Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Associate Professor Louise Thornthwaite
Contact via Email
Building 4ER (old title: E4A) Level 6, Room 628
Monday 2.15-3.00 pm, Friday 12.15-1.00 pm
Administration
Yang Yang
Moderator
Ed Wray-Bliss
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
BUS651 or MKTG696 or (admission to MBiotech)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
MGMT750
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides students with contemporary knowledge and skills concerning the effective management of people at work. The unit reviews the key systems required for organisations to effectively manage their people in the context of their overall business strategy and the allied managerial skills required for successful implementation. Students learn what the options are for recruitment, selection, development, performance management, reward systems and other fundamental aspects of managing people and the key challenges facing organisations. A particular focus of this unit is the requirement for students to critically evaluate real organisational practices against contemporary theory as well as long established principles.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Assessed Coursework | 10% | No | Ongoing |
Essay | 30% | No | Week 6, 7th September 2018 |
Group presentation | 20% | No | Weeks 9-13 as per schedule |
Final exam | 40% | No | Final exam period |
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
In sessions in weeks 3, 5,7 and 9 students will be asked to complete a "20 minute debrief" (20MD) activity (2.5% each).
In these activities students will work in groups of 3 - 4 (three or four), to answer questions that require knowledge of the allocated brief article or case study for the week. These are not fixed groups and will include students sitting close together in the particular week.The case studies will be uploaded on iLearn in the relevant week’s folder in advance – STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO COME TO THE LECTURE HAVING READ THE CASE. The questions will only be available at the beginning of the activity and will not be made available on iLearn. The case study activity will follow the lecture. Students will hand in to the lecturer their group’s answer in writing: ONE PAGE of handwritten notes that answer the question(s) at hand (A4 paper, lined). Students not attending the lecture will not receive a mark for this activity. Marks will be deducted if students have not read the case/article prior to class. Details and assessment criteria are provided in the Assessment Guidelines Document available on iLearn and questions on this assessment will be answered in the lecture.
Active participation by students in this Unit is essential to the teaching and learning mode. Participation enables clarification, discussion and debate about concepts and materials covered in the Unit as well as the active exploration of HR practices through brainstorming, huddles, role playing and case study analysis. Students are expected to attend each weekly session prepared to contribute and engage in class activities.
Note on late submissions: No extensions will be granted. Students who have not submitted the assessed coursework on time will be awarded a mark of 0 for this task, except for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.
Key issues in relation to expectations of students are briefly outlined below. 1. Quality of contribution: Students should endeavour to make a regular and informed contribution to discussion. 2. Preparation: To make an informed discussion, students should complete the recommended reading and relevant chapters of the textbook. 3. Tolerance and Respect: Group members should allow fellow students to express contrary views and be prepared to debate points in a reasoned and tolerant manner. Students should also behave with respect and courtesy towards the Convenor and fellow students. 4. Attendance: To participate, students must attend classes.
Due: Week 6, 7th September 2018
Weighting: 30%
This individually written essay allows students to critically analyse current concepts and theories on Managing People in relation to their practical applications. The essay aims at assisting students in developing and demonstrating postgraduate level research skills including critical analysis and academic writing. Essay topic (s) will be provided on ilearn in Week 2 of session.
Submission Details: The word limit of the essay is 1600 words (with an allowance of +/- 10% words). Details and marking criteria are provided in the Assessment Guidelines Document available on iLearn and questions on this assessment will be answered in the lecture. The essay is to be submitted through Turnitin on iLearn and in hardcopy in the session.
Format and layout: Essays should be double spaced in Time New Roman font size 12, with either APA or Harvard referencing. There are to be no tables of contents, footnotes, or abstracts.
Note on late submissions: No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 20% of the total available marks made 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 – 40% penalty). Late tasks will be accepted up to 72 hours (3 days) after the submission deadline. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.
Due: Weeks 9-13 as per schedule
Weighting: 20%
This assignment involves analysis of how particular case study organisations manage specific aspects of managing people at work. Groups will be allocated to examine a particular firm and a particular managing people topic in relation to that firm. Allocations of group projects will take place in week 3.
The purpose of this assessment is to develop your skills in team building and case analysis and to provide you with the opportunity to develop competent workshop facilitation skills. In weeks 9-13 students will conduct 20 minutes presentations in groups of 4 students, with five extra minutes provided for questions to follow. Students are expected to use Powerpoint or Prezi for their presentation and provide a print-out copy of their materials to the lecturer. The group presentation consists of 2 components – collective (10%) and individual (10%). Each group member receives the same mark for the collective component of the group presentation. Each group member may receive a different mark for the individual component (individual performance). Collective and individual components include assessment of both content of material and quality of presentation.
Groups may assume the position of an external management consulting firm hired to research the organisation’s HRM practices and their strategic implementations and provide professional recommendations. Details and marking criteria are provided in the Assessment Guidelines document available on iLearn. Questions on this assessment will be answered during the lectures.
Note on extensions: No extensions will be granted. Students who are not present for their group's presentation will be awarded a mark of 0 for the presentation, except for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.
Research sources: In the research for their presentation, students should draw on sources they can obtain about the company both online and in print eg the company's webpage and annual reports; articles in business magazines, newspapers and other media reports; and independent reports which can build an understanding of the company and environment in which it is operating. You may also find if you search the library database that there are articles which contain research on the relevant company in academic journals as well as in HR practitioner journals. When using practitioner journals, students should remain conscious that articles generally express particular views rather than balanced, evidence-based analyses. Business magazines such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, the Australian Financial Review, HR Monthly (from AHRI) and journal articles are often a great source of such practices and strategies. But groups must remain practical - and consider such issues as cost, laws, labour skills, markets, politics and other challenges in implementing HRM practices. Please note, you must not approach a company directly - unless of course you are an employee there already.
Due: Final exam period
Weighting: 40%
A two hour exam will be held during the university exam period. Students will be required to answer both short essay questions and short answer questions. As a guide, essay responses are expected to be a minimum of 2 pages in length. Students will be assessed on their ability to analyse and argue the relevance and application of HRM principles in key areas of practice to particular company contexts. Students are expected to present themselves for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable. Documented illness or unavoidable disruption are the only exceptions when students can apply for Special Consideration. Consult Final Examination Policy for further details.
Technology Used and Required Technology: iLearn.
Please ensure that you have access to a personal computer so you are able to use iLearn. Students will find resources to assist their study on iLearn, such as lecture notes and other resources. Please check iLearn regularly for announcements.
Required and Recommended Reading Students are required to take considerable responsibility for their own learning in this Unit. It is expected that every student will already know how to locate materials in the library, using e-journals and other resources. There is a textbook set for the Unit (see below) but this does not cover every topic. Additional readings have been lodged on iLearn - these are not compulsory but will expand your knowledge of each topic area. Students need to make their own judgments about how much reading they do, and which readings they select.
Textbook Stone, Raymond (2013) Managing Human Resources, 4th edition, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Qld.
(NB This textbook is a little aged in terms of technological developments in HRM, but the content provides an excellent introduction to major areas of HRM activity)
Additional Recommended Reading Some other books you may find useful for particular topics:
Baird, M. Hancock, K. and Isaac, J. (2011) Work and Employment Relations: An Era of Change Federation Press, Sydney.
Parker, J. and Baird, M. (2018) The Big Issues in Employment: HR Management and Employment Relations in Australasia - 2nd Edition. Wolters Kluwer.
Armstrong, M. (2011) Armstrong's Handbook of Strategic Human Resource Management, Kogan Page Publishers.
Nel, P. Werner, A. Fazey, M et al (2016) Human Resource Management in Australia. Second Edition. Oxford University Press.
Marchington, M. and Wilkinson, A., (2002) People Management and Development: Human Resource Management at Work, 2nd ed, CIPD, London.
Mello, J. (2010) Strategic Human Resource Management, Cengage Learning.
Millmore, M, Lewis, P. et al (2007) Strategic Human Resource Management, Prentice-Hall, Essex.
Salaman, G. Storey, J., and Billsbery, J., (2005) Strategic Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice, Sage, London.
Storey, J., Wright, P., and Ulrich, D., (2009) The Routledge Companion to Strategic Human Resource Management, Routledge, Abingdon.
Journals recommended for HRM study include:
Academic Journals
Journal of Industrial Relations (Aust)
Human Resource Management Journal (UK)
• International Journal of Human Resource Management
• Academy of Management Journal
• Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources
• Work, Employment and Society
• Australian Journal of Management
• California Management Review
• Economic and Labour Relations Review
• Harvard Business Review
• International Journal of Employment Studies
• Labour & Industry
• Personnel Journal
• Personnel Management
• Personnel Review
Key research databases for your study of human resource management include:
• Ebsco host: Academic Search Elite Business Source Premier
• Psychology and behavioral sciences collection
Also search the websites of well-known consulting organisations such as Watson Wyatt, PWC, Deloitte, DDI, Hewitt Associates etc. These can be an excellent source for information on contemporary techniques and practices.
Students’ Responsibility for Learning
Unit Web Page The web page for this unit can be accessed via http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
Please check the iLearn site at least weekly for announcements and to access teaching and learning materials loaded onto the site as the course progresses.
Research and Practice This unit provides practice in applying research findings in your assignments. It also provides opportunities to conduct your own research through journal articles, texts and online data bases.
Satisfactory completion of this Unit will require: Students are expected to complete all assessment tasks for this subject. Successful completion of this unit requires the student to achieve at least 50% in total in the assessment tasks offered. It is assumed that students who fail to attend are undertaking considerable independent study to make up for material not accessed through classes.
Week 1: 3 August 2018 Introduction to the unit: Lecture: Managing People and Human Resource Management - What is it all about? What factors influence strategy? |
Week 2: 10 August 2018 Seeking competitive advantage through HRM |
Week 3: 17 August 2018 Job Analysis, Job Design and the Quality of Working Life |
Week 4: 24 August 2018 Recruiting Human Resources |
Week 5: 31 August 2018 Employee selection |
Week 6: 7 September 2018 Appraising and Managing Performance |
Week 7: 14 September 2018 Human Resource Development & Career Management |
Session 2 Recess: 17 September to 30 September 2018 |
Week 8: 5 October 2018 Managing Diversity |
Week 9: 12 October 2018 Employee Health and Safety |
Week 10: 19 October 2018 Rewarding Human Resources |
Week 11: 26 October 2018 Managing employees in the multinational firm & international context |
Week 12: 2 November 2018 Managing HR Change |
Week 13: 9 November 2018 Course Review, Exam briefing and Final presentations |
Exam Period from 13 November 2018 |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
The unit discussion topics, readings and examples have been updated since its last offering.
The Australian context is used as the base case to illustrate human resources functions in global contexts, and international organisations are used as case studies in some instances. Students are encouraged to share their knowledge of international experiences that may demonstrate consistency or contrast with local practice. There is one full lecture devoted to specific international contexts. Issues to do with sustainable HRM practice are incorporated.
Research used in this Unit This unit uses research from internal (Macquarie University) and external sources, both theory oriented and industry (case study) based, for example:
In the unit, both classic and most recent research works are used, for example:
Connections between the content of the unit and current research