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Strategic Human Resource Management

OB 6307, Section 501: Spring 2010


Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Orlando Richard
Office: SOM 4.413
Office Hours: By Appointment
Class Hours: Thursday, 7:00-9:45PM in SOM 2.107
Phone: 972-883-4073
Electronic mail: pretty@utdallas.edu

Graduate Assistant: Martina Quan: Phone, 972-883-6268


E-mail, martinaquan@gmail.com

Required Reading Materials

Textbook: Bernardin, H.John 5th Edition. Human Resource Management: An


Experiential Approach. McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Refereed Article: Miles, R.E., & Snow, C.C. 1984. Designing strategic human
resource systems. Organizational Dynamics, 16: 36-52.

Course Outline

This course will provide a generalist approach to the field of human resource
management (HRM) and the emerging sub-topic dubbed strategic HRM. We will be
examining broad topic areas of the legal environment, selection, performance appraisal,
training, compensation, and labor relations using a strategic approach. We will
investigate how each of these areas relates to one another as well as to the essence of the
business. This knowledge will be obtained through lectures, readings, videos, and in-
depth case study. Since the field of management has moved towards a team approach,
group work and collaboration will be essential for case analysis.

Course Objective

Students successfully completing this course should leave with knowledge of the
key functional areas of HRM; knowledge of laws and regulations which affect HRM; an
understanding of the strategic HRM perspective; an understanding of the relationship
between business strategies and HRM practices; and familiarity with evaluation of HRM
effectiveness.

Course Policies

1. Please arrive on time for class. If you think that you will be tardy frequently, consider
withdrawing from this section of OB 6307.

2. Participation. Students must be prepared to discuss Critical Thinking Applications


and/or Chapter Exercises on a daily basis (prepare a 1-page typed analysis).
3. Critical Thinking Applications or Exercise Facilitation. Facilitators should prepare a
2-page typewritten analysis and present an article summary on a related topic. The
approach should be interactive and solicitation of class member ideas and solutions is
of utmost importance. Do not use the bulk of the time presenting your expert
analysis. The objective is an integration of all participant answers into a cohesive
solution thus bringing about closure.

4. Examinations. Tests will include lecture material that is not in the readings. Makeup
exams will be given only for legitimate absences as defined in the student handbook.
Please bring adequate documentation. Makeup exams should be scheduled prior to the
original date. Please notify me well in advance if are aware of a schedule conflict.

5. Class Project. Assignments 1-3 comprise a single project that will be written and
presented orally throughout the semester. Directions are attached to this syllabus.

6. Students needing testing accommodations or classroom accommodations based on


disability are encouraged to discuss the need with me as soon as possible.

7. All homework, individual assignments, and exams are to be individual efforts. You
are not to collaborate with other students, or to discuss assignment solutions with other
students prior to submission. Copying of homework, assignments, or exams, in whole or
in part, from other students or from assignments from previous semesters will be
considered to be an act of scholastic dishonesty.

Exams and Grading


Component Points Percentage Grade Total Points

Participation 60 90-100 A 900-1000


CTA Facilitator 40 80-89 B 800-899
Exam 1 200 70-79 C 700-799
Exam 2 150 60-69 D 600-699
Exam 3 150 < 60 F < 600
Assignment 1 100
Assignment 2 150
Assignment 3 125
HR Research* 25

------------ ---------
Total 1000
*Select a HR topic and write a summary for 2 academic and 2 practitioner articles.
Discuss your preferences for either or both in class.
Tentative Schedule
Date Subjects Chapter Readings

Jan 14 Class introductory lecture (Group Division)

21 Lecture, (SHRM & IHRM): Fac. 1 & 2 1, 2, 3

28 Lecture, Employee Safety, Work Design: Fac. 3 & 4 4, 14

Feb 4 Lecture, Performance Management, HR Planning 5, 7


Assignment I

11 Exam 1
18 Lecture, Recruiting, Selection, Training: Fac. 5 5, 6, 8

25 Lecture, HRD: HR Events: Fac. 6 9

Mar 4 Assignment II

11 HR Video Applications: HR Research Due: Exam Outline

18 No Class: Spring Break

25 Exam 2

Apr 1 Lecture, Organization Development, Pay, Benefits: Fac. 7 10, 11

8 Select Topics: Handout for Exercise on Collective Bargaining 12, 13

15 Fac. 8, Group Debate (Topic TBA): Lecture, Managing Diversity

22 Assignment III

29 HR Events Day: Progress Report

May 6 Final Exam


Facilitation Schedule
Fac. 1: CTA 1-C (25 minutes) Name/s ____________________________
Resolution: Close down the Human Resource Department

Fac. 2: Group Presentation (20 minutes) Name/s ____________________________


Using Internet Search Engines to Conduct HR Research

Fac. 3: Exercise 1-3 (30 minutes) Name/s ____________________________


HR Issues at Valley National Bank

Fac. 4: CTA 2-B (30 minutes) Name/s ____________________________


International Human Resources: How about a Cuppa?

Fac. 5: Exercise 6.2 (40 minutes) Name/s ____________________________


Hiring a Plant Manager At Dynamo Industries

Fac. 6: Exercise 9.3 (40 minutes) Name/s ____________________________


Career Development at Techo Chip Computers

Fac. 7: CTA 10-A (45 minutes) Name/s ____________________________


Defending Corporate Pay

Fac. 8: Debate (50 minutes) Name/s __________________________


Topic TBA
Assignments 1, 2, and 3
Background. During the semester you will have three related assignments. These
assignments require developing an in-depth understanding of the relationship
between the goals of a business and the human resource management policies and
practices. First, you must find a business that will allow you to interview them in
depth about their business and human resource strategies and allow access to their
personnel policies and practices (e.g., employee handbooks, selection devices).
This business may be small or large and can be a current or previous employer. If
necessary, you may guarantee this business anonymity, in that I will not need to
know the name or the business or other identifying information.

Assignment 1. In this assignment you will describe the business strategy of the firm
you have selected. You will provide background information on the nature of the
business, the size of the business, and its competitive environment. Some firms will
have a clearly articulated mission statement. For these firms, you will need to
determine if what they preach is consistent with what they practice. Other firms may
have no concrete idea of their business strategy. You will need to discern their
business strategy from how they operate as a company.

In either case, your assignment is to build a case to conclude whether their current
practices are innovative (prospectors), focus on costs (defenders), have elements of
both (analyzers), or complete lack a strategy (reactors). The top half of Exhibit 3 in
the Miles and Snow reading provides an outline of the characteristics of the various
business strategies. You should provide specific examples to strengthen your case
and draw a clear conclusion at the end of the paper.

The body of the paper should be 3 single spaced pages of 12 characters per square
inch. (Please comply with the spirit of this request)

Assignment 2. This assignment is similar to the first assignment but now you will
describe the firm’s human resource system. You should thoroughly detail what the
firm is doing in terms of HR planning, staffing and selecting, appraising,
compensating, training, and developing. The bottom half of Exhibit 3 in the Miles
and Snow reading will be useful for guiding you through the options. At the end of
the assignment, I want you to conclude the type of human resource strategy they
follow (e.g., prospector, defender).

This paper will be restricted to 4 single spaced pages. Use the same guidelines as
before on the font.

Assignment 3. Strategic Alignment: You need to assess whether or not there is


consistency between the firm’s human resource practices. Which practices work
together, which ones conflict? Determine whether the conflicts are major or minor.
Doe fit generally exist between the organization’s business objectives and their
human resource strategy? Where do conflicts exist? Where is their alignment?
Make a list of recommendations that suggest where the firm could modify their
human resource practices and/or business strategy and bring things into alignment.
Keep this assignment within 4 single spaced pages according to earlier guidelines.

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