HR9745 - Human Resource Management Practice

What will I learn on this module?

This module develops your ability to understand your role in managing and developing relationships with colleagues at work. It aims to introduce a range of HR processes, procedures and underpinning theories for working with and managing people, and to encourage you to apply these to your own personal and organisational experiences in order to identify areas of improving practice. The module focuses not just on the practical aspects of recruitment, selection, performance management, employee relations, but also on the strategic aspects to equip you with the knowledge and skills required for resourcing and talent management within a global context. The module requires critical reflection on theory and practice within the assessments from an ethical and professional standpoint and provides opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development.

The module aims to encourage you to critically engage with current theoretical and applied perspectives and explore the practical application of these perspectives through reference to written case studies illustrating work situations, group tasks, or directly through reflection on your own experience and work based assignment. A work based project that requires the learners to evaluate their existing HRM practice in line with knowledge developed throughout the module in order to make recommendations for improvement. It will also be expected of you to do presentations to Vocare executives to illustrate the distance travelled and the personal and professional knowledge and skills acquired. The module will enable you to consider and apply new HRM approaches at work and develop more effective strategies to ensure a positive impact.

How will I learn on this module?

There are a number of ways in which you will learn on this module. There is a comprehensive teaching and learning plan that details learning activities including reading, listening to podcasts and completing activities such as self-assessment questionnaires and collecting feedback from others. This is supported by learning materials available via our on line e learning platform. At the workshop sessions, you will be able to consolidate your learning and be supported in considering how you will apply this learning to your practice and context through tutor led discussion of the theory and action learning discussions with your colleagues on the programme. On the workshops, you will engage in a number of activities to develop your understanding of the learning material, this will include a debate, team presentations and other directed activities.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

As a work based award with an emphasis upon develop skills, knowledge and behaviours specifically designed to accelerate and enhance employability, the philosophy of the programme is based on developing exemplary self and leadership practice, evaluating current practice from an individual and organisational perspective, and subsequently improving practice. This will be achieved and supported in the following ways

Extended Induction An extended induction is delivered throughout the programme through the provision of a series of learning resource and study skills interventions. These are scheduled as timely interventions based on the specific demands of the programme. This extended induction will be embedded into this module and as such specific academic skills guidance in relation to critical and reflective writing, accessing learning resources and developing a personal development plan will be addressed.

Action Learning Sets You will be part of an action learning set. These will be self-managed although guided through formative learning activities. At induction we will ensure you understand the nature of action learning and develop mutually agreed ground rules for the operation of these sets. From our experience of their use on other leadership development programmes such, we consider action learning sets provide a very important support group, helping you in a variety of ways, including sharing materials, sharing ideas, discussion groups, providing learning opportunities, tackling work problems and helping each other to transfer learning from the programme to your own context.

The Role of Mentors
Vocare will appoint a personal mentor for you. The role of the mentor is to support your learning and assist you in applying theoretical concepts. We will also work with Vocare to ensure formative and summative learning activities are relevant to your workplace and career development. You will be encouraged to discuss your assessments with your mentor.

Learner Journey and Teaching and Learning Plans
For each module you will receive a detailed teaching and learning plan (TLP) which sets out
? Learning outcomes and overall module aims
? Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
? Teaching schedule
? Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module

E-Reading Lists
Each module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to e-books, journal articles and other academic sources.

Assessment Guidance
Assessment should not become a barrier to learning. To facilitate effective engagement in the assessment process clear assignment specifications and assessment criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected and how performance will be judged. Such assessment guidance will also be made available in a range of modes, including videocast, podcast and via an assessment surgery for each taught module.

You are also actively encouraged to take advantage of the support and services provided by the University’s Student Services, SkillsPlus resource and the Part Time Learner Service, all of which will be introduced as part of the induction event.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

You will be expected to demonstrate:

Knowledge & Understanding:
1) Your understanding and synthesis of a diverse range of human resource management theories in the areas of recruitment and selection, performance management and employee relations

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2) Your engagement in a continuous process of reflective practice that enables consideration of new perspectives and adaptive approaches to human resource management

3) Your application of new knowledge and skills to a range of work based situations whilst being aware of implications for self, others and organisational practice

4) To take ownership and responsibility for own decisions, actions and development as a leader

Personal Values Attributes
5) Your critical appraisal of your own ethical and cultural values and how these impact on your workplace practice

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment:
A 1,500 critically reflective piece on your learning to date about yourself as a leader, integrating relevant literature.

Summative Assessment:
1) A 20 minute individual presentation & panel Q&A
30%

(Addressing module learning outcomes 1-2)

2) A 3,000 word assignment
70 %

(Addressing module learning outcomes 1-5)

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module aims to introduce a range of HR processes, procedures and underpinning theories for working with and managing people, and to encourage you to apply these to your own personal and organisational experiences in order to identify areas of improving practice. The module focuses not just on the practical aspects of recruitment, selection, employee retention and dismissal, but also on the strategic aspects to equip you with the knowledge and skills required for resourcing and talent management within a global context. The module requires critical reflection on theory and practice within the assessments from an ethical and professional standpoint and provides opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development. The module aims to encourage you to critically engage with current theoretical and applied perspectives and explore the practical application of these perspectives through reference to written case studies illustrating work situations, group tasks, or directly through reflection on your own experience and work based assignment