Human Resource Management in Hospitality Assignment Leeds Beckett University

Introduction 

• This module takes a critical approach towards hospitality Human Resources Management (HRM), talent  management, leadership and management. Core concepts around HRM will be defined, discussed and  critiqued and an international dimension will be considered to shed light on any differences which might  exist within hospitality and between different countries.  
• What does Leadership mean in hospitality? Is this the same as Management? Who do Human Resources  (HR) departments exist for? Is it the employees or the employers? What is the purpose of HR (and its  principles) and how can it operate within the confines of the company’s strategic direction? Is organisational  culture just a myth and an unnecessary distraction to getting the “real work” done? An example will be  considering whether companies, like countries, can have their own culture and personality? Are concepts  such as work life balance important to a hospitality business?  
• How you manage people is very important - manage them well and you are likely to gain a competitive  advantage – manage them poorly and you have a possible recipe for disaster! 
• This module will introduce you to the concept of Leadership and Human Resource Management (HRM) and  how to create strategic and competitive advantages for hospitality organisations. The Module allows you to  critique the often-competing claims of leadership, HRM theory and practice with regard to the international  context. Issues around diversity and equality, such as the gender-gap, will be explored.  

Module Aims 

This module takes a critical approach to the management of human resources. It encourages students to be  analytical and questioning of concepts, theories and models of human resource management (HRM) and to  evaluate their usefulness and applicability to the international hospitality context. The module will enable  students to recognise contemporary hospitality HR issues and to how to use human resource management  to effectively tackle employment concerns. 

Module Learning Outcomes 

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate concepts, theories and models of human resource management.
2. Demonstrate the usefulness (or not) of these concepts, theories and models in the  contemporary international hospitality industry.
3. Explore issues concerning the international hospitality industry which have  relevance to Human Resource Management and consider solutions to effectively  deal with the issues.

Module Learning Activities  

Content will, as appropriate, be drawn from: 

• Historical and contemporary theories and models of Human Resource Management (HRM) and  Strategic Human Resources
• Management (SHRM); 
• The nature and characteristics of human resource management in the specific context of  international hospitality; 
• Leadership and management of the hospitality workforce; 
• Strategic and tactical approaches to managing a pulsating workforce; 
• Leadership styles, management structure, working conditions and commitment, workforce  training and development considerations; 
• Workplace culture in the context of the international hospitality industry and whether it can be  managed; 
• Concepts such as gender, age, diversity, aesthetic labour, discrimination, talent management,  human trafficking (modern day slavery) will be covered as key issues impacting on the  management of human resources in the international hospitality industry.