AMGT 374-300

Human Resources Management

Fall 2009

Dr. Leanne C. McGrath

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Prerequisite:   Junior Standing               Credit Hours: 3

Text: Bohlander & Snell,  Managing Human Resources, 15th Ed., 2010.

School of Business Administration Mission

The School of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina Aiken focuses on creating a caring learning environment in its accredited undergraduate program.  The program prepares students to meet the global, technological, and ethical challenges of a dynamic business and society.  

Course Objectives:

            This course focuses on the contributions of a manager of human resources in strategic planning and management decision making for the overall organization as well as his or her traditional role in selecting, training, motivating, and retaining human resources.   Contemporary issues and cases in human resource management are also studied to help students synthesize course materials and gain insight into practical applications.  Learning objectives include: 

• Role of human resources management including line and staff aspects and strategic issues.

• Major laws relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.  Must include Equal Pay Act of 1963, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

• Cover equal employment issues of sexual harassment, bona fide occupational qualifications, adverse impact, and affirmative action.

• Discuss job analysis and human resources planning.

• Cover steps in the employee selection process including the interviewing process.

• Discuss issues of training and development of human resources.  Must include the orientation process and training methods.

• Discuss issues related to career development and management.  Must include issues of mentoring and of dual-career couples.

• Cover performance appraisal programs.  Must include types of performance appraisal methods identifying problems with usage, who should perform the appraisal, and types of performance interviews.

• Cover managing compensation to include bases for determining pay, two-tier wage systems, pay secrecy, comparable worth, and the impact of government regulations (e.g. Fair labor Standards Act of 1938).

• Compare and contrast types of incentive compensation plans used by organizations.

• Discuss the issue of employee benefits and services.  Must include pension plans, vesting, benefits required by law such as social security insurance and workers' compensation, health care benefits, pay for time not worked such as vacations, sick leave, and holidays, employee services such as parental leave, elder care, and child care, as well as flexible benefit programs.

• Cover issues relating to employee safety and health.  Must include discussion of   OSHA (Occupational Safety an Health Administration) compliance, typical health hazards and accidents in the workplace, and stress management.

• Discuss key issues concerning employee motivation.  Must include approaches dealing with reward, equity, and involvement.

• Cover the role of communication in human resources management including both areas of verbal and nonverbal communication and active listening skills.

• Discuss issues relating to employee rights and discipline.  Must include job-as-property doctrine, employment-at-will, wrongful discharge issues, substance abuse testing, employee searches, surveillance issues, Plant Closing Act, and the progressive disciplinary approach.

• General discussion of the labor relations process including why and how employees unionize, why employers resist unionization, and the major laws affecting labor relations, specifically the Wagner Act, the Taft-Hartley Act, and the Landrum-Griffin Act.  Also cover the collective bargaining process.

• General discussion of the issues relating to international human resources management.

• Cases in human resource management will be analyzed by students to gain insight into the issues.

Grading Scheme:

GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  All written reports must observe the following:
Label all sections required in the written report.   The following is an example for the Mini-Case Report:
                              1.     Summary:
                              2.     Problem or Main Concept:
                              3.     Critical Analysis:
                              4.     Questions:
Be concise and proofread all papers after completion.  All papers will be graded on substance, adherence to the respective format, use of proper grammar, punctuation, and correct spelling.

All work should be Typed neatly and include a Proper Cover Sheet.   The cover sheet should have all team member names typed on it with the respective signature above the name.  This signature attests to the fact that each team member has done a his or her part of the assignment and is entitled to the earned grade for the assignment.  Use of a word processing package is strongly encouraged.  Staple all pages together in the upper left hand corner if a cover folder is not used.  Remember the appearance of a written report is important.  It makes a statement about you !!!!

One written report is required from each team.  A team grade will be given and all members must have input into the paper to receive credit.     The team is responsible for assessing input of the members.    If a team member is not contributing his/her share of the work assignment, the team is to notify the team member and the professor immediately so that appropriate action may be initiated to ensure that there are no freeloaders.

Individual papers will not be accepted.

FORMAT FOR SPECIFIC WRITTEN PAPERS:  
For Both Papers Also See Guidelines For Written Assignments

    During the semester each student will be required to do TWO written and ONE oral 
    presentation  according to the following guidelines.   

I.  Written Chapter MINI-CASE:  Must be labeled according to requirements and contain 
                the following:
           1. Brief Summary Section of Case:
           2. Identification of the main concept or problem:
           3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS of issue:  These are the team's thoughts about the concept or 
                problem and its integration into  HRM theory and practice.  This includes what may
                be implied concerning the issue.   This section should constitute a substantial part of 
                the paper.  This section reveals to the reader that team's understanding of  HRM 
                concepts and their application.   This is not merely a restatement of case facts.
           4. Answers to the questions at the end of the mini-case.  State the question, then answer it.
        NOTE:   This Chapter MINI-CASE is presented to the class by the team on the assigned 
                       day on the syllabus.  The written report is due at the time of the presentation.

II. Written CHAPTER HRM EXPERIENCE Assignment:  Must be labeled according to 
                requirements and contain the following:
            1. Main Issue: State the main  HRM issue of the assignment. What is the primary 
                learning objective for the assignment?

            2. Answers to HRM Experience Questions:  State the question, then answer it.  If the
                assignment question asks for an oral report to the class, write the answer instead.  
                All questions are to be submitted in written form within the report.      

            3. What Was Learned:   These are the thoughts of each individual team member about 
                the assignment and its value in your learning process.  Each team member may have 
                learned different things.  For THIS SECTION ONLY, each team member composes 
                his/her own thoughts about what he/she learned and labels with his/her name for 
                identification to the professor.  Put all of these into this section in the report.
   
NOTE:  This CHAPTER HRM EXPERIENCE Assignment is due by the team in class on the 
               assigned day on the syllabus.  

GUIDELINES FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS:
            Evaluation of your oral presentation is based upon how you present ( i. e. communication skills, interaction with audience for discussion and question segment, creativity and stimulation of interest from audience, concise organization, and proper use of visual aids if utilized.)   Specifically the following format is implemented for grading.

    1. Contributions and Participation in the question and discussion segment that follows the formal presentation.        
                This segment demonstrates the team member's understanding of the exercise and his/her ability to explain all relevant issues about the exercise.  Specifically, this includes the ability to synthesize information, to  answer questions, and to make constructive comments.      8 points

    2.  Clarity & Creativity of Exercise Presentation.                  
                   This section includes the ability to present the exercise clearly and in an appropriate manner, to keep audience attention and involvement, and to use presentation time effectively.     5 points

    3.  Organization of the Presentation.             
                    This section requires smooth transition from point to point during the presentation and the ability to sequence the content in a logical manner leading to a logical analysis of the exercise.  Develop and support the main ideas and include a conclusion or decision.      4 points

    4.  Delivery of Presentation.
                   Each team member must demonstrate the ability to present the exercise in a manner that is interesting, maintaining eye contact with audience, projecting his/her voice to the rear of room, and delivering the material without grammatical and pronunciation errors.    There should be no excessive reading (basically "tell it" with notes for keeping "on track") and no vocal or physical distracting features (like jingling coins in pocket, pen or object in hand, slumping on podium, etc.). The presenter must display a good comfort level, dress appropriately, and show proper enthusiasm.        8 points

Appropriate use of visual aids by presenting individual.    Can add 2 bonus points.
Reading of material rather than presenting.    Can result in loss of up to 10 points.

Note:   Remember to practice your presentation many times before presenting it to the group.

Each team member must present an equal portion of the oral presentation, and each person will be graded separately for his/her oral presentation part.  A team member must use a visual aid effectively during his/her presentation to receive the extra credit.

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