Students

HRM 250 – Human Resource Management

2017 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Denise Jepsen
denise.jepsen@mq.edu.au
Contact via 9850 4805
Building E4A Room 641
By email appointment
Tutor
Toni Barker
toni.barker@mq.edu.au
By email appointment
Tutor
Bichen Guan
bichen.guan@mq.edu.au
By email appointment
Tutor
Narelle Hess
narelle.hess@mq.edu.au
By email appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
HRM107
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit addresses recruitment and selection in organisations. It examines measurement and decision making in HR selection, job analysis techniques, performance prediction, interviewing and psychometric assessment. Students will be able to explain the role of HR measurement and evaluate selection programs in a variety of organisational settings. The unit takes a technical approach and both the scholarly literature and applied practices of specialist topics are examined. Students will develop graduate capabilities in a range of areas including critical analytical thinking, research capability and problem solving.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Describe and evaluate appropriate, best practice, sustainable and ethical recruitment and selection processes and decision making.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Early Semester Quiz 5% No Week 4 midnight Fri 25 Aug
Individual Essay 20% No Week 7, midnight Fri 15 Sept
Recruitment & Selection Report 35% No Week 11, midnight Fri 27 Oct
Final Examination 40% No University Examination Period

Early Semester Quiz

Due: Week 4 midnight Fri 25 Aug
Weighting: 5%

To gain an early assessment of your understanding of the subject materials, there is an early semester quiz worth 5% of your final marks. The quiz is to be completed by midnight on the Friday of Week 4. There will not be a supplementary quiz. Any student who misses this quiz will need to provide a medical certificate or other documentation. The quiz will consist of 40 multiple choice questions. The questions will be drawn randomly from the test bank for each chapter and will be different for every student. There will be no trick questions. All questions will have equal value and marks will not be deducted for incorrect responses. Marks and feedback will be available in iLearn immediately. Chapters 1, 6, 7 and 8 of the 8th Edition of the textbook will be tested.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.

Individual Essay

Due: Week 7, midnight Fri 15 Sept
Weighting: 20%

Submission: This assessment is to be submitted ONLINE through TURNITIN.

Extension: No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission - 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for disruption of studies is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted

What is required to complete the unit satisfactorily: This assessment is worth 20% of students' final marks.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Recruitment & Selection Report

Due: Week 11, midnight Fri 27 Oct
Weighting: 35%

Full details of this assessment is available to enrolled students on iLearn. The assessment is in two parts:

Part A: The report (worth 25%).

Submission: Submission is online through Turnitin.

Extension: No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission - 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for disruption of studies is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.

Part B: Participation in discussion forum (worth 10%).

Submission: via discussion forum posts

Extension: None granted
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Describe and evaluate appropriate, best practice, sustainable and ethical recruitment and selection processes and decision making.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Final Examination

Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 40%

The final exam is worth 40% of the final mark. It is not necessary to pass the final exam in order to pass this unit.

A final examination is included as an assessment task for this unit to provide assurance that the product belongs to the student and the student has attained the knowledge and skills tested in the exam. A 3 hour final examination for this unit will be held during the University Examination period.

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations. http:// exams.mq.edu.au/
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Describe and evaluate appropriate, best practice, sustainable and ethical recruitment and selection processes and decision making.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Delivery and Resources

Classes

The unit is delivered entirely online, with the exception of the final exam which is in-person at Macquarie University during the formal exam period. Topics are scheduled against a weekly timetable. Students are expected to read the associated chapter in the textbook, and may view the powerpoint slides and/or video on the chapter from a previous delivery of the unit. In addition to the chapter, students are required to complete prescribed assessments and activities and to participate in discussion forums.

http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/timetables

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

The textbook required for this unit is available for purchase at the University Co-op Bookshop and a limited number are available in the Macquarie University library:  

Gatewood, Feild, and Barrick (2016). Human Resource Selection. (8th ed.). Cincinnati: Southwestern College Publishing Company. This is an American textbook selected for the thorough manner in which the technical aspects of selection have been addressed. The text is available at the University Co-Op Bookshop and is also available online.

E-text information: Students can access the Gatewood Feild & Barrick text via CengageBrain.com which a single destination for print textbooks, eBook, single eChapters, and study tools.  http://www.cengagebrain.com.au/shop/FAQ.html has some extra links if students are experiencing compatibility issues. On the left hand panel is a link “Requirement and Capabilities”.  For technical help with eBooks or your purchase go to http://www.cengagebrain.com.au/shop/Support.html.  

Recommended reading for those interested in less technical side of recruitment:

Compton, Morissey & Nankervis, Effective Recruitment and Selection Practices. (5th ed.). CCH Australia Limited, Sydney.

Knox-Haly (2008). How to stop your workplace going pear-shaped: Readings in HR Risk Mitigation. (1st ed). Tilde Uni Press, Prahan, Vic. This Australian text incorporates legal perspectives on workplace issues and recruitment. 

Recommended reading for sustainable leadership and organisational change:

Avery, G. C. & Bergsteiner, H. (2010). Honeybees and locusts: the business case for sustainable leadership, Allen & Unwin, Sydney. 

Dunphy, D. , Griffiths, A. and Benn, S., Organisational Change for Corporate Sustainability, Routledge, London and New York, 2003; revised edition 2007

Cohen, E., (2010). CSR for HR, Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield 

You should familiarise yourself with the relevant HRM journals in the library:

  • Academy of Management Journal
  • Asia Pacific Journal of HR
  • Australian Journal of Management                      
  • California Management Review
  • Harvard Business Review                                  
  • HRM Journal 
  • International Journal of Employment Studies
  • International Journal of HRM
  • Personnel Journal       
  • Personnel Management
  • Personnel Review 

Key research databases for your study of HRM include

Technology Used and Required

Unit Web Page

  • The online resource (iLearn: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au) to accompany this unit is used for student announcements, electronic submission and distribution of materials and all unit activities.
  • Students should check the unit website regularly and a minimum of once a week. 

Learning and Teaching Activities

The topic will generally involve textbook presentation of theoretical material as a basis for more general discussion in the discussion forums or individual activities. Activities will focus on practical application of the material. 

Unit Schedule

Week, Mon

Weekly topic

Text ch/s

Online activities

Assessment tasks due

Wk 1: 31 July

Introduction, HRM Measurement in Selection

1, 6

Discussion Forum Introductions

 

Wk 2: 7 Aug

Reliability

7

  

 

Wk 3: 14 Aug

Validity

8

 

 

Wk 4: 21 Aug

Job Analysis

3

 

Quiz 5%

Wk 5: 28 Aug

Recruitment & Attraction

5

Exercise: Literature review

 

Wk 6: 4 Sep

Selection Decision Making Strategies

15

Exercise: Scholarly Vs professional writing

 

Wk 7: 11 Sep

Ability Testing

11

Discussion Forum: Organisation, job and selection criteria

Literature Review 20%
  *****Mid-semester break*****      

Wk 8: 2 Oct

Personality Assessment

12

Discussion Forum: Job advertisement

 

Wk 9: 9 Oct

The Selection Interview

10

Discussion Forum: Information sources

 

Wk 10: 16 Oct

Reference Checking

9

Discussion Forum: Psychometric assessment

 

Wk 11: 23 Oct

Job Performance Measures

2

Discussion Forum: Interview questions and responses

 Report 35%

Wk 12: 30 Oct

Aust’n Recruitment Law, Recruitment Diversity

-

 

 

Wk 13: 6 Nov

Review, Sustainability

-

 

 

Exam period

 

 

 

Exam 40%

Lit Review exercise

Learning and Teaching Activities

Discussion Forums

Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Academic Honesty

The nature of scholarly endeavour, dependent as it is on the work of others, binds all members of the University community to abide by the principles of academic honesty. Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:

  • all academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim
  • all academic collaborations are acknowledged
  • academic work is not falsified in any way
  • when the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately.

Further information on the academic honesty can be found in the Macquarie University Academic Honesty Policy at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Grades

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Grading Policy which is available at:

http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grading Appeals and Final Examination Script Viewing

If, at the conclusion of the unit, you have performed below expectations, and are considering lodging an appeal of grade and/or viewing your final exam script please refer to the following website which provides information about these processes and the cut off dates in the first instance. Please read the instructions provided concerning what constitutes a valid grounds for appeal before appealing your grade.

http://www.businessandeconomics.mq.edu.au/new_and_current_students/undergraduate_current_students/how_do_i/grade_appeals/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Describe and evaluate appropriate, best practice, sustainable and ethical recruitment and selection processes and decision making.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Assessment tasks

  • Early Semester Quiz
  • Individual Essay
  • Recruitment & Selection Report
  • Final Examination

Learning and teaching activities

  • Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Describe and evaluate appropriate, best practice, sustainable and ethical recruitment and selection processes and decision making.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Assessment tasks

  • Early Semester Quiz
  • Individual Essay
  • Recruitment & Selection Report
  • Final Examination

Learning and teaching activities

  • Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Describe and evaluate appropriate, best practice, sustainable and ethical recruitment and selection processes and decision making.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Essay
  • Recruitment & Selection Report
  • Final Examination

Learning and teaching activities

  • Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the role of HR measurement, reliability and validity of selection data in selection decision making.
  • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking about processes and decision making in the design of a recruitment and selection program.
  • Demonstrate effective communication in scholarly and applied research about recruitment and selection issues and processes.

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Essay
  • Recruitment & Selection Report

Learning and teaching activities

  • Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning and teaching activities

  • Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning and teaching activities

  • Discussion forums will be available for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the unit. Forums will focus on elements that will enhance students' understanding of assessment tasks. Students will be encouraged to participate in order to share and enhance their learnings.

Changes from Previous Offering

Unit changes since last the last presentation of the online unit have been based on student feedback, pedagogy and movements in the recruitment industry. Specific changes to the unit include increased resources (readings) available to students wishing to pursue further investigation of the topics, including a Macquarie University report on a literature review of the recruitment sector. Further, the unit has been updated to the 8th Edition of the textbook, and detailed instructions on the target role for the report have been included.

Research and Practice

  • This unit includes sustainable recruitment & selection practices as a core element.
  • This unit uses research by Macquarie University researcher:
    • Jepsen, D., Grob, S., (2015). Sustainability in Recruitment & Selection: Building a Framework of Practices. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 9(2), 160-178.
    • Jepsen D., Knox-Haly M. and Townsend D. (2014) Australian Recruitment Practices: A literature review of current Australian recruitment practices. Canberra: Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency
  • This unit uses research from external sources in the literature review assignment.