Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit is concerned with practices involved with the management of people in work organisations. People are the human capital fundamental to teh success of organisations and the achievement of business strategy and objectives. The content of the covers models and functions in selected areas of human resource management including strategic human resource planning, recruitment and selection of employees, training and development, performance management, remuneration and benefits, employment relations, and assessing the effectiveness of HRM. Various legislative requirements are also examined. Sustainable HRM as an ethical approach to achieving organisation sustainability strategy is explored.  

2025 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

MGMT634 Management of Resources: People

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Appraise the influences of internal and external b...

Learning Outcome 01

Appraise the influences of internal and external business environmental factors on a strategic human resource management approach to managing people for organisational performance

Examine selected human resource practices, such as...

Learning Outcome 02

Examine selected human resource practices, such as recruitment and selection, training and development, remuneration and benefits, performance management and evaluate ways in which these practices could be improved

Critically evaluate organisational and HRM efficie...

Learning Outcome 03

Critically evaluate organisational and HRM efficiency and effectiveness and demonstrate how this could be managed in an ethical manner

Evaluate national and global human resource practi...

Learning Outcome 04

Evaluate national and global human resource practices for organisation sustainability considering the dignity of each individual and human diversity

Content

Topics covered:

  • Appraise various models of HRM
  • Interpret legal, political and other external contexts of HRM
  • Evaluate internal business context of HRM
  • Outline HR planning
  • Understand employee attraction, selection and retention of staff
  • Examine managing a diverse workforce
  • Reflect employee learning and development
  • Critically evaluate employee compensation
  • Analyse employee performance management
  • Reflect occupational health and safety
  • Appraise HRM in the future – Sustainable HRM, ethical HRM, and global HRM

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies. 

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate competence in all learning outcomes and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure students’ level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the unit.

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Learning Journal This assess...

Assessment Task 1: Learning Journal

This assessment task consists of a 1200-word written reflective learning journal. This task requires students to critically reflect on any four topics covered in the first five weeks and examine the knowledge, relevance and application of the topics covered in the unit in relation to the real-world situation.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Learning Journal

Artefact: Written reflective journal

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Individual written essay This...

Assessment Task 2: Individual written essay

This assessment task consists of 1500-word research essay. This task requires students to apply their research skills to examine and critically evaluate HRM subject knowledge from an ethical perspective. 

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Research Essay

Artefact: Written essay

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Organisation study report Th...

Assessment Task 3: Organisation study report

This assessment task consists of a 1300-word written organisation study Report. This task requires students to work in groups to choose a company of their choice and undertake a systematic review of an organization’s HR practices in alignment with business contexts (e.g., external and internal environments) for organisational effectiveness and efficiency. systematic review of an organization’s HR functions, practices and contexts (e.g., external and internal environments). The purpose of this report is to assist students as managers in drafting and implementing effective action plans and appropriate solutions, taking into account ethical perspectives.

Submission Type: Individual/Group

Assessment Method: Report

Artefact: Written report

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO3, LO4

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Mode of delivery: Lectures, seminars and workshops on campus or multi-mode or online.

Pattern of attendance and duration: 12 week-semester or equivalent. Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including class attendance, readings and assignment preparation.

ACU Online

This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.

Representative texts and references

Nankervis, A., Baird, M., Coffey, J. & Shields, J. 2019 Human Resource Management: Strategy and Practice, 9th Asia-Pacific edition, South Melbourne: Cengage Learning Australia Ltd.

Cascio, WF 2019, Human Resource Management, 11th edn, McGraw-Hill.

Noe R., Hollenbeck, J., Gerhart, B., & Wright, P. 2020. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 8th edn, McGraw-Hill. US.

Dessler, G. 2019. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 5th edn, Pearson. US.

Further references

  • Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Resources
  • HR Monthly
  • Human Resources Management
  • Human Resource Management Journal
  • International Journal of Human Resource Management
  • Journal of Human Resources
  • Journal of Industrial Relations
  • Personnel Review
Locations
Credit points
Year

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