INDU1130 International Human Resource Management Module Handbook 2024-2025

INDU1130 Assessment:

INDU1130 Module Aim: 

The course focuses on contemporary HRM topics within a cross-cultural, comparative, and international context, such as HRM in multi-nationals, global mobility. and global talent management. This course aims to outline the background and the main theoretical frameworks for the study of IHRM; and introduce the broad functional areas of HRM, and how they interact through strategy.

Learning Outcomes of INDU1130:

On successful completion of this course a student will be able to:

1. Describe and analyse the three main perspectives to studying international HRM: cultural approaches, institutional approaches, and global HRM approaches.
2. Articulate and assess the convergence-divergence debate within IHRM, recognising the tensions between competing societal, institutional, and cultural forces which shape HRM at the national and global levels.
3. Critically evaluate empirical research evidence in key strategic areas of HRM: resourcing: reward; performance management; training and development; employee relations.
4. Apply knowledge of the theory and practice of international HRM to contemporary issues in HRM such as multi-nationals, global mobility, global talent management.
   *A learning outcome is a subject-specific statement that defines the learning to be achieved through completing this module.
5. Employability
   This module is intended to develop students' knowledge on the important topic of international human resource management by giving students opportunities to develop both topic-specific and general employability skills. The underlying approach is one which seeks to consolidate academic practice at level 6 study by encouraging both collaborative and independent study / research skills needed for job readiness and sustained professional development. The module also aims to impart generic study skills and knowledge of sectoral issues within a global context.

The module focuses on developing cognitive skills by providing multiple opportunities for independent problem-solving. You will be engaging with real-life organisational cases, making sensible assumption based on course readings and applying that knowledge to practical solutions. You will develop critical thinking skills which is a core component of the module. The module will encourage to you analyse complex issues, evaluate different perspectives, and construct logical arguments relevant to IHRM. The process of preparing for assessments will enhance your research skills, ability to assess source credibility, and capacity to draw evidence-based conclusions.

The module will also expose you to generic competencies that will be fostered through various activities throughout the course. Group work, including debates and presentations in seminars will allow you to develop teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills. Technical ability will be cultivated by providing you with opportunities to apply IHRM knowledge to specific organizational challenges and contexts. This goes beyond mere problem-solving, extending to problem analysis of the constantly changing nature and contexts of IHRM. Your learning of these skills will prove fruitful in professional settings, particularly in the field of IHRM.

You can find out more about the Greenwich Employability Passport at: Identify your skills | Careers | University of Greenwich

You can also use LinkedIn Learning to gain access to thousands of expert-led courses to support your ongoing personal development. More information can be found at: Linkedin Learning | IT and Library Services | University of Greenwich 

INDU1130 Schedule Teaching and Learning Activity:

INDU1130 Assessment

INDU1130 Guidance:

Assessment 1: Essay

This essay counts for 50% of the overall module mark and has a 2000-word limit. The essay has two questions and focuses on the theoretical aspects of IHRM.

The first questions will form part first of the essay. To answer the first question, you are required to briefly outline the three approaches to IHRM: cultural, institutional, and global. You must illustrate this with critically analysing the specific theories, by means of outlining the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches to exploring HR policies and practices. This critical examination should be supported by empirical evidence from the literature.

The second question forms the second part of the essay and is a convergence-divergence debate. In this section, you will evaluate the statement "Globalisation means that eventually HR policy and practice will converge into a single 'best practice' everywhere in the world". This statement should examine two views. The first view should examine and discuss that globalisation, technology, and competition will eventually force similar HR policy towards a single 'best practice'. You should find a journal article/paper which shows the evidence for this view. The second view should consider the opposing view examining and discussing that cultural, institutional, and other national differences mean there will always remain a divergence between difference countries and companies in how they do HR. Again, this will be evidenced with a journal article/paper.

You are required to read the case brief document on Moodle under the Assessment Information section.
The questions you are required to address are:

Question 1: What are the different conceptual approaches International Human Resource Management (HRM) takes when examining HRM in an international context. Illustrate your answer with references to conceptual ideas and empirical evidence from the literature. (1,000 words)
Question 2: "Globalisation means that eventually HR policy and practice will converge into a single 'best practice' everywhere in the world". Discuss and evaluate this claim. Illustrate your answer with reference to conceptual ideas and empirical evidence from the literature. (1,000 words)

INDU1130 Marking Criteria For the Essay

INDU1130 Assessment 2: Report

This report counts for 50% of the final module mark/grade and has a 2500-word limit

Task

You hare tasked with writing a report to the Board of Directors of the Macdonald Hotels and Resort Group Ltd. The details of the case are presented in the 'Macdonald Hotels and Resort case study' on Moodle. Macdonald Hotels and Resorts is a British hotel and resort chain that plans to internationalise beyond Spain by acquiring a small hotel chain in a country of your choice. The board of directors have commissioned you, as a HR consultant, to give then advice and recommendations of their questions:

1. What should their long-term strategic approach (internationalisation strategy) be
   for resourcing their management team within the new acquired hotels? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
2. What differences in HR policy and practice should the board consider when expanding their business to the country of expansion (Consider TWO of the HR functions such as Performance management/appraisal, employee relations/trade unions, pay & reward, recruitment & selection which may be different in the chosen country than Britain).
3. What are the wider socio-political and cultural circumstances which the board should consider? (This is an open question where you can discuss things that interest you. You may talk about cultural differences, regulatory differences; you may wish to talk about post-Brexit issues and how this may impact on the free movement of people/managers; or sustainable HRM, its implications and how this may have an impact on employees, their work, and their interactions with each other).

The report should focus on the practical HRM aspects of Macdonald Hotel's plans to acquire a small hotel chain in another country. You should draw on evidence (empirical studies and/or policy reports) that reflect the kinds of issues companies might face in this situation (from cultural, institutional, regulatory perspectives). You should make practical recommendations which will provide the Board of Directors with a sound basis for decisions and action.

You are required to read the detailed case brief document on Moodle under the Assessment Information section.

INDU1130 Marking criteria for the report

INDU1130 Formative assessment: Group Poster Presentation

What is a formative assessment?

Formative assessment refers to a way of assessing students' learning in order to help improve their understanding; it is thus developmental rather than evaluative in nature.

Time Limit: 10-15 minutes per poster
Date due: Poster will be made in week 21 (W/C 25/11/2024) and presented in the tutorial of week 22 (W/C 29/11/2024)
Weighting: This assessment is formative

Format: A1 or AO sized poster, with a brief 15-minute presentation outlining the key ideas. The poster can be attached as an appendix to the individual report.

Task

To help prepare for your final report, you have been asked to prepare a poster and 15- minute poster presentation to the Board of Directors of the MacDonalds Hotels & Resorts Group. The full briefing of the case study is available on the Moodle site.

This formative assessment has three purposes:

1. An opportunity to simulate a consultancy presentation to a company, developing skills in verbal and visual communication.
   
2. Develops knowledge of producing a poster (using PowerPoint).
   
3. Provides an opportunity for the tutor to offer you feedback and suggestions which you can consider for your final report.
   

This is not an academic presentation, so descriptive listings of academic theories are not required. Your task is to show how you can put academic theories to use to explore the issues and come up with good, well-researched options and recommendations based on the evidence. Please also remember, although MacDonald's plans to internationalise may raise issues and concerns, it is not a 'problem' (otherwise they would not bother expanding!) Try to think about what a Board of Directors would expect in this kind of context from a team of consultants and frame the case study as a positive opportunity. While this is a simulation, as a group of HR consultants you would always hope that your presentations would impress a Board sufficiently so that they may contract you again in the future.

INDU1130 Feedback criteria for the group presentation

6.2 Formative assessments: The students will be supported towards the summative assessments through weekly tutorials that includes case discussions as well as a poster presentation.
6.3 Feedback for summative coursework Written feedback will be provided for each assessment. There will be in-text comments as well, and this in-text commentary will provide specific feedback relative to the assessment content.

INDU1130 Marking Rubrics