Overview
Managing and motivating people are critical tasks for management, particularly in the context of rapidly changing and competitive organizational environments.
This course focuses on the strategic approach to human resource management, integrating topics from organization behavior and organization theory. The primary area of focus is strategic human resource management (HRM), but the interrelated areas of organizational behaviour and, to a lesser extent, organizational theory and industrial relations are also considered.
Outline
Managing and motivating people are critical tasks for management, particularly in the context of rapidly changing and competitive organizational environments.
- Lesson 1 - Strategic Human Resource Management
- Lesson 2 - Work Design and Motivation
- Lesson 3 - Leadership
- Lesson 4 - Groups and Teams
- Lesson 5 - Human Resource Flow
- Lesson 6 - Rewards and Performance Management
- Lesson 7 - Diversity Management and Inclusiveness
- Lesson 8 - The Future of the Human Resources Role
Objectives
The course’s aim is to show how strategic HRM can impact organizations’ operational effectiveness and competitive advantage. It does not train students as HR professionals. Students should acquire a good understanding of
- fundamental concepts about strategic HRM, including its distinction from traditional HR or personnel management
- work design and its relation to employee motivation
- leadership and its nature and implications for organizations as well as theories on it
- groups and teams and their utilization in organizations
- the importance of human resource flow management
- rewards management and performance management, as well as their relation to each other and to other HR areas
- diversity and equity in the workplace, the advantages and management thereof, and how to develop a culture of inclusiveness
- the union-management relationship and how it can be a strategic asset
- the future role of Human Resources
Evaluation
Your grades will be based on two assignments and participation in small group discussions.
| Activity | Weight |
| Active participation in Discussions | 30% |
| Assignment 1 | 30% |
| Assignment 2 | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Component marks for this course are translated into letter grades as per the Graduate Grading Policy.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Lam, H. (2023). Essentials of strategic human resource management & organizational behaviour (4th ed.). Athabasca University.
Other Materials
All other course materials will be accessed online.