21505 Human Resource Management (Capstone)
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 21555 Introduction to Human Resource Management AND 21407 Strategic Human Resource Management AND 21036 Managing Strategic Performance AND 21440 Management Skills AND 30 credit points of completed study in 30Credit Points spk(s): MAJ08446 c Human Resource Management Major BBus
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject is regarded as a crowning achievement and consolidates the knowledge that has been learned through the major, as well as integrates the core disciplines through an applied, problem-based, business innovation project. In this subject, students work with an organisation of their choosing, and undertake a project incorporating research, in order to improve the practice of evidence-based HRM in real-world settings. Through this process, students gain transferable evidence-based management expertise, not limited to project management and development, presentation, literature reviewing, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, report writing and team-working skills. The subject engages students in organisational sustainability issues, while at the same time giving them experience of some of the practical aspects of management, highlighting how various business disciplines contribute to their professional knowledge.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Critique theoretical and professional human resource management discourse to identify relevant business problems |
|---|---|
| 2. | Synthesise existing evidence to inform the development of a business innovation project |
| 3. | Plan and execute a business innovation project that is underpinned by a robust evidence base |
| 4. | Select and analyse business data in the context of existing discourse to devise human resource management plans and strategy |
| 5. | Present results and research findings and implications to inform stakeholder actions |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:
- Apply evidence, creativity and critical reasoning to solve business problems (1.1)
- Demonstrate ability to work independently and with others as a member of a team to achieve an agreed goal (2.2)
- Make judgements and business decisions consistent with the principles of social responsibility and inclusion (3.1)
- Apply technical and professional skills to operate effectively in business (4.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The main aim of the capstone courses is to enable graduates to synthesise all their learning throughout the major and core within the context of a selected human resource management-related project about a contemporary commercial issue impacting on society. This is an ambitious project that requires careful coordination, decision making in a team setting, division of tasks and being able to adapt to real-world situations. Reflection on both the team process and output is an integral part of successful teamwork and is regarded as important in the assessment process. The completed project demonstrates students' ability to conduct fieldwork, synthesising salient information and articulating original ideas and thought processes to make a practical contribution to the existing body of knowledge relevant to their profession. In preparing a written report, and making a public presentation of their findings and their product, process or recommendations, students have to demonstrate professional-level competence.
This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attribute(s):
- Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
- Communication and collaboration
- Social responsibility and cultural awareness
- Professional and technical competence
Teaching and learning strategies
Overall Approach
The subject is set up around an authentic, problem-based learning experience, whereupon students in small teams negotiate, develop and implement a business innovation project involving research, under the guidance of the lecturing staff.
Within Class
Lectures
The subject incorporates weekly 90 minutes lectures, in addition to a 90 minute tutorial. Students have the opportunity to receive formative feedback through completing a class exercise in week 3. The content is explored through brief exposition and example, followed by longer; active focused learning episodes whereupon students apply their learning in a simulation exercise. This might involve, for example, developing a project plan for the 11 weeks, arriving upon an adequate set of research questions via negotiating, testing a pilot survey with peers, and undertaking quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Time is dedicated in the lectures to ensure that students apply frameworks effectively to their own research project. To this end, students bring their own data, research tools, and problems to lectures, and solutions are arrived upon in collaboration with peers and lecturing staff.
Full attendance at lectures is expected, if students are unable to attend they should send their apologies to the lecturing staff in advance of the class. Students are expected to catch up on the learning material delivered in class.
Tutorials
Within the tutorials, students will work in their groups to implement a portion of the business innovation project. Tutors are available to assist in supervising the projects; they may help groups in ‘work shopping’ solutions to challenges and problems that might occur through the business innovation project. Students will also undertake important peer-review, support and assessment practices in the tutorials. Students will have the opportunity to provide draft assessment items to peers and tutoring staff to review.
As with the lectures, full attendance in tutorials is expected. If students are unable to attend they should send your apologies to the tutor in advance of the class. Students are expected to catch up on the peer-group activities that they may have missed.
Prior to class
Online engagement – readings & multimedia resources
This subject does not have a large reading list, however there are several online resources that students can use to help them plan for, and implement their business innovation project. Students should read the (few) readings that are online in advance of the lectures. These readings offer a framework for evidence based research, and also outline exemplars and templates that students can use to advance their own project.
All lecture and tutorial slides and resources (excluding recorded audio and video) will be available via the UTS Learning Management System. This includes descriptions of focused learning activities, and data analysis templates, performance planning guides and assessment guides.
Online engagement – activities
Prior to the first class, and several times throughout the semester, students may be invited to participate in surveys. The surveys will provide business data that may be used as stimulus for learning activities in lectures and tutorials (for example in the quantitative analysis class).
Content (topics)
In the lectures, students and teaching staff explore, discuss and simulate concepts and frameworks related to evidence-based management including:
- Developing evidence-based HR Business Innovation project
- Designing innovation projects
- Synthesizing previous research to inform current practice
- Developing and implementing data collection tools
- Analyzing business data
- Presenting and reporting innovation to generate impact
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Project Proposal (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 2.2 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | The word length for the proposal should not exceed 1600 words (not including references), and could safely be between 1300 and 1500 words. The language used should be succinct and appropriate for a business audience. The prescribed section lengths below are a guide that you may adapt to suit your case. Your group proposal will outline a:
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| Criteria: |
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Assessment task 2: Final Project Presentation and Reflection (Individual)*
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 4 and 5 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 4.1 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | Each individual must speak/present for a total of 5-6 minutes. It is recommended that a maximum of six slides is used, though fewer is also appropriate. |
| Criteria: |
*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Assessment task 3: Final Report (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 1.1 and 3.1 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | Maximum of 3500 words (not including references and artifacts created - refer to the word lengths for each section provided above as a rough guide) |
| Criteria: |
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Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.
Recommended texts
- Anderson, V. & Fontinha, R. & Robson, F. 2020, Research Methods in Human Resource Management : Investigating a Business Issue 4th edn, Kogan Page, UK.
Other resources
UTSOnline is an integrated teaching and learning component of this subject The platform used is Canvas. As UTS student you will be required to become familiar with this online delivery which is now used in most subjects in the Bachelor of Business degree. In this subject, UTSOnline will be used for the following purposes:
- to make subject announcemnts - including important changes as they happen.
- to provide subject support materials such as the subject outline, lecture and tutuorial material
- to provide external links to useful web pages
- to communicate with students through batch emails. Be sure to forward your UTS email account, if necessary, to an account you check regularly.
This course will also be using MS Teams as a way of communicating directly with your tutor and your peers. Please make sure you are able to access this through your UTS email