Syllabus (Subject to change during the semester - check Blackboard for updates.)

Seminar In Human Resources Management

BUS 533

Textbooks

Required reading:

Title: Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 2nd edition

Gary Dessler, Florida International University

ISBN-13: 978013255906

Publisher: Prentice Hall

Various articles as specified below. Students can obtain the articles by searching the ECSU library databases.

 

Instructor Information

Name:

Elizabeth D. Scott

 

Email:

scotte@easternct.edu (best way to contact me)

 

Office location:

335 Webb Hall

 

Office hours:

Monday 4:00-5:00, Tuesday 4:30-6:30, Wednesday 10:00-12:00 and by appointment

 

Policies

Syllabus:

This syllabus is not a contract; it is simply a road map to give you an idea of what we will be doing during the semester. I may take advantage of events which occur during the semester and change the topics we cover or the order in which we cover them.

 

Accessibility:

If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact the Office of AccessAbility Services at 465-0189. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should contact the Office of AccessAbility Services as soon as possible. Please note that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from the Office of AccessAbility Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.

 

Class Participation:

Class participation includes arriving at class on time and prepared, making useful contributions, refraining from dominating the conversation, following instructions, and helping to make the class a good learning experience for all. It is possible to receive negative points in class participation.

 

Grading:

Chapter tests

 

 

Random calls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class participation

 

Individual

 simulation performance

 

Team member rating

 

Group

simulation performance

 

NO FREE POINTS

2 points per test completed on time = 28 points

 

5 points, 6 times per semester = 30 possible points (I will call on you to present something to the class that you were supposed to prepare for homework. You will receive 3 points if you have a printed or electronic document to present, additional points will be based on quality of presentation - no points if you have no document prepared)

 

3 possible points per class session = 39

 

10 possible points - assessing absolute performance, rank in class, comparison to teammates, and progress over time.

 

(+ or -)20 possible points

 

80 possible points assessing absolute performance, rank in class, and progress over time.

 

- but total of possible points is 207.

186 = A

180 = A-

174 = B+

166 = B

160 = B-

154 = C+

146 = C

140 = C-

136 = D (a failing grade for graduate work)

 

 

Integrity:

All sources (including classmates) must be properly acknowledged. Quotation marks must surround any string of 4 or more words used verbatim from a source. Penalties, including failure in the course and recommended dismissal from the program, will be assessed upon violation of this policy.

 

Attendance:

If you expect to miss a class, I would appreciate being informed in advance. There is no such thing as an "unexcused" or "excused" absence -- I realize that you have many demands on your time and make the best decisions you can about how to fulfill those demands. However, I do plan class activities assuming you will be there. Knowing you will be absent will help me to adjust. In rare cases, if I know you are going to be absent, I may be able to suggest something you can do to participate in absentia. In most cases, however, absences mean that you will not be able to receive points for class participation.

 

Introduction

Date:

Monday, January 23, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Introduce course and simulation. Establish what it would take to be a good team member. Outline EEO and the Law.

 

Readings for next week:

Textbook:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose 2 of the following articles to read:

 

Read carefully these chapters:

3 Strategic Human Resource Management,

4 Recruiting and Talent Management, and

14 Building High-Performance Work Systems and Improving Strategic Results.

Skim these chapters:

1 Managing Human Resources Today,

2 Managing Equal Opportunity and Diversity

 

New Tricks for an Old Dog: Visualizing Job Analysis Results. By: Stetz, Button, Porr. Public Personnel Management, Spring2009, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p91.

 

Evaluation Of Job Analysis Methods By Experienced Job Analysts. By: Levine, Ash, Hall, Sistrunk. Academy of Management Journal, Jun83, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p339.

 

Using Web-Based Frame-Of-Reference Training To Decrease Biases In Personality-Based Job Analysis: An Experimental Field Study. By: Aguinis, Mazurkiewicz, Heggestad. Personnel Psychology, Summer2009, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p405.

 

Nonrandom Response and Rater Variance in Job Analysis Surveys: A Cause for Concern? By: Stetz, Beaubien, Keeney, Lyons. Public Personnel Management, Summer2008, Vol. 37 Issue 2, p223.

 

Job analysis: a strategic human resource management practice. By: Siddique. International Journal of Human Resource Management, Feb2004, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p219.

 

Assignments:

Check Blackboard for the registration code and link to sign up for simulation at http://www.thehrsim.com/ and follow the instructions in Blackboard.

Prepare your resume to apply for team membership. (Bring 15 copies with you next week.)

Summarize each job analysis article you read (see above) in a one-page graphic or PowerPoint slide that helps explain it to the class.

Be prepared to argue for your solution on ICP 20: Evaluation of HR Programs

Take comprehension tests on carefully-read textbook chapters (3, 4, and 14) on Blackboard. (Skimmed chapter-tests due by February 27th.)

 

HR Scorecard and Job Analysis

Date:

Monday, January 30, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Discuss HR metrics. Job analysis. Analyze jobs involved in simulation teams. ICP 20 discussion.

 

Readings:

For next week:

Simulation Participant Manual, sections 1-3.

 

Textbook:

Chapter 5 Selecting Employees and

Chapter 12 Managing Human Resources in Entrepreneurial Firms.

 

Visit http://connect-ability.com/

 

Assignments:

Research jobs for Human Resource Managers, Compensation Managers, Labor Relations Managers, or HR Consultants in the Occupational Outlook Handbook to identify what skills and abilities are important to this kind of job. http://stats.bls.gov/oco/home.htm and in O*NET http://online.onetcenter.org/. Create a list of required skills and abilities for “job” of HR class team member to bring to class.

Prepare draft screening criteria for potential team members (bring 5 copies with you to class.)

Search for testing mechanisms that might be able to assess whether applicants have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be Human Resource Managers or Consultants. Create a list of possible performance tests and/or items for paper-and-pencil tests.

Take comprehension tests on assigned textbook chapters.

Take comprehension tests on the participant manual.

Be prepared to argue for your solution on ICP 18: Selection Process

 

Staffing (Recruiting and Testing)

Date:

Monday, February 6, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Discuss staffing issues. Review recruitment formula. Conduct tests and assess results. Address balanced scorecard or digital dashboard as measure of performance in simulation. Discuss ICP 18

 

Readings:

For next week, textbook:

Chapter 6 (Training & Developing Employees) and

Chapter 13 (Managing HR Globally).

 

Assignments:

Write draft interview questions for potential team members. Bring 5 copies of your questions to class with you.

 

Prepare Decision Work Form for first round of simulation. Bring a printed copy to class with you.

 

Take comprehension tests on assigned textbook chapters.

 

Be prepared to argue for your solution on

ICP 16: Off-shoring and

ICP 17: Recruitment Sourcing Effectiveness

 

Using Blackboard, identify preferred team membership.

 

Interviews/Training & Development

Date:

Monday, February 13, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Prepare interview questions. Conduct interviews.

Discuss transfer of training. Create measures for transfer of training. Discuss training and development methods. Apply methods to particular training needs. Brainstorm training for new job. Discuss simulation issues.

Assign to teams for simulation. Meet with teams to discuss goals and strategies.         

 

Readings:

For next class (2 weeks):

Chapter 7 (Performance and Talent Management)

http://www.opm.gov/perform/

 

Assignments:

Identify evidence of transfer of training from MSOM courses to work setting. Bring a summary to class.

 

Obtain copies of your organization’s performance appraisal instruments. Create a performance appraisal instrument to measure human resources class teammate performance. Bring 5 copies to class with you.

 

Take comprehension tests on assigned textbook chapters. (Don’t forget to do comprehension tests on Chapters 1 Managing Human Resources Today, 2 Managing Equal Opportunity and Diversity as well.)

 

Complete Quarter 1 of Year 1 of simulation

 

 

 Holiday: Monday, February 20, 2012

 

Performance and Talent Management

Date:

Monday, February 27, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Design appraisal instrument for individual and group performance on simulation. Review simulation results using appraisal instrument. Prepare for next simulation. Discuss talent management through education.

 

Readings:

For next week: Read Chapter 8 (Compensating Employees).

 

Assignments:

Obtain or review and summarize copies of your organization's compensation plans. (If you have more than 2 plans, don’t spend extra time to obtain them all unless you’re interested.) Be prepared to describe them in class, complete with visual aids.

 

Take comprehension tests on assigned textbook chapters.

 

Complete Quarter 2 of Year 1 of simulation

 

Compensating Employees

Date:

Monday, March 5, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Review simulation results. Apply pay principles to simulation. Discuss various compensation systems.

 

Readings:

For next week: Read: Chapter 9 (Ethics, Employee Rights & Fair Treatment at Work)

 

Assignments:

Take comprehension tests on assigned textbook chapters.

 

Obtain or review and summarize copies of your organization's benefits plans. (If you have more than 2 plans, don’t spend extra time to obtain them all unless you’re interested.) Be prepared to describe them in class, complete with visual aids.

 

Obtain or review and summarize copies of your organization’s values and or ethics statements. Be prepared to describe them in class, complete with visual aids.

 

Complete Quarter 3 of Year 1 of simulation, ICP 14: Sustainability

 

Ethics, Employee Rights & Fair Treatment at Work

Date:

Monday, Monday, March 12, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Address ethics. Review simulation results.

 

Readings:

For next class (two weeks):

 

Textbook Chapters 10 (Working with Unions and Resolving Disputes) and 11 (Improving Occupational Safety Health, and Security)

 

Article:

Global Competition's Perfect Storm: Why Business and Labor Cannot Solve Their Problems Alone. By: Rousseau, Denise M.; Batt, Rosemary. Academy of Management Perspectives, May2007, Vol. 21 Issue 2, p16.

 

Assignments:

Choose one of the chapter topics (10 or 11) and find out about your organization’s policies in that area. If you are not currently employed, find another organization and explore its policies. Be prepared to present a 3 minute summary to the class, complete with visual aids.

Take comprehension tests on assigned textbook chapters.

Complete Quarter 4 of Year 1 of simulation, ICP 9 Union Activity

 

 

Spring Break: Monday, March 19, 2012

 

Labor Relations/ Employee Safety & Health

Date:

Monday, March 26, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Discuss laws and principles underlying Labor Relations approaches. Address Employee Safety and Health.

 

Readings:

For next week:

Temporary Employment and Strategic Staffing in the Manufacturing Sector. By: VIDAL, MATT; TIGGES, LEANN M.. Industrial Relations, Jan2009, Vol. 48 Issue 1, p55.

 

Literature review of theory and research on the psychological impact of temporary employment: Towards a conceptual model. By: De Cuyper, Nele; de Jong, Jeroen; De Witte, Hans; Isaksson, Kerstin; Rigotti, Thomas; Schalk, Ren. International Journal of Management Reviews, Mar2008, Vol. 10 Issue 1, p25.

 

Determinants of Employment Externalization: A Study of Temporary Workers and Independent Contractors. By: Davis-Blake, Alison; Uzzi, Brian. Administrative Science Quarterly, Jun93, Vol. 38 Issue 2, p195.

 

The Impacts Of Job Characteristics On IS Employee Satisfaction: A Comparison Between Permanent And Temporary Employees. By: Galup, Stuart D.; Klein, Gary; Jiang, James J.. Journal of Computer Information Systems, Summer2008, Vol. 48 Issue 4, p58.

 

Assignments:

Complete Quarter 1 of Year 2 by Saturday noon ICP 17: Recruitment Sourcing Effectiveness, 3/31; begin work on Quarter 2 ICP 18: Selection Process.

 

Year 2, Quarters 1 & 2: Focus on Staffing

Date:

Monday, April 2, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Complete Quarter 2 of Year 2 by 7:30PM. Debrief and prepare for next quarter. Discuss staffing issues. Discuss temporary employment.

 

Readings:

For next week:

What predicts skill transfer? An exploratory study of goal orientation, training self-efficacy and organizational supports, by Dan S. Chiaburu and Sophia V. Marinova, International Journal of Training and Development 9:2

 

Learning by Doing Something Else: Variation, Relatedness, and the Learning Curve, by Melissa A. Schilling, Patricia Vidal, Robert E. Ployhart, and Alexandre Marangoni, Management Science Vol. 49, No. 1, January 2003 p. 39.

 

Assignments:

Complete Quarter 3 of Year 2 by Saturday noon ICP 15: Generational Diversity, 4/7; begin work on Quarter 4 ICP 11 Learning Organization.

 

Year 2, Quarters 3 & 4: Focus on Training and Development

Date:

Monday, April 9, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Complete Quarter 4 of Year 2 by 7:30PM. Discuss transfer of training. Debrief and prepare for next quarter.

 

Readings:

For next week:

The Influence of Group Discussion on Performance Judgments: Rating Accuracy, Contrast Effects, and Halo. By: Palmer & Loveland, Journal of Psychology, Mar2008, Vol. 142 Issue 2, p117.

 

Effects of Task Performance, Helping, Voice, and Organizational Loyalty on Performance Appraisal Ratings. By: Whiting, Podsakoff, & Pierce, Journal of Applied Psychology, Jan2008, Vol. 93 Issue 1, p125.

 

Performance Appraisals Don't Work -- What Does? By: Heathfield. Journal for Quality & Participation, Spring2007, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p6.

 

Assignments:

Complete Quarter 1 of Year 3 by Saturday noon, 4/14; begin work on Quarter 2 ICP 5: Organizational Climate.

 

Year 3, Quarters 1 & 2: Focus on Appraisals

Date:

Monday, April 16, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Complete Quarter 2 of Year 3 by 7:30PM. Discuss appraisals. Debrief and prepare for next quarter.

 

Readings:

For next week: Read Wal-Mart Benefits Memo (NY Times, October 26, 2005)

 

Assignments:

Complete Quarter 3 of Year 3 by Saturday noon, 4/21 ; begin work on Quarter 4 ICP 12: Retirement Planning.

Find an article from the news (Time, Newsweek, Business Week, Wall Street Journal…) from the past six months on employee compensation systems. Summarize the article, evaluate it in terms of what you know about compensation and benefits and be prepared to present your analysis to the class.

 

Year 3, Quarters 3 & 4: Focus on Compensation and Benefits

Date:

Monday, April 23, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

Complete Quarter 4 of Year 3 by 7:30PM. Discuss compensation. Debrief and prepare presentations.

 

Readings:

 

Assignments:

Prepare a presentation of what your group learned from the simulation.

 

Team presentations

Date:

Monday, April 30, 2012

 

Objectives or Goals:

 

Assignments:

Peer evaluations

 

 

 

 

 

Simulation Schedule

 

Y1Q1

Due 2/27 7:00 pm

 

 

Y1Q2

Due 3/5 7:00 pm

 

 

Y1Q3

Due 3/12 7:00 pm

ICP 14: Sustainability

 

Y1Q4

Due 3/26 7:00 pm

ICP 9 Union Activity

 

Y2Q1

Due 3/31 noon

ICP 17: Recruitment Sourcing Effectiveness

 

Y2Q2

Due 4/2 7:30 pm

ICP 18: Selection Process

 

Y2Q3

Due 4/7 noon

ICP 15: Generational Diversity

 

Y2Q4

Due 4/9 7:30 pm

ICP 11 Learning Organization

 

Y3Q1

Due 4/14 noon

 

 

Y3Q2

Due 4/16 7:30

ICP 5: Organizational Climate

 

Y3Q3

Due 4/21 noon

 

 

Y3Q4

Due 4/23 7:30

ICP 12: Retirement Planning