ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of Business Administration)

WARNING
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE
ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD OF
DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
“AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.

Course: Human Resource Management (8502/5024) Semester: Spring, 2023

Level: MBA (3½ Years) / BS (A&F)

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units: 1–4)

Q. 1 (a) Quote discriminatory personnel management practices in recruitment,

selection, promotion, transfer, layoffs and benefits. (10)
(b) Define and discuss diversity management. (10)

Q. 2 Illustrate and explain each of the seven steps in the HR Scorecard approach to
create human resource management systems. (20)

Q. 3 (a) Discuss the nature of job analysis, including what it is and how it’s used? (10)
(b) Explain the main techniques used in employment planning and forecasting. (10)
Q. 4 (a) Explain and illustrate the problems to avoid in appraising performance. (10)
(b) List and discuss the pros and cons of six appraisal methods. (10)

Q. 5 (a) Explain the employee’s, manager’s, and employer’s career development

roles. (10)
(b) Discuss competency-based pay and other current trends in compensation.(10)

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT # 1

You should look upon the assignments as a test of knowledge, management skills, and
communication skills. When you write an assignment answer, you are indicating your
knowledge to the teacher:
 Your level of understanding of the subject;
 How clearly you think;
 How well you can reflect on your knowledge & experience;
 How well you can use your knowledge in solving problems, explaining situations,
and describing organizations and management;
 How professional you are, and how much care and attention you give to what you do.

To answer a question effectively, address the question directly, bring important related
issues into the discussion, refer to sources, and indicate how principles from the course
materials apply. You must also be able to identify important problems and implications
arising from the answer.

For citing references, writing bibliographies, and formatting the assignment, APA format
should be followed.

ASSIGNMENT No. 2
(Units: 1–9)
Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

This assignment is a research-oriented activity. You are required to obtain information

from a business/commercial organization and prepare a report of about 1000 words on
the topic allotted to you to be submitted to your teacher for evaluation.

You are required to select one of the following topics according to the last digit of your
roll number. For example, if your roll number is P-3427180 then you will select topic # 0
(the last digit): -

Topics:
0) Managing Talent
1) Managing Globalization
2) Pay for Performance
3) Human Resource Planning
4) Managing Demographic Workforce
5) Managing Changes and Cultural Transformation

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6) Training Need Assessment
7) Job Safety and Health
8) HR Scorecard
9) Employee Testing and Selection

The report should follow the following format:

1) Title page
2) Acknowledgements
3) An abstract (one page summary of the paper)
4) Table of contents
5) Introduction to the topic (brief history & significance of topic assigned)
6) Practical study of the organization (with respect to the topic)
7) Data collection methods
8) SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) relevant to the
topic assigned
9) Conclusion (one page brief covering important aspects of your report)
10) Recommendations (specific recommendations relevant to topic assigned)
11) References (as per APA format)
12) Annexes (if any)

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT # 2:

 1.5 line spacing
 Use headers and subheads throughout all sections
 Organization of ideas
 Writing skills (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
 Professionalism (readability and general appearance)
 Do more than repeat the text
 Express a point of view and defend it.

WORKSHOPS
The workshop presentations provide you opportunity to express your communication
skills, knowledge & understanding of concepts learned during practical study assigned in
assignment # 2.

You should use transparencies and any other material for effective presentation. The
transparencies are not the presentation, but only a tool; the presentation is the
combination of the transparencies and your speech. Workshop presentation
transparencies should only be in typed format.

The transparencies should follow the following format:

1) Title page
2) An abstract (one page summary of the paper)
3) Introduction to the topic (brief history & significance of topic assigned)
4) Practical study of the organization (with respect to the topic)
5) Data collection methods

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6) SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) relevant to the
topic assigned
7) Conclusion (one page brief covering important aspects of your report)
8) Recommendations (specific recommendations relevant to topic assigned)

GUIDELINES FOR WORKSHOP PRESENTATION:

 Make eye contact and react to the audience. Don't read from the transparencies or
from report, and don't look too much at the transparencies (occasional glances are
acceptable to help in recalling the topic to cover).
 A 15-minute presentation can be practiced several times in advance, so do that until
you are confident enough. Some people also use a mirror when rehearsing as a
substitute for an audience.

WEIGHTAGE OF THEORY & PRACTICAL ASPECTS IN ASSIGNMENT # 2 &

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS
Assignment # 2 & workshop presentations are evaluated on the basis of theory & its
applicability. The weightage of each aspect would be:
Theory: 60%
Applicability (practical study of the organization): 40%

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Course Outline (Code # 8502/5024)
Unit-1 Introduction – Human Resource Management
1.1 Strategic Role of Human Resource Management:
1.1.1 Importance of HR Management
1.1.2 Line and Staff Aspects of HRM
1.1.3 New HR Manager Proficiencies
1.1.4 Need to Know your Employment Law
1.1.5 HR Certification
1.1.6 HR and Technology
1.2 Strategic Human Resource Management and the HR Scorecard:
1.2.1 Strategic Management Process
1.2.2 Types of Strategic Plans
1.2.3 Achieving Strategic Fit
1.2.4 HR and Competitive Advantage
1.2.5 HR Scorecard Approach

Unit-2 Recruitment and Placement

2.1 Job Analysis:
2.1.1 Nature of Job Analysis
2.1.2 Methods of Collecting Job Analysis Information
2.1.3 Writing Job Descriptions
2.2 Personnel Planning and Recruiting:

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 2.2.1 Planning and Forecasting
2.2.2 Know your Employment Law
2.2.3 Internal and External Sources Of Candidates
2.2.4 Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
2.3 Employee Testing and Selection:
2.3.1 Basic Testing Concepts
2.3.2 Types of Tests
2.4 Interviewing Candidates:
2.4.1 Types of Interviews
2.4.2 Designing and Conducting the Effective Interview

Unit-3 Training and Development

3.1 Training and Developing Employees:
3.1.1 Orienting Employees
3.1.2 Training Process:
3.1.2.1 Strategic Context of Training
3.1.2.2 Five-Step Training and Development Process
3.1.2.3 Training, Learning, and Motivation
3.2 Training Methods:
3.2.1 On-the-Job Training
3.2.2 Off-the-Job Training
3.3 Evaluating Training Effort

Unit-4 Performance Management and Appraisal

4.1 Basic Concepts in Performance Appraisal and Performance Management:
4.1.1 Comparing Performance Appraisal and Performance Management
4.1.2 Performance Management
4.1.3 Defining Employee`s Goals and Work Efforts
4.2 An Introduction to Appraising Performance:
4.2.1 Appraise Performance
4.2.2 Realistic Appraisals
4.2.3 Steps in Appraising Performance
4.2.4 Graphic Rating Scale Method
4.3 Appraising Performance: Problems and Solutions:
4.3.1 Potential Rating Scale Appraisals Problems
4.3.2 Avoiding Appraisal Problems
4.4 Appraisal Interview

Unit-5 Managing Careers

5.1 Basics of Career Management:
5.1.1 Careers Today
5.1.2 Career Development
5.2 Roles in Career Development
5.3 Managing Promotions and Transfers:
5.3.1 Making Promotion Decisions

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 5.3.2 Handling Transfers
5.4 Career Management and Employee Commitment:
5.4.1 New Psychological Contract
5.4.2 Commitment-Oriented Career Development Efforts

Unit-6 Compensation
6.1 Establishing Strategic Pay Plans:
6.1.1 Steps in Establishing Pay Rates
6.1.2 Pricing Managerial and Professional Jobs
6.1.3 Competency-Based Pay
6.2 Pay for Performance and Financial Incentives:
6.2.1 Money and Motivation
6.2.2 Employee Incentives and Recognition Programs
6.2.3 Incentives for Managers and Executives
6.2.4 Team/Group Variable Pay Incentive Plans
6.2.5 Organization-Wide Variable Pay Plans
6.3 Benefits and Services:
6.3.1 Benefits Picture Today
6.3.2 Pay for Time not Worked
6.3.3 Insurance Benefits
6.3.4 Retirement Benefits
6.3.5 Flexible Benefits Programs

Unit-7 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

7.1 Labor Movements:
7.1.1 Brief History of Unions
7.1.2 Role of Unions
7.2 Unions and Law
7.3 Collective Bargaining Process:
7.3.1 Collective Bargaining
7.3.2 Good Faith
7.3.3 Negotiating Team
7.3.4 Bargaining Items
7.3.5 Bargaining Stages
7.3.6 Bargaining Hints
7.3.7 Impasses, Mediation, and Strikes
7.3.8 Contract Agreement
7.4 Grievances:
7.4.1 Sources of Grievances
7.4.2 Grievance Procedure
7.4.3 Guidelines for Handling Grievances
7.5 Union Movement – Today and Tomorrow

Unit-8 Ethics, Justice, Safety and Health Issues

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 8.1 Ethics and Fair Treatment at Work:
8.1.1 Meaning of Ethics
8.1.2 Ethics and Law
8.1.3 Ethics, Fair Treatment, and Justice
8.2 Ethical Behavior at Work
8.2.1 Individual Factors
8.2.2 Organizational Factors
8.2.3 Boss`s Influence
8.2.4 Ethics Policies and Codes
8.2.5 Organization`s Culture
8.3 Role of HR Management in Fostering Ethics and Fair Treatment:
8.3.1 Treating Employees Fairly
8.3.2 HR Ethics Activities
8.4 Safety Laws
8.5 Management Commitment and Safety
8.6 Preventing Accidents
8.7 Work-Place Health Hazards – Problems and Remedies

Unit-9 Managing Global Human Resources

9.1 HR and Internationalization of Business:
9.1.1 HR Challenges of International Business
9.1.2 Inter-Country Differences impact on HRM
9.2 Global Differences and Similarities in HR Practices:
9.2.1 Personnel Selection Procedures
9.2.2 Purpose of Performance Appraisal
9.2.3 Training and Development Practices
9.3 Staffing The Global Organization:
9.3.1 International Staffing
9.3.2 Off-Shoring
9.3.3 Values and International Staffing Policy

Recommended Books:
Armstrong, Michael. (2010). A Handbook of Human Resource Management. UK:
McGraw Hill.

Cascio, W. (2010). Managing Human Resources. UK: McGraw Hill.

Dessler, G. (2010). Human Resource Management. UK: Pearson/Prentice-Hall.

Legge, Karen. (2008). Human Resource Management. Rhetoric and Realities, UK:
Pearson/Prentice-Hall.

Sims, R. (2009). Organizational Success through Effective Human Resources

Management. London: Quorum Books, Westport.

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