Textbook requirements - Stone, R J. 2013, Managing Human Resources, 4th edn, Wiley, Milton.
Learning Outcomes-
1. Identify the different approaches to the study and practice of employment relations.
2. Recognise the relationship between industrial relations and human resource management both in the academic literature and in practice.
3. Identify internal and external stakeholders in the employment relationship and the goals and objectives of these stakeholders.
4. Analyse the way that these stakeholders act, together and separately, to shape employment relations processes.
5. Assess the complexity and dimensions of people management.
Assessment 1: Individual report (20%)
Overview
This exercise is designed to start students thinking about the complexity of managing people at work and the range of issues relevant within the field of employment relations. When it comes to debates about employment relations matters, there is no black and white, no right or wrong. Employment relations stakeholders often have different and sometimes competing views, and expected alliances can often shift depending on the issue. Students are encouraged to approach any employment relations matter objectively, recognise that there will be a number of perspectives on the issue, and critically evaluate all viewpoints before arriving at a conclusion.
This assignment is also designed to assess your writing abilities in preparation for Assessment 2.
Further assistance will be provided in lectures and any additional information will be placed on vUWS.
Details
This assessment task requires you to read an article and provide a brief report that summarises the critical elements in your own words. The assignment should be 500 words in length
Article - Hanley, G. M., and O'Rourke, A. (2016). 'The race without a finishing line: legislative means for confronting bullying in the Australian workplace', Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 352-368.
Questions - In your own words answer the following:
Part A - According to the authors, what is meant by 'workplace bullying?
Part B - According to the authors, what are some explanations, motives and implications of workplace bullying?
Part C - What conclusions do the authors reach about the difficulties of addressing workplace bullying?
Assessment 2: Individual essay
Overview - Through completion of this assessment, students will learn how to:
- Research a contemporary issue in employment relations.
- Construct a sustained argument in response to the question.
- Utilise and conform to the principles of academic rigour in the production of an acceptable, formal response to the question.
Each student will submit an individual essay that will be assessed in accordance with the marking guide included in this learning guide. The marking guide sets out the criteria and standards against which your essay will be marked. Further assistance will be provided in lectures and any additional information will be placed on vUWS.
Details - Read the following publicised commitments to diversity in the workplace:
'The evidence shows that a diverse workforce enhances business performance as well as fosters social justice...At Origin diversity and inclusion is imbedded in our principles and values and we are committed to creating a rewarding workplace for our people by valuing everyone's contribution, encouraging personal development, recognising good performance and fostering equal opportunity.'
Origin Energy (2012) cited in Stone (2013:577) (unit textbook).
ESSAY Question - Why is diversity management an integral and challenging part of people management and organisations today?
Research -
As a starting point, you will be able to use your feedback from assessment 1, as well as the reading to provide some insight into the topic. You can also use Chapter 14 from your textbook. However, to answer this question, you will need to conduct independent research on the topic of managing diversity. Journals are the most useful source of scholarly material because they contain contemporary research that has been reviewed by experts in the field. Some examples include:
D'Netto, B.; Shen, J.; Chelliah, J. and Monga, M. (2014). 'Human resource diversity management practices in the Australian manufacturing sector'. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol. 25, No. 9, pp.1243-1266.
Houkamau, C. and Boxall. P. (2011), 'The incidence and impacts of diversity management: A survey of New Zealand employees'. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 49, No. 4. pp. 440-460.
Kramar, R. (2012), 'Diversity management in Australia: a mosaic of concepts, practice and rhetoric', Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 245-261.
Kulik, C. (2014), 'Working below and above the line: the research-practice gap in diversity management', Human Resource Management Journal, Vol. 24. No. 2. pp. 129-144.
Noon, M. (2007). 'The fatal flaws of diversity and the business case for ethnic minorities', Work, Employment and Society, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 773-784.
Do not limit your research to journal articles. Academic sources include statistics, media releases, newspaper reports and textbooks. Academic textbooks can help with definitions and many of the issues in managing people at work are found in a range of areas, including:
Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development
Employment Relations and Industrial Relations
Organisational Behaviour and Critical Management Studies
Psychology and Sociology
It will be crucial for this assignment that you start researching the topic well before the deadline. It will take time to understand the key issues and to create a sustained and coherent argument throughout the essay.
You will not be able to analyse every possible issue, so you will need to select only a few significant issues for your discussion- this is the nature of critical analysis.
1500 words.
6 Harvard references.