BUSMAN 705 : Strategic Human Resource Management

Business and Economics

2025 Quarter One (1252) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores how HR strategies can enhance organisational performance and employee well-being. Examines research on contemporary challenges in strategic HRM in domestic and multinational firms.

Course Overview

Organisations often claim that employees are among their most valued assets. However, employee reporting indicates that not only do they not always feel valued, but that organisational practice might not reflect the value attributed to employees. So why is there this mismatch between what organisations say and what they do? Studies show that while human resources remain among a firm’s most vital and irreplaceable resources, they are also among the most difficult to manage. Yet, if managed well, effective and efficient human resource practices can help organisations gain long term, sustainable competitive advantage. In this course, we will examine how managers can develop and implement effective and efficient human resource practices that support the strategic objectives of their firms. 

Course Requirements

Restriction: BUSADMIN 761, 771

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain and communicate how HRM affects organisational performance and employee well-being and the challenges encountered in HR strategy across different societal, industry and organisational contexts. (Capability 3 and 6.2)
  2. Identify and analyse the factors that influence the implementation of HR strategies. (Capability 1.1 and 3)
  3. Evaluate the quality of a proposed, or actual, HR strategy in terms of supporting organisational goals. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Communicate your understanding of the application of HRM principles and practices as a source of competitive advantage (Capability 3 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Written (Peer) Critique 15% Individual Coursework
HBR Case Studies 30% Group Coursework
Weekly Learning Journal (Initial & Final) 55% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Written (Peer) Critique
HBR Case Studies
Weekly Learning Journal (Initial & Final)

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 15 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of class, 6-7 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4-5 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at each of the scheduled weekly sessions. A number of the assessments will take place in class during the scheduled weekly sessions.
Lectures will be available as recordings. However, recordings may not adequately capture the interactive elements of the weekly session. 

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Learning resources will include academic and practitioner articles and various case studies.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Minor changes to the in-person group Case Study assessment have been made to reflect student feedback regarding the 'presentation' element of the assessment in 2024.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 11/11/2024 03:27 p.m.