Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi/Kolkata

Programme Name and Batch: MBA (IB) Full Time (Session 2020-21)

Course
Core / Elective: Core
Course Coordinator: Dr. Priyanka Jaiswal (Sec B and D)
Email: priyanka@iift.edu
Term: II Trimester Credits: 3

Course Introduction

Human resources are considered as one of the most crucial assets of any organization. But
managing these assets is often the most challenging and complex task for a manager.
Therefore, in order to ensure that people are really a source of competitive advantage,
managers must understand the concepts, principles and philosophy underlying management
of HR in the organization(s). This course is designed primarily for the first-year students, who
are already exposed to the organizational behavior subject in the first trimester and have
acquired a basic understanding of the human behavior in the organizational setting. The
course introduces the basic techniques and methods for handling human resources effectively
— how an organization acquires, develops, motivates, rewards, and generally manages its
people effectively; and encompasses topics such as human resource planning, performance
management, compensation management etc.

Course Objectives (COs)

Students will be able to:

1. Define Human Resource Management, and appreciate the importance of HRM as a field
of study and as a central management function.
2. Recognize the challenges, issues, debates, and emerging trends in the field
of/surrounding HRM.
3. Identify the environmental factors that have a bearing on HRM practices.
4. Understand the role of HRM strategy within the broader company strategy.
5. Explain the various functions of HRM such as HR planning, recruiting, training,
appraising, compensating employees, and attending to employees’ labor relations
concerns in the business context.
6. Apply the techniques of HRM learned through this course (such as, conducting a job
analysis, planning labor/employee needs, recruiting job candidates, training and
developing managers, managing wages and salaries, and appraising performance) to the
discussion of major personnel issues and solution of typical case problems.
7. Analyze the concept of unionized labor, its nature, structure, distribution, and effects on
employers and employees.
8. Evaluate strategies for employees’ performance appraisal, and wage and salary packages.
9. Devise appropriate methods/procedures of personnel selection, evaluation systems, and
compensation systems taking into consideration the business environment and the HR
systems peculiar to a given organization.

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 Programme Learning Goals (LGs) covered through this Course

Learning Goal 5: Interpersonal Behavior and Team Building

LO 5.1. Able to demonstrate their ability to work effectively in a team and manage conflict to
accomplish desired goals
Pedagogy

1. The sessions would be interactive using a combination of lectures, video films, field-
work, presentations and introspection.
2. Different techniques would be used to make the sessions interactive, viz.
i. Case study analysis (video/paper based)
ii. Individual and group discussion(s), assignments, and activities
iii. Class room participation and presentations

Linkages with Other Courses

1. Organizational Behaviour
2. Managerial Communication
3. Psychology for managers
4. Ethics and Corporate Governance

Evaluation Component

Participation in Class Activities/Discussions 10%

Case Analysis/Reading Presentations 10%
Term project Presentation 15%
Mid-term Examination 25%
Internal Assessment 60%
End-term Examination 40%
Total 100%

Text Book / Reference Text

Text Book:
Dessler, G., and Varkkey, B. (2018). Human Resource Management (15thed.). Pearson India
Education Services Pvt. Ltd.

Reference Text
1. Ivancevich, J. M. (2016). Human Resource Management (11th ed.). Chennai: McGraw Hill
Education.
2. Bohlander, G. W., and Snell, S. A. (2016, Nov). Principles of Human Resource Management
(16th ed.). New Delhi: Cengage India Pvt. Ltd.
3. Dowling P.J., Festing, M., & Engle, A. (2013). International Human Resource Management (6th
ed.). USA: Cengage Learning.
4. DeCenzo, D. A., Robbins, S. P., and Verhulst, S. L. (2013). Human Resource Management.
New Delhi: Wiley India Pvt. Ltd.
5. Gilmore, S., and Williams, S. (2013, February). Human Resource Management (2nded.). New
Delhi: Oxford University Press.
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6. Armstrong, M., and Taylor, S. (2017). Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource Management
Practice (14thed.). Kogan Page.
7. Fisher, C., Schoenfeldt, L., and Shaw, J. (2005, Jul). Human Resource Management (6th ed.).
Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
8. Noe, A. R., Hollenbeck, J. R. Gerhart, B., and Wright, P. M., Human Resource Management.
New York: McGraw Hill.

Session Plan:

Session Topic and Sub topics Reading Reference Video/Case Study/Class

Activity
Module I: Introduction to Human Resource Management
Session 1 What is HRM and Why is it Chapter 1 Dessler and Video based discussion
&2 Important? Varkkey (2018) Activity
Introduction to HRM
Functions
Line and Staff Aspects of
HRM
HRM Trends and Challenges
in a Changing Environment
Course Objectives: 1, 2
Session 3 HRM Strategy and Analysis: Chapter 3 Dessler and Class Readings and Case
&4 The Strategic Management Varkkey (2018) will be provided by the
Process, Types of Strategies, Instructor
Strategic HRM Tools Simons, R. (2016). Strategy
Course Objective: 3, 4 Execution Module 2:
Building a Successful
Strategy. The Strategy
Execution Series. Harvard
Business School.
Module II: Meeting Human Resource Requirements
Session 5, Human Resource Planning Chapter 4 & 5 in Dessler Video- based discussion
6&7 Job Analysis and Varkkey (2018) and Class
Course Objective: 5, 6 Activity/Exercise

Module III: Developing Effectiveness in Human Resources

Session 8, Sourcing HR: Employee Chapter 5 & 6 in Dessler Class Exercise and Video
9 & 10 Recruitment & Selection and Varkkey (2018) based discussions
Course Objectives: 5, 6, 9

Session Employee Training, Chapter 8 & 10 in Dessler Class Exercise

11 Development and Varkkey (2018)
& 12 Course Objectives: 5, 6, 9

Session Performance Management & Chapter 9 in Dessler and Case Study based
13 & 14 Appraisal Varkkey (2018) discussion
Course Objectives: 5, 6, 8, 9
Module IV: Creating Compensation, Productive Work Environment
Session Establishing Strategic Pay Chapter 11 & 12 in Dessler Case Study and Class
15, 16 & Plan, Pay for Performance and Varkkey (2018) Exercise
17
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 and Financial Incentives,
Compensation Management
Course Objective: 5, 6, 8, 9
Session Labor Relations and Chapter 15 & 16 in Dessler Case Study based
18 Collective Bargaining, and Varkkey (2018) discussion
Overview of the Labor Laws
Course Objectives: 5, 7

Submission of the Group

Project
Session Term Project Presentation - -
19 & 20

Suggested Additional Readings:

Skinner, W. (1981, Sep). Managing Human Resources. Harvard Business Review Article
Jackson, S. E., & Schuler, R. S. (1995). Understanding Human Resource Management in the
Context of Organizations and Their Environments. Annual Review of Psychology. Vol. 46, pp.
237-264
Hambrick, D. C., & Fredrickson, J. W. (2001). Are you sure You Have a Strategy?.
Academy of Management Executive. 15(4), pp. 48 - 59.
Dunford, B. B., Snell, S. A., and Wright, P. M., (2001). Human Resources and the Resource Based
View of the Firm (CAHRS Working Paper #01-03). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, School of
Industrial and Labor Relations, Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies.
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cahrswp/66
Higgins, M. (2004, Oct). Note on Interviewing. HBS Note No. 9-405-014, Harvard Business
School Press.

Any Other Detailed Instructions / Information

General instructions:
a) Case studies and additional reading material will be provided by the course instructor
from time to time.
b) All schedules/announcements must be strictly adhered to.
c) Read the course material in advance and come prepared to the lecture(s).
d) Take down lecture notes, instructions, and discussion points during each session. These
may come in handy during revision.
e) Feel free to approach the faculty for any clarifications related to course.

Additional Readings/Journals

Journals:
1. Human Resource Management International Digest, Emerald Publications
2. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Taylor & Francis
3. Human Resource Management Review, Elsevier Publications
4. Human Resource Management, Wiley
5. Human Resource Management Journal, Wiley

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Magazine(s)/Newsletter(s):
1. National HRD Network
2. Business Manager
3. Harvard Business Review
4. Human Capital
5. People Matters
6. HR Magazine, SHRM

Web sources/Database:
1. https://www.shrm.org/
2. https://www.hrbartender.com/
3. http://www.hrcapitalist.com/
4. search.ebscohost.com
5. https://www.emeraldinsight.com/

AOL Evaluation

Learning Goal No. 5

Evaluation Component to be used for AOL: Mid-term

Rubrics to be Used for Evaluation

Objectives Excellent Good Fair Unsatisfactory

LO 5.1. Able to Demonstrate Partially Has limited Lacks clarity of
demonstrate excellent demonstrate an understanding the team
their ability to understanding understanding of the team goals, does not
work effectively of team of the goals, interfaces provide
in a team and goals, smoothly team goals, with the team support in the
manage conflict interfaces interfaces but provides achievement
to accomplish with the team with the team limited support of team goals,
desired goals creating creating to the team and works as
synergy, and synergy, and in achievement a passive
proactively provides of team member
enables support in goals
achievement of achievement
team goals of team goals