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Unit outline_

WORK2205: HR Strategies and Processes

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Building on the foundational coverage of Human Resource Management (HRM) issues and concepts provided in WORK1003, this unit provides a more focused understanding of key HRM concepts, processes, strategies and practices. The unit covers the way HR concepts, such as the employee psychological contract, might shape HR strategies and practices and highlights the interplay between the strategic approaches to HR and the practices of HR including talent attraction and selection; talent retention and development; managing performance and rewards; diversity and inclusion strategies, workplace health and well being to name a few. It concludes with an investigation of how the HRM system can be effectively evaluated to capture the long term sustainability of the HR processes and strategies adopted.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of 24 credit points of 1000-level units of study including WORK1003
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Meraiah Foley, meraiah.foley@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Written exam
40% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Small continuous assessment Quiz 1
In-class assessment
5% Week 06
Due date: 16 Apr 2021 at 10:30
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Research essay
Written essay
30% Week 08
Due date: 30 Apr 2021 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Small continuous assessment Quiz 2
In-class assessment
5% Week 12
Due date: 28 May 2021 at 10:30
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Participation group assignment Tutorial activities
Presentation and participation
20% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Quiz 1 and 2: Students will be required to complete two multiple-choice assessments consisting of 10 questions each, which will be conducted during the weekly lecture (workshop) period.
  • Tutorial activities: Each student is expected to make both a formal and informal contribution to tutorial discussion and debate. As such, tutorial activities are composed of two parts. The first includes on-going weekly attendance and participation (5%) and the second includes participation in a tutorial presentation (15%). 
  • Research essay: This assessment provides students with the opportunity to critically engage with the HR literature and apply the concepts that have been learnt about HR to contemporary business practice. This assessment helps to develop important skills including the ability to research, critically analyse, and write a formal essay addressing a central question relating to HR strategy and processes.
  • Final exam: This is a take-home exam comprised of several essay responses to HR scenarios and challenges raised in the lectures, tutorials, and readings. Students will be expected to draw extensively on course readings in their responses. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Any assessment submitted after the due time and date (or extended due time and date) will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total marks per 24 hour period, or part thereof, late (this penalty is applied to the mark gained after the submitted work is marked). Assessments submitted after the 'Closing date' noted in the unit of study outline will not be marked or assessed.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to HR Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 HRM in context Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Diversity and inclusion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Effective HR planning and job design Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Talent attraction and selection Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 06 Talent retention and development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Consolidation and Essay planning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Digital disruption, social media and HRM Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Managing performance Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Strategic reward management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Workplace health and safety and employee well-being Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Workplace negotiation and intercultural communication Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Revise and consolidate Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: Short pre-recorded lectures will be made available to students each week. Interactive workshops will be held live online. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these workshops, which cover important case studies and offer an opportunity to revise key concepts with the lecturer. These sessions recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded.

Tutorial attendance and participation: Attendance and participation in tutorials is mandatory and will be assessed. Students should ensure they attend and actively participate in all tutorials. Tutorials are not recorded.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Required Text: Nankervis A, Baird M, Coffey J, and Shields J (2020) Human Resource Management: Strategy and Practice. Melbourne: Cengage Learning Australia, 10 th edition.

All other readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. design and implement policies and practices appropriate to enhancing employee capability, well-being and contribution in particular organisational contexts
  • LO2. analyse business priorities and problems in particular organisational contexts by recommending and justifying appropriate human resource strategies and practices
  • LO3. understand and answer questions that test core definitions of human resource management learnt in this unit through a quiz that assesses HR terms and their application in real world situations.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.