Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor/Lecturer
Hector Viveros
Contact via via email
by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(48cp at 100 level or above) including (HRM201 and HRM250)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
3cp from HRM300-HRM317
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is aimed at teaching students to apply knowledge and skills gained in human resources management (HRM) in an integrated way to organisations. The unit reviews and applies theoretical perspectives on strategic HRM to case studies of organisations. It provides the intellectual and practical tools for students to evaluate various approaches to the conception, planning, implementation and evaluation of strategic policy and practice in key functional areas of HRM. Students will develop graduate capabilities in critical, analytical and integrative thinking and effective communication in relation to the development of strategic responses to contemporary HR issues.
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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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Tutorial Participation | 10% | No | Weeks 3-12 |
Individual Essay | 20% | No | 04/09/2018 |
Case study/group presentation | 20% | No | weeks 8-12 |
Final Examination | 50% | No | Exam period |
Due: Weeks 3-12
Weighting: 10%
The tutorial programme is an integral part of this unit. Tutorials give students an opportunity to clarify material covered in lectures and readings, explore and apply key concepts in discussion, exercises and case studies, and prepare for the assessment for this unit. The tutorial program is divided into two parts.
PART ONE: (6 marks allocated) Weeks 3-7 will involve discussions in class. From Week 3, these discussions will be based on set readings located on ilearn. Completion of tutorial homework encourages students to be engaged and active learners in discussions. Students are required to complete three (3) one page (A4 size 12 font or hand written) answers to questions set between week 3 and 7 inclusive. These questions will be based on the readings set for the class. The questions are set out in the Lecture and Tutorial Schedule on iLearn. Three of these five weekly exercises will be sighted for a mark allocation of 2% each. This amounts to 6% of the total marks for the Unit. Students may choose which weeks (between weeks 3 and 7) they have their homework sighted. Students will be asked to show the work to the tutor at the start of the class as evidence of completion - this will be registered on the roll. Students will also be required to hand in their page of work to the tutor at the end of the tutorial. You are required to remain in class for the duration of the tutorial, during which time the material will be discussed collectively. No e-mail submission will be accepted. No extension will be granted. While all students are encouraged to participate in every tutorial, those students who have registered their homework for the given tutorial can expect to be asked questions pertaining to the material. Where students are unable to answer questions relating to their homework, the mark of 2% may be reduced but a minimum mark of 1% (per tutorial homework) will nonetheless apply.
Students who do not submit the task during their designated tutorial time will be awarded zero for this activity. This penalty does not apply in cases where an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved.
PART TWO: (4 marks allocated) In weeks 8-12 case study presentations will be conducted. All other students (non-participants in the presentation) will be required to be attentive as they will be expected to ask meaningful questions. Students are required to participate asking and/or answering questions after the presentations. Questions will be based on the readings and cases set for weeks 8-12. Students who do not attend and participate in these tutorials will be awarded zero for this part of the participation marks. This penalty does not apply in cases where an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved
Due: 04/09/2018
Weighting: 20%
Submission Details:
Students must submit their essays electronically through Turnitin using the link on iLearn by 4:00pm on the due date (04/09/2018, by 4.00 pm). A hard copy of your essay must also be submitted to BESS by 4:00pm on the due date. Hard copies must be identical to the electronic version submitted. Otherwise the essay will not be marked.
Length: 1500 words excluding the reference list.
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.
Note on extensions: No extensions will be granted. Late tasks will be accepted up to 72 hours (3 days) after the submission deadline. There will be a deduction of 10% per day for late submissions for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This means the total mark will be deducted 2 marks per day. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Special Considerations is made and approved.
Due: weeks 8-12
Weighting: 20%
The purpose of this assessment is to develop your skills in team building and case analysis. You will be allocated a case study relating to a particular organisation and a specific aspect of strategic HR. Topics and organisations will be provided on iLearn by the end of Week 1.
In weeks 8 - 12 students will conduct a 25 minute group presentation. Groups will have a minimum of 4 members and a maximum of 5 members. The formation of groups will occur in the week 3 and 4 tutorials and allocation of topics/organisations will occur by the end of week 4 tutorials. In addition, your group should prepare a 2000 words report and submit it online (turnitin) and hardcopy. Groups must submit their reports electronically through Turnitin using the link on iLearn the day of the presentation before the tutorial time. A hard copy of the report must also be provided to your tutor before the presentation on the due date. Hard copies must be identical to the electronic version submitted. Otherwise the report will not be marked. There will be a deduction of 10% per day for late submissions 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 in cases where an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved.
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 (report). Each group member may receive a different mark for the individual component (individual performance in the presentation).
Students are expected to use Powerpoint or Prezi for their presentation and provide a print-out copy of the power point and the report. Details and marking criteria are provided in the Assessment Guidelines document available on iLearn. Questions on this assessment will be answered during the lectures and tutorials.
As with all aspects of this unit, students must keep in mind that this is a Strategic Human Resource Management unit. Theoretical concepts concerning strategic HRM, and particular issues and challenges concerning the formation, implementation, effectiveness etc of HRM strategy will be relevant. Demonstrating an understanding of this relevance will be rewarded. Using examples of existing organisations (in addition to the company in the case) may also make a strong contribution to a team's report and presentation - you can find illustrations of how particular companies approach the different aspects and issues of strategic HRM through looking at company websites, case study excerpts in text books, periodicals and journals.
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 Considerations is made and approved.
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 50%
A two hour exam (closed book) will be held during the university exam period. Exam questions will assess students' understanding of the theoretical concepts covered in the course, functional areas of SHRM, and issues associated with management and organisation of SHRM in different corporate contexts. More details about the exam will be posted on iLearn and presented in class after the mid-semester break.
The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time in the University Examination Timetable is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. The University’s policy on the Special Consideration process is available at https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategyplanning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration.
If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period.The Macquarie University examination policy details the principles and conduct of examinations at the University. The policy is available at: http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/examination/policy.htm
The timetable will be available in draft form approx. eight weeks before the commencement of examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations. http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam
Classes
This Unit is taught through lectures and tutorials. Classes are held each week of semester unless the class falls on a public holiday. Each lecture is two hours and tutorial, one hour. Lectures provide not only a consolidated account of major concepts and issues in relation to each topic - they also include discussion, questions and answers, brainstorming and other activities. The powerpoint slides posted on iLearn provide the framework for the material covered in classes, but are not and are not intended to be a complete record.
The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au.
There is a high degree of correlation between attendance and success in the unit.
Unit Schedule
A Unit schedule is included as a separate document on iLearn. This is where students will find the weekly schedule of lectures and tutorials as well as details of the required reading.
Required and Recommended Reading
Please note: This is a capstone course. Students are required to take considerable responsibility for their own learning. 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. A detailed reading list pertinent to each topic is located on iLearn. Students are responsible for locating these readings in the library – teaching staff will not be doing this basic research task for students. Readings with an asterix are those which provide the most substantial cover of a topic and/or the most crucial issue(s). Students need to make their own judgments about how much reading they do, and which readings they select.
All required readings will be available through eReserve.
Textbook
Boxall, P and Purcell, J., (2015) Strategy and Human Resource Management, 4th ed., Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.
Technology Used and Required
Access to a personal computer is required in order to access announcements, course documents and learning materials on iLearn. Students should check iLearn at least once a week. Messages may also be posted to your Macquarie University student email accounts, so these should be checked at least weekly also.
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:
A Unit schedule is included as a separate document on ilearn. This is where students will find the weekly schedule of lectures, tutorials and details of required readings.
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
Additional Recommended Reading
On the ilearn site, students will find a Reading List which contains recommended readings for each topic covered in the Unit. The Unit relies heavily on recent scholarly journal articles and also classic theoretical and research publications.
There are also a number of excellent texts on the subject which cover some, but rarely all the topics in the course. Strongly recommended books include:
Note. * where this book examines topics covered in the course, the relevant chapter is listed in the reading guide.
Journals recommended for HRM study include:
Key research databases for your study of human resource management include:
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.
Additional Recommended Reading
On the ilearn site, students will find a Reading List which contains recommended readings for each topic covered in the Unit. The Unit relies heavily on recent scholarly journal articles and also classic theoretical and research publications.
There are also a number of excellent texts on the subject which cover some, but rarely all the topics in the course. Strongly recommended books include:
Note. * where this book examines topics covered in the course, the relevant chapter is listed in the reading guide.
Sustainability
Students should be aware that sustainability has a much broader meaning than 'green' issues, such as renewable energy and recycling. Companies today must consider their Triple Bottom Line, which means that they must focus on the sustainability of People, Profits and the Planet. Clearly, the people aspect is of interest to HR practitioners and will include discussions on flexible working, employee rights, equity, diversity and inclusion. In turn, these topics may inform discussion on outsourcing, offshoring and recruitment practices, to name a few. Students should familiarise themselves with the ten principles of the UN Global Compact and the Principles of Responsible Management Education, as well as company annual reports that provide insights into these areas.