PSYCHOL 7334 - Human Resource Management

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

This course examines how an organisation can maximise its returns from its workforce, and employees can maximise their returns from their work. It involves understanding all aspects of the management of people at work, including: planning, job analysis, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, remuneration and benefits, career development, and dealing with redundancies and retirement. The course will consider these issues as well as the implications of emerging organisational challenges for human resource management practices. These challenges include: the increasing use of contract staff and outsourcing; harnessing and sustaining organisational commitment; developing organisational cultures that are responsive to change; diversity in the workplace; harnessing innovation and knowledge management; globalisation of industry; and changing workplace practices.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 7334
    Course Human Resource Management
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to M Psych (O&HF) and PhD/MPsych(O&HF) students only or by the permission of the Head of School
    Course Description This course examines how an organisation can maximise its returns from its workforce, and employees can maximise their returns from their work. It involves understanding all aspects of the management of people at work, including: planning, job analysis, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, remuneration and benefits, career development, and dealing with redundancies and retirement. The course will consider these issues as well as the implications of emerging organisational challenges for human resource management practices. These challenges include: the increasing use of contract staff and outsourcing; harnessing and sustaining organisational commitment; developing organisational cultures that are responsive to change; diversity in the workplace; harnessing innovation and knowledge management; globalisation of industry; and changing workplace practices.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Aspa Sarris

    Course Coordinator: Ms Joan Underhill
    Email: joan.underhill@adelaide.edu.au



    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The following learning outcomes are consistent with the APS College Course Approval guidelines for Postgraduate Specialist Courses in Organisational Psychology:
    http://www.psychology.org.au/academic/course-approval/


    At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1.    Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and practice associated with the management of people in organisations.
    2.    Demonstrate competence in making an oral presentation to a broad and diverse audience on a topic relevant to organisational psychology and to the management of people in organisations.
    3.    Demonstrate competence in interviewing a senior manager/practitioner on a topic relevant to organisational psychology and to the management of people in organisations.
    4.    Demonstrate competence in program/intervention evaluation using interview data.
    5.    Demonstrate competence in writing a research report of a professional and academic standard.


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4,5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,4,5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2,3,5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,4,5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2,3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,2,3,4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Lecturers will provide reading material which will be made available in class and on MyUni at the following link: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

    For additional information regarding required resources  please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) program handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Recommended Resources
    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    For additional information relating to recommended resources please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) program handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Online Learning
    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:
    - Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    - Submission of assessment
    - Access to resources such as forms, templates and additional readings
    - Self-directed learning activities    

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures will be supported by group discussion related to the lecture content. This will include case studies involving hypothetical problems in organisations. Time will also be spent understanding real life work challenges facing organisational psychologists.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Seminars: 3 hours each week for 12 weeks = 36 hours
    Thorough literature review on a topic relevant to the field of organisational psychology  = 20 hours Assignment 1: 20 hours (approx.)
    Assignment 2: 40 hours (approx.)Test preparation and independent reading: 40 hours (approx.)

    Further details will be provided in class.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Seminars will be held weekly on a Tuesday afternoon from 2.10 pm- 5.00 pm. The following is a provisional program only. The final program will be advised at semester commencement.

    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Introducing Human Resource Management Human Resource Management
    Week 2 Human Resource Planning and Diversity Human Resource Management
    Week 3 Recruitment Human Resource Management
    Week 4 Selection, Testing and Interviewing Human Resource Management
    Week 5 Organisational Psychology topics (student presentations) Human Resource Management
    Week 6 Organisational Psychology topics (student presentations) Human Resource Management
    Week 7 Induction and Training Human Resource Management
    Week 8 Appraising Performance Human Resource Management
    Week 9 Group project work Human Resource Management
    Week 10 Remuneration and Incentives Human Resource Management
    Week 11 Global Human Resource Management Human Resource Management
    Week 12 Final Test Human Resource Management

    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change.

    Specific Course Requirements
    On enrolment all students MUST apply for and obtain provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.  All students are required to provide a copy of their registration details to the Program Administrator on their first day in the Program: this will be required for the Summer School courses Professional Practice and Evidence-Based Practice.The application form and details of fees payable are available from the PBA website: http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Forms.aspx.

    Candidates are required to consent to a police check as part of their application to the Psychology Board of Australia for Provisional Registration, a requirement of enrolment in the program. A satisfactory current police check is a mandatory.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Not applicable
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment comprises of three tasks as detailed below, and these must be passed to successfully to complete the course. Due dates will be provided at the beginning of the course.

    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Oral presentation Summative 15% 1,2,4,5
    A substantive written report Summative 45% 1,3,4,5
    Test Summative 40% 1,4,5
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance is required for 80% of classes, with attendance lists maintained. Failure to meet this attendance requirement (i.e., absence from three or more classes in the course) may lead to exclusion from the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment 1: This assignment involves an oral presentation on an organisation’s practices in one area of human resource management which will later be critically evaluated.  The aim of the project is to enable students to learn about a HR activity, in terms of relevant theory and to gain experience and feedback in making an oral presentation on that topic. 

    Assessment  2: This assignment involves students preparing a substantive written report on an organisation’s practices in one area of human resource management. The aim of the project is to enable students to learn about a HR activity, in practice, and to use their knowledge to offer some evaluation of this activity.  Students are required to work in groups of two for the purpose of the project. 

    Assessment 3: This is a final test/examination on all aspects of the course. It is completed on-line.

    Further details on all assessments will be provided in class. For additional information please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Program Handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html 




    Submission
    Assignments are to be submitted electronically to the Course Coordinator, along with a signed cover sheet (available on MyUni at the following link: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).

    Extension of time for an assignment may be granted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, to whom students should apply in writing (or email) before the due date and time.No requests for extensions will be considered if made after the due date and time.For further information re the Assessment Policy please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational & Human Factors) Program Handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au./psychology/students/resouce/handboodsforms.html
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Students will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment that received a fail grade.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.