This course provides an overview of the principles, theories and practices of human resource management (HRM) and the linkage between HRM and business strategy.  Specific topics include the strategic role of HRM, recruitment and selection, learning and career development, employee motivation and reward management, performance appraisal, diversity management, workplace health and safety, and employment relations.  Please note that the material is designed with an Australian focus and it will not cover International HRM issues and concepts except as they manifest in domestic HR management.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify the key issues and challenges relating to HRM processes and practices (e.g recruitment and selection, learning and development, performance management, and reward management);
2. Acquire a solid theoretical and practical perspective on the key human resource management concepts;
3. Identify the linkages between HRM processes and practices and business strategies, structures and culture;
4. Develop an awareness of the different internal and external factors that impact the effectiveness of HR processes and practices; and
5. Strengthen key management competencies in decision-making, group leadership, oral and written communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, planning and team work.

Research-Led Teaching

This Course accords with the principles of evidence-based management and practice, and in so doing aligns with the ANU's objectives of research-led and evidence-based education. This Course teaches students evidence-based principles for effective HR practice. Evidence-based Management involves the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of best-available evidence about and within business organisations for effective decision-making. The Centre for Evidence-based Management (CEBMa) (http://www.cebma.org) recognises the value of HR practitioners (i.e. including supervisors and managers) being more evidence-based in making decisions about practice and solving HR problems. Those HR practitioners that rely on their personal experience and discretion alone are susceptible to making errors in judgement and causal inference which contaminate rational problem solving and decision-making. HR practitioners that have an understanding of researched concepts and who are able to utilise academic evidence in HR practice, will be more adept at making decisions that add value to work organisations and have meaning and impact upon individuals.

The CEBMa has several resources available to students. Students in this Course are invited to read Evidence-Based Management: The Basic Principles on Wattle

The Learning Outcomes for this course are summarised as:

1. Understand and identify key issues relating to HRM;
2. Acquire a solid theoretical and practical perspective of HRM;
3. Identify links between HRM and business strategies;
4. Develop awareness of internal and external factors affecting HRM; and
5. Strengthen key competencies in decision-making, leadership, oral and written communication, critical thinking, problem-solving planning and team work.

Field Trips

Not applicable

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs for this course.

Examination Material or equipment

No final examination will be used in the Course.

Required Resources

Stone, R., Cox, A., and Gavin, M. Human Resource Management, 10th Edition, 2021, Wiley

The textbook is available as a hard copy from the bookshop or as an e-book from the publisher - hard copies are also available from the Library on two-hour and two-day reserve and an e-copy will be available too.

More information about links will be made available on Wattle by Week 1

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The course will be taught with live lectures (pre-recorded if public holidays fall on lectures days). In addition, F2F tutorials . Please note that the course may move to hybrid delivery or 100% Online at short notice depending on public health situation. 

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture 1 - Course Introduction, Overview of HR Management and Organisational Context Week commencing 20 February 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapters 1 & 2 and articles on Wattle Please note: Tutorials begin Week 2
2	Lecture 2 - Employment Relationship, negotiation and formal frameworks Week commencing 27 February 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapter 4 and articles on Wattle
3	Lecture 3 - Organisational Structure and Work Design Week commencing 6 March 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapter 5 and articles on Wattle
4	Lecture 4 - Recruitment and Selection Week commencing 13 March 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapters 6 & 7, and articles on Wattle. First quiz opens Friday at 5.00 and closes on Monday at 9.00. Results available immediately after close. Monday PH - lecture available regardless
5	Lecture 5 - Leadership and Ethics in HRM Week commencing 20 March 2023	Required reading: Articles on Wattle.
6	Lecture 6 - Training, Learning and Development Week commencing 27 March 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapters 9 & 10, and articles on Wattle Teaching Break: 3 April 2023 - 17 April 2023 (including Easter PH)
7	Lecture 7 - Performance and Reward Management Week commencing 17 April 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapter 8 & 11, and articles on Wattle. Assessment task 3 - Major Essay due by 9am, 17 April 2023
8	Lecture 8 - Workplace Counselling, Discipline and Separations Week commencing 24 April 2023	Required reading: Various articles on Wattle Tuesday PH - Lecture will still occur on Monday
9	Lecture 9 - Managing Workplace Health, Safety and Well-being Week commencing 01 May 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapter 12 and articles on Wattle
10	Lecture 10 - Culture, Managing Changing and Diverse Workplaces Week commencing 08 May 2023	Required reading: Textbook Chapters 13 & 14, and articles on Wattle. 2nd of two quizzes opens Friday at 5.00 and closes on Monday at 9.00. Results available after close.
11	Lecture 11 - HR issues: now and the future Week commencing 17 May 2023	Required reading: Various articles on Wattle
12	Lecture 12 - Conclusion of Course and Revision Week commencing 22 May 2023	Conclusion and Revision Teaching session ends on Friday, 26 May 2023

Tutorial Registration

Tutorial options will be available for self-enrolment on Wattle at commencement of Week 1. Please note that all students MUST enrol in a tutorial class to have their assessment tasks marked. See: https://mytimetable.anu.edu.au/odd/admin/adminLoginExe.do

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
2 x Multiple Choice Quizzes ( totalling 15%) and comprising 15 questions per quiz (i.e. worth 1/2 mark per question).	15 %	*	15/05/2023	1,2,3,4
Analytical Reflection on an HR topic (10%)	10 %	31/03/2023	17/04/2023	1,2,3,4,5
Major Essay (30%)	30 %	17/04/2023	01/05/2023	1,2,3,4,5
Final Portfolio Assessment (30%)	30 %	26/05/2023	29/06/2023	1,2,3,4,5
Article Assessment Task	15 %	01/06/2023	29/06/2023	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Lectures will be presented in person and also recorded and made available on Echo360 and Wattle; and tutorials will be carried out face-to face. It is expected that active tutorial participation will enhance the students' learning and assist in preparation for individual assessment tasks. In that public holidays fall on Lecture days, a pre-recorded lecture will be loaded to Echo360 in lieu of a live lecture.

Examination(s)

No final examination is proposed for this Course.

Assessment Task 1

2 x Multiple Choice Quizzes ( totalling 15%) and comprising 15 questions per quiz (i.e. worth 1/2 mark per question).

Each assessment quiz will assess the students' knowledge of the course material covered in the textbook in approximately four-week segments. Quizzes will be administered via Wattle (i.e. online) and results provided to students after the quiz closes. One attempt only will be permitted and the assessment will be time limited to 15 minutes per quiz. The quiz window will open at 5.00 PM on Friday afternoon and close by 9.00 AM Monday.

One quiz will be held BEFORE the 31 March census date.

Quiz 1 opens on 17 March and closes on 20 March (i.e. after week 4)

Quiz 2 opens on 12 May and closes on 15 May (i.e. after week 10)

Late submission will not be allowed on this assessment task.

Assessment type: Individual

Learning Outcomes in focus: 1, 2, 3 and 4

Time limit: 15 minutes for each quiz

Value: This assessment task (two quizzes) is worth 15% of the total course grade.

Marking criteria: Correct answers to multiple choice questions

Quiz opens: 5.00 PM on Friday of Weeks 4 and 10 on Wattle

Quiz closes: 9.00 AM of the following Monday

Form of submission: Online through Wattle

Return of assessment: Immediately after the quiz closes

Assessment Task 2

Analytical Reflection on an HR topic (10%)

Each student will prepare a critical analysis and individual reflection (i.e NOT a summary) on the of topic of the Employment Relationship OR Work Design (or a significant portion of one of these topics). This submission must be no more than 500 words and explain how the theoretical issues or concepts from the chosen topic could improve the student's performance within an organisation, (i.e. speculate the work role the student may undertake after graduating such as graduate, team leader, supervisor or manager). Students may provide examples or suggestions to demonstrate applied learning.

Submission via Turnitin must be in double spacing. Harvard in-text referencing is to be used, but students should focus their efforts on their synthesis, integration and understanding of the topic area chosen, rather than providing extensive referencing. Further guidance (Rubric, Bloom's taxonomy explanation & more details) on the Analytic Reflection are published on Wattle and discussed in Week 1.

Assessment type: Individual

Learning Outcomes in focus: 1,2,3, 4 and 5

Word limit: 500 words - part in excess of 110% of word limit will neither be read nor marked.

Value: 10%

Marking criteria: The marking criteria is provided on Wattle.

Due date: 9AM on Friday, 31st March 2023

Form of submission: via Turnitin on the course Wattle site

Return of assessment: 9 AM on Monday, 17th April i.e. first day of return from mid-semester break.

Assessment Task 3

Major Essay (30%)

By Monday, 17 April, 9 AM, each student will submit via Turnitin a major essay immediately AFTER the mid-semester break that demonstrates understanding of HR Management evidence base in relation to Employee Selection. The essay task will be 2500 words (+/- 10%) using Harvard in-text referencing and DOUBLE spacing.

This assessment task is in two parts. Students must answer BOTH Part A and Part B within the word limit. Submission is via TURNITIN.

Part A

In 1500 (+/- 10%) words outline your understanding of the ACADEMIC EVIDENCE about the RELIABILITY and VALIDITY of various candidate SELECTION processes or techniques.

Part B

Based on Part A and in 1000 (+/- 10%) words, explain how you might use this understanding as a CANDIDATE to optimise your likelihood of success in the selection process.

Importantly, this essay is an assignment where the student is expected to demonstrate skills in researching a significant HR management issue and showcase their abilities at marshaling an academic argument that explores a topic well, consistent with the reasonable expectations for a second year student. Accordingly as this is the major theoretical assessment task for the course, students must reveal their familiarity with the textbook, wattle articles, and their own research of relevant journals to create and sustain a compelling scholarly narrative grounded in available scholarly evidence that states the position they take in relation to the essay question and demonstrates clearly why and how that position is well reasoned.

Please Note that content in excess of the 10% word limit variance will not be penalised but this content will not be assessed nor make a contribution to the final mark.

Guidance on the Essay is published on Wattle from the beginning of the semester.

Assessment type: Individual

Learning Outcomes in focus: 1,2,3, 4 and 5

Word limit: 2500 words (+/- 10%) - Words in excess of limits in both parts will neither be read nor marked.

Value: 30%

Marking criteria: Provided on Wattle.

Due date: 9AM on Monday, 17 April 2023 of Week 7

Form of submission: via Turnitin on the course Wattle site

Return of assessment: 5 PM Monday, 1 May

Assessment Task 4

Final Portfolio Assessment (30%)

A final assessment comprising a portfolio of documents (worth 40%) created over the course of the semester which includes drafting:

1. a position description (up to 2 pages);
2. an advertisement (for either a newspaper or online portal) 1/2 page);
3. six interview questions (on one page); and
4. a performance agreement (up to two pages).

In addition, each student will explain in 1500 words (+/- 10%) the issues and concepts that guided their drafting of these documents having regard to relevant theories, concepts, and evidence. This explanation is worth 60% of the assessment mark.

Please Note that content in excess of the 10% word limit variance will not be penalised but this content will not be assessed nor make a contribution to the final mark.

Late submission will not be allowed on this assessment task.

Assessment type: Individual

Learning Outcomes in focus: 1,2,3, 4 and 5

Value: 30%

Due date: 9 AM, Friday, 26 May 2023

Return of assessment: After the release of results in late June.

Assessment Task 5

Article Assessment Task

An assessment task comprising a choice of short answer questions (grounded in the weekly articles posted to Wattle) will be conducted on the weekend at the end of the teaching period and administered via Wattle. One attempt only will be permitted and the assessment will be time limited to 45 minutes.

Assessment type: Individual

Learning Outcomes in focus: 1,2,3, 4 and 5

Value: 15%

Assessment opens: 5.00 PM 30 May 2023

Assessment closes: 9.00 AM, 1 June 2023

Form of submission: Online through Wattle

Return of assessment: incorporated into the release of final results in late June.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Association Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.Late submission is not accepted for on-line examinations and multiple choice quizzes.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://www.rsm.anu.edu.au/education/education-programs/rsm-assessment-extension/ .

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Multiple Choice Quiz results will be available immediately after the assessment task closes.

Any other assessment items will be returned generally, with feedback and/or comments, after a fortnight.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Unless specified otherwise in the assignment requirements, resubmission is permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students