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BUSI44O15: Human Resource Management: Contemporary Issues (Taught)

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Management and Marketing

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • Human Resource Management: Special Topics (Online); Human Resource Management (Online)

Aims

  • To develop students ability to master the knowledge and understanding at an advanced level of key contemporary issues in the processes and practices of human resource management;
  • To provide students with the opportunity to critically understand research in the field of human resource management.

Content

  • (Note: the following list is indicative and not all topics may be covered each year, to enable teaching to reflect current relevant issues and debates.)
  • The nature of human resource management.
  • HRM, performance and commitment.
  • Recruitment and selection.
  • Performance appraisal.
  • Diversity and equal opportunities.
  • Downsizing and HRM.
  • HRD.
  • International HRM.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • On completion of the module students should:-
  • Have an advanced knowledge and understanding of the nature and role of HRM in contemporary organisations;
  • Have an advanced understanding of the debates which relate to the links between HRM and organisational performance;
  • Have an advanced understanding of critical perspectives on HRM.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of the module, students should able to critically evaluate the processes, procedures and practices of contemporary HRM.

Key Skills:

  • effective written communication skills
  • planning, organising and time management skills
  • problem solving and analytical skills
  • the ability to use initiative
  • advanced skills in the interpretation of data
  • advanced computer literacy skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of taught input, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading and critical reflection.
  • The summative assessment of the module, by written assignment, is designed to test students knowledge and understanding of the subject-matter and their ability to apply it to the analysis of specific topics in HRM.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Workshops (a combination of taught input, groupwork, case studies and discussion), timetabled in blocks24Yes
Preparation and reading126 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written AssignmentComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Individual written assignment, critically evaluating a contemporary debate in the HRM literature3000 words100Same

Formative Assessment

Group-based discussions and case study exercises.

More information

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