INSTITUTE OFBUSINESS MANAGEMENT

College of Business Management

Department of Management & HR

HRM 301 – Human Resource Management

Faculty:

Course Outline

1. Course Aims
An organization achieves its objectives through HR. An effective organization is one that produces, in a cost
effective manner, requisite levels of the following three HR outcomes: Commitment, Coordination and Competence.
This course introduces you to the central processes that make up human resource management practice in
organizations. We consider various options for attracting, retaining and developing employees and ensuring that
employers meet their legal and ethical obligations in relation to workforce management. You will cover the key HR
functions of recruitment and selection, learning and development, workforce planning, performance and reward
management, occupational health and safety, and diversity management. In this course students have the opportunity
to develop their professional skills and knowledge in managing the employment cycle.

In a nut-shell, the course aims to: 1) facilitate an understanding of what it is that HR Managers do and how they do
it, and, 2) promote an evidence-based approach to examining the effectiveness of the various options for managing
an organization’s workforce.

2. Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:
2.1 Knowledge and understanding:
Describe and explain the functions performed by HR Managers, including workplace planning, job
analysis, recruitment, selection, development, remuneration, occupational health and safety, and diversity
management.
2.2. Intuitive Skills:

- Problem Solving and Critical Thinking.

- Recognizing Contemporary Management Challenges.
2.3. Research/Academic Skills:

- Access relevant evidence-based articles on human resource management topics

- Learn the value of original work and adhere to international standards of academic referencing
2.4. Professional Skills

- Engage in group discussions and conduct group work based on human resource management activities
- Evaluate and apply findings from the evidence-based literature to address problems arising in human
resource management

3. Course Content
Topic Reading and Learning methodology Learning Outcomes
Week Session preparation

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 1 Introduction to No Readings Ice Breaker Activity; Basic functions of HR
1 HRM Role of HR managers in organizations
Video Demos and discussion

2 The Strategic Role - Chap # 3 Class Discussions Understand how HR is linked with
of HRM – I: Business Strategy
Employer - Assigned
Branding Readings
3 The Strategic Role - Chap # 3 Analysis of the assigned video Analyze how HRM has evolved into
of HRM –II: HR - Assigned case-study SHRM; Understand the
2 Planning (Trends Readings & contemporary challenges faced by
Analysis, Supply of Video C/Stud the HR function
Labour)
4 The Strategic Role - Chap # 4 Class Discussions, Article Understand the need for efficient
of HRM –II: HR Discussion resource planning and the tools
Planning - Assigned which help in the process
(Succession Readings
Planning)
Recruitment-I: Job Practical exercise on how to Evaluate the benefits of Job Analysis,
3 Analysis, Job Specs - Chap # 4&5 conduct Job Analysis and write Job Descriptions and Job
5&6 and Job Design Job Descriptions Specifications Understands the basics
of Job Analysis
4 Recruitment-II: - Chap # 4&5 - Analysis of Google’s Understand recruitment process
7&8 Talent Acquisition - Assigned Recruitment Strategies via “Inside Analyze the effectiveness of Internal
+ HR Analytics Video & Google’s Recruitment Machine” and External sources of Recruitment
Readings
Recruitment-III: - Chap # 6&7 - Hotel Paris exercise (book) Understand the importance of Right
5 Employee testing selection of HR
9 & 10 and selection & - Assigned - Interview Role Play Activities
Interviewing Readings Analyze the benefits of Interviews.
Candidates Also understand how interviews are
+ Orientation being conducted in Pakistani
organizations
1st MID TERM EXAM – Week 6
7 Talent - Chap # 8 - Case Study Solution Understand Training process
11&12 Management- I: Analyze the competitive advantage of
Training and - Assigned - Conduct TNA and write Training training function
Development of Readings Plan
Employees
Coaching, - Chap # 10 Learn importance and effectiveness
13 Mentoring & - Assigned Discussion on Collective of a coaching, mentoring program
8 Talent Readings Intelligence - IBM
Management
14 HR Performance - Chap # 9 Class Discussions Understand basics of Performance
Management - I - Assigned Management
Readings Analyze the functions of PMS
15 HR Performance - Chap # 9 Case Study Solution Understand basics of Performance
Management - II Management
9 - Assigned Analyze the functions of PMS
Readings
16 Compensating - Chap # 11 Discussion on Motivational Understand the basic concepts of
Employees – I - Assigned Theories and their applications compensation management and their
Readings effect on employee motivation
17 Compensating - Chap # 12 - Video Demonstration Understand the concept of pay for
10 Employees - II performance
- Assigned - Case Study Solution Evaluate the alignment of
Readings compensation plan with performance
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 management
Creating High - Assigned Case Case Study Solution “HPWO at Understand, what competencies are
18 Performance Work Study Cedar” required for future HR professionals
Organizations Analyze why these competencies are
critical for HR success
2nd MID TERM EXAM – Week 11
Ethics in HR and - Chap # 14 & Discussion on Assigned Readings Develop basic concepts of Ethics;
HR And 16 Analyse the issues and challenges
12 19 Employee Well - Assigned related to ethics for HR Practitioners.
Being Article “ Why Also understand the importance of
we hate HR” employees’ WLB, Safety and Health
Role of HRM in Assigned Discussion on Assigned Readings Understand the changing face of
20 Entrepreneurial Readings business in today’s transient
firms economy; Evaluate how HR can help
attain competitive advantage in start-
ups, entrepreneurial ventures
13 21 HRIS - Assigned Class discussion on HRM in the Understand and analyse the
Readings Knowledge Economy importance of HRIS
22 Managing Global - Assigned Class Discussion and Video Understand and develop
Human Readings Demos concepts related to global HR
Resources & Analyze the global issues of HRM
Course Re-Cap
14
23&24 Term Project Display / Presentations
15 PREPARATORY WEEK
16 FINAL EXAMS

4. Course Assessment

4.1. Formal Requirements

In order to pass this course, you must: achieve a composite mark of at least 60% and make a satisfactory attempt at
all assessment tasks (see below).

Assessment Type Weightage Due Date

Take Home Assignments 10% Announced in regular lecture session

Mid Term 1 10% Week 6

Mid Term 2 15% Week 11
Final Term Report 10% Week 12
Presentation 10% Week 14
Final Exam 40% Week 16
Course Offers opportunities to earn extra credit

4.2. Term Project

This course of Human Resource Management aims to prepare you as future managers and develop your skills in
order for you to be successful leaders, managers and positive change agents. With the workplace changing at the
current break-neck speed, it is imperative that you are aware of the contemporary issues presently facing the Human

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 Resource Function. To further develop your professional skills it is also imperative to introduce you to current
research in all areas of Human Resource Management. The term project will aim to do just that. Details of the Term
Project will be announced in Week 6

4.3. Assessment Criteria (Marking Rubrics)

Criteria Levels of Achievements

Exemplary 4 Proficient 3 Marginal 2 Unacceptable 1 Score

Demonstrates a clear and Demonstrates clear Demonstrates Demonstrates a superficial *5 = 20

Conceptual deep understanding of understanding of the ideas limited/surface understanding of the
Understand the theory. presented in the theory. understanding of the theory.
ing theory.

Identifies Demonstrates a clear and Demonstrates deep Demonstrates Demonstrates superficial *4 = 16

Issues/Pro deep understanding of an understanding of an limited/surface understanding of an
blems issue/problem in the issue/problem in the question. understanding of an issue/problem in the
question. issue/problem in the question.
question.

Connection Makes appropriate, Makes appropriate and Makes appropriate Makes little or no *4 = 16
s: Theory insightful and powerful insightful connections between but somewhat vague connection between the
and connections between the the issue/ problem and the connections between issue/problem and the
Practice issue/problem and the theory. the issue/problem and theory.
theory. the theory.

Referenced Accurately and precisely Accurately integrates Limited integration of Integrates few or no *4 = 16
Sources integrates conceptual conceptual material from the the conceptual concepts from the
material from the text. text. Specifically uses some material from the chapter.Very limited use of
Uses specific concepts concepts and terms. text.Limited use of concept and terms from
and terms extensively. concepts and terms the theory.
from the theory.

Recommen Makes realistic, Makes realistic and appropriate Makes realistic or Makes realistic or *4 = 16
dations appropriate and recommendations clearly appropriate appropriate
insightful supported by the information recommendations recommendations with
recommendations clearly presented and the theory from supported by the limited support from the
supported by the the content taught. information presented information presented and
information presented and the theory from the theory from the
and the theory. the content taught. chapter.

Writing Writing is totally free of There are occasional spelling There are more than Spelling errors are *4 = 16
Skills grammar and spelling errors. Clear presentation of occasional spelling frequent. Hard to follow
errors. Clear and concise ideas. errors.Most ideas are the ideas.
presentation of ideas. presented clearly.

5. COURSE RESOURCES
There will be regular contact by the course facilitator through email and Google Docs. The responsibility is on the
student to be prompt in maintaining that contact and avail all the resources provided.

The prescribed textbook for the course is:

 Human Resources Management (Latest edition). By Gary Dessler. Pearson.

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Additional Reference:

 Human Resources Management- An Experiential Approach (4th edition). By John Bernardin. McGraw-Hill.
 Armstrong, M. (2010). Armstrong’s Essential Human Resource Management Practice: A Guide to People
Management. Kogan Page Limited.
 Pfeffer, Jeffery (1998). The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First. Harvard Business
School Press

Readings and other material for in-class participation will be periodically emailed or handed in personally.
Students are encouraged to explore the following websites and Journals for individual learning:
- www.shrm.org - www.linkedin.com
- www.astd.org - www.meettheboss.com
- www.fastcompany.com - The International Journal of Human Resource
- www.workforce.com Management
- www.hrmasia.com - Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources
- www.citehr.com - International Journal of Training and
- www.ahri.com.au Development
- www.hbr.org

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