM can be strategically pursued within organisations and its links with organisational performance.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• contribute effectively to contemporary organizations in terms e.g. of awareness of the complexity and importance of strategic human resource management.
• evaluate the significance of empirical evidence in understanding e.g. strategic human resource management issues;
• develop effective policies, with regard to e.g. strategic human resource management, with appropriate sensitivity and responsiveness to the current role assumed by the HR function and future aspirations;
• develop in-depth and critical evaluation skills using multiple and competing perspectives in written arguments;
• recognise the strengths and limitations of contemporary organisations in relation to specific paradigms (e.g. strategic human resource management);

To cover relevant topics such as best fit/practices; organisational flexibility; high involvement work systems; performance management and appraisal; leadership; organisational culture; and ethics - as these issues relate to strategic HRM.

The syllabus is complemented with a practitioner lecture, and a exam revision support session.

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Case studies
• Directed reading
• Small and large group discussions
• Organizational Storytelling
• Interactive Group Activities

Learning activities include:

• Case study problem solving
• Directed reading
• Action learning set discussions
• Critical reflection

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Class discussions

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: You will receive oral feedback in class, as well as participation in group discussions via social media and Blackboard. Class discussions will cover contemporary issues, including reflection of world affairs and their relevance for the material taught (e.g. news on performance and events in the business world like merger, redundancies, etc. Further feedback will be provided regarding the choice of academic papers for discussion and on a formative project/assignment running through the semester which will provide a basis for part of the exam.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.