Study Guide

Objective

Having completed the course the student is able to
- understand how HRM can contribute to organizational performance
- recognize the principal functions of HR
- develop an understanding of how the principles and practices human resource management
- help firms to attract, retain, and develop its human capital.

Content

- strategic management and Strategic HR management
- core processes and functions of HRM
- work analysis and job design
- recruitment process
- performance management and appraisal, reward management

Materials

- Course book: Dessler, Gary (2017 or 2019). Human Resource Management, 15th/16th edition, Harlow: Pearson Education.
There are several hard copies of the 13th, 15th and 16th editions at the Lemminkäinen library which are also fine to use for this course.
- Reading materials in Itslearning

Teaching methods

Flipped Learning: the students study the theoretical background at home (cf. reading to be completed prior to every class)
The contact hours are mainly used to do case studies and workshops.
BYOD for each “lecture” as the course book & internet access are needed to do the case studies

Exam schedules

This course is based on the completion of assignments and there is no exam.

International connections

Flipped learning, case study method, project base

Completion alternatives

Providing a lecture about HRM - topic(s) to be defined with the responsible teacher - to the class.

Student workload

Contact Sessions: 30 hours
Individual and team assignments: ~ 50 hours
Readings: ~40 hours

Content scheduling

1. Course introduction and key concepts
2. HRM strategy and analysis
3. work analysis and talent management process, deadline for individual assignment 1 and peer review in class
4. Personnel planning, employee testing and interviewing candidates
5. Reviewing questions for the team assignment; performance management and appraisal, reward management
6. Guest lecture (to be confirmed), deadline for individual assignment 2 and peer review in class
7. Strategic Pay plans
8. Course wrap and team presentations

Further information

Priority will be given to exchange students who can register for the course only after their arrivals in late August.

Possible traveling costs at the expense of the student might occur for the completion of the team assignment (interview of an HR specialist).

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

The course is based on case studies which are done in class. Therefore a 70% attendance is required to be able to pass the course.

All the components (individual assignments, peer reviews…) of this course will be graded as follow:
Fail (0pts)
Good (1pts)
Excellent (2pts)
2 Individual assignments: 4 points maximum
2 peer reviews: 4 points maximum
2 impromptu tests: 4 points maximum
1 team assignment (team presentation and executive summary): 4 points
The students can get a maximum of altogether 16 points.
The points translate as follow for the final grade:
0-6 points: failed; 7 points: 1; 8-9 points: 2; 10-11 points: 3; 12-13 points; 4; 14-16 points: 5

Please note that:
Missing a deadline equals 0 points (unless medical certificate)
The two individual assignments and the team assignment are compulsory to do to be able to pass the course. Missing a peer review or an impromptu test is not disqualifying, it only affects negatively the final grade.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The student has demonstrated very limited knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows difficulties in applying his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates very little ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student has difficulties in communicating his/her ideas in writing to the reader. Several parts of the text are unclear.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student has demonstrated limited knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows some difficulties in applying his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates little ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student has difficulties in communicating his/her ideas in writing to the reader. Some parts of the text are unclear.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student has demonstrated good knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows s/he can apply his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates good ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student is able to communicate his/her ideas in writing to the reader. Important parts of the text are clear and well written.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student has demonstrated very good knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows s/he can apply his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates very good ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student is able to communicate clearly his/her ideas in writing to the reader in a professional way. Most of the text is clear and well written.