21555 Introduction to Human Resource Management
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 21645 Managing Human Resources
Description
Human resource management (HRM) is a core consideration for running successful organisations. This subject introduces students to the theories and concepts that underpin the real-world practice of HRM. Students explore the various dimensions of HRM, and the ways in which these have developed over the last century as a response to a changing internal and external organisational environment. In addition, through engaging with the subject content and activities, students develop a critical understanding regarding the current trends, and future challenges, impacting on the operationalisation of HRM.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Critically evaluate the theory and practice of human resource management in contemporary organisations |
|---|---|
| 2. | Find and interpret basic business data and information through the lens of human resource management |
| 3. | Apply relevant theories and concepts to evaluate the impact of demographic changes on the practice human resource management |
| 4. | Propose and justify certain HRM actions to resolve complex organisational problems with support from empirical research |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This unit contributes to the Bachelor of Business by critically examining the development, structures and processes of human resource management (HRM) from the respective perspectives of employers, employees, governments and other stakeholders. Using the lens of HRM, the subject equips students with a critical understanding concerning the management considerations necessary to advance the engagement, performance, safe practice and retention of employees in a broad variety of organisational contexts. Through activities and content exploration, students sharpen their critical management skills and knowledge by equipping themselves with an evidence-based understanding regarding the complexities underpinning the practice of human resource management in contemporary organisations.
This subject is geared towards developing both a theoretical understanding and a practical capability in students regarding HRM decision making in organisations
This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
- Professional and technical competence
This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objective:
- Apply evidence, creativity and critical reasoning to solve business problems (1.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
Overall Approach
The subject is structured around a set of problem-based learning experiences. Every week, students explore different dimensions and functions of HRM through exposure to a significant theme or issue that impacts on its practice. Through engaging with lectures, online learning activities and materials, and participating in tutorial learning episodes, students gain an appreciation as to why HRM practices exist (i.e. for what organizational purposes), and what might be done to strengthen its positive impact.
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 5. In addition, students are encouraged to submit drafts up to 5 days prior to the submission of the written assessment task, in order to receive feedback.
The content of the subject is explored through exposition, incorporating multimodal sources (i.e. web clips, academic readings, animated lecture slides). This is followed by longer; active focused learning episodes whereupon students apply their learning in a simulation exercise. This might involve, for example, responding to a self-report survey concerning employee engagement and reflecting in group situations about the ways by which members can have similar and different sets of engagement drivers.
Time is dedicated in the lectures to ensure that students apply frameworks effectively to their assessment tasks. To this end, students bring their own cases and learning challenges to lectures, and solutions are arrived upon in collaboration with peers and lecturing staff.
Tutorials
Within the tutorial, students will participate in learning activities to strengthen their knowledge (application of knowledge) concerning the practice of HRM. Students will undertake a task in their weekly tutorials which relates to the significant theme of the week. In this task, they will develop a response to a given stimulus, that allows them to critically apply their learning to a simulated or real-world case. These weekly tasks will form a portfolio of work that is submitted at the end of the semester for grading (assessment item 3).
Students will have the opportunity to provide draft assessment items to peers and tutoring staff to review in tutorials.
Prior to class
Online engagement – readings & multimedia resources
This subject has a weekly reading list, that seeks to equip students with an evidence-based understanding concerning the practice of HRM. The readings have been selected to provide students with a valuable resource in completing their assessment tasks. However, a detailed comprehensive knowledge of these readings is not necessary, rather, these will be used as reference or support material.
All lecture and tutorial slides and resources will be available via the UTS Learning Mangagement 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 a stimulus for learning activities in lectures and tutorials.
Additional information
Full attendance at lectures and tutorials 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 materials and peer-group activities that they have missed.
Content (topics)
In the lectures, students and teaching staff explore, discuss and simulate concepts and frameworks related to human resource management including:
- Human Resource Management: What is it? Where did it come from? And, where is it going?
- The HRM Lens: how do HRM managers see the world?
- Human Resource Planning: how does the labour market impact on the practice of HRM in organisations?
- Work & Job Design: How do we work when we are at work? And, how might we work even better?
- Engagement and Retention: What things drive employees to stay at a particular organization?
- Employee Selection: How are employees ‘usually’ hired?
- Performance management: What things drive employees to perform?
- Talent Management: What is Talent Management, and what problems are associated with it?
- Safety Management: How can we ensure our employees are operating safely?
- Employee Diversity: How can we (ever) achieve equality in our workplaces and society?
- Evaluating HRM: What is the future of HRM?
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Portfolio (Individual)
| Intent: | This assessment contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Objective: PLO 5.1: Apply technical and professional skills necessary to operate effectively in business and related professions. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3 and 4 |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | Weekly submissions 100 - 150 words + reflections of 150 -200 words |
| Criteria: |
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Assessment task 2: Report (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 4 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | The word length of the group report should not exceed 2000 words (excluding references). (+ or - 5% is accepted). |
| Criteria: |
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Assessment task 3: Presentation (Individual)*
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 3 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 5 mins |
| Criteria: |
*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Minimum requirements
To pass the subject, students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks and complete all items of assessment. A minimum of 80% tutorial attendance is also necessary to fulfil the subject requirements.
Recommended texts
Nankervis, AR., Baird, M., Coffey, J. and Shields, J. 2023, Human Resource Management: Strategy and Practice, 11th edition, Cengage Learning Australia.
Other resources
Recommended Journals
In addition to the above resources, students should refer to referred journals for content relevant to this subject. The UTS Library subscribes to most of the academic journals listed below in either paper-based (hard copy) or electronic (online) form. Students should consult the library on the process of accessing electronic journal subscriptions. The following academic journals and publications are likely to prove relevant and useful for this subject:
- Academy of Management Journal
- Academy of Management Review
- Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resource Management
- British Journal of Industrial Relations
- California Management Review
- Harvard Business Review
- Human Resource Management Journal
- Human Resource Planning
- Industrial Relations Journal
- International Journal of Human Resource Management
- International Journal of Manpower Studies
- Journal of Applied Psychology
- Journal of Industrial Relations
- Personnel Review
- Personnel Psychology.
Canvas
Canvas is an integrated teaching and learning component of this subject. As a UTS student you are required to become familiar with this software.
In this subject, Canvas will be used for the following purposes:
- as a noticeboard for announcements relating to the subject
- to provide subject support materials such as the subject outline and lecture slides
- to provide external links to useful web pages.