Strategic Human Resource Management

Department of Business Administration

The course is a programme course given within the Master's Programme in Strategic Human Resource Management and Labour Relations within the Faculty of Social Sciences. It is a core course.

To be eligible for the course, the student must be accepted to the Master Programme in Strategic Human Resource Management within the Faculty of Social Sciences.

This course introduces students to different Human Resource practices as well as to a strategic perspective of Human Resource Management (HRM). HRM refers to activities associated with the management of work and people in organisations. Strategic Human Resource Management is concerned with how organizations meet and manage significant threats and challenges in the environment and transform these into human resource strategies. The course wants to provide a general business context in which the human resource strategies will take place.

The course is organized in two sub-courses:

Sub-cource 1: Introduction to SHRM (Introduktion till strategiskt personalarbete), 7,5 hec

In the beginning of the first sub-course – personnel practices such as recruitment, selection, training and development, health and safety, compensation and redundancies, will be dealt with. These practices will be related to the historical and institutional context of strategic HRM, with the purpose to understand the practices from a strategic perspective. Then the first sub-course develops and integrates an understanding of how HRM is linked to strategic management of the business. More specific, we focus on an outward perspective that includes themes such as the work organisation, the cultural aspects, the diversity in organisations, organising HR work, and HRM strategies in different contexts. The course wants to provide insight into “the real HR working life” where managers and coworkers continuously learn and develop themselves and their immediate surroundings.

Sub-cource 2: Strategy and organization (Strategi och organisation), 7,5 hec

The purpose of the second sub-course – Strategy and Organization - is to develop an understanding of the processes leading to strategic renewal as well as an ability to apply this understanding to real current problems. This part of the course aims at preparing students to take part in business development and strategic work as HR strategists and, in later stages of their careers, to lead such processes. Strategic problems and possibilities that arise in organisations will be in focus of this second sub-course. Important aspects are not only the company´s positioning in relation to its market, but also the technological development, the supply of labour, political developments in society and other factors relevant for how organizations manage their business.

After completing the course the students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. Describe the meanings of HRM and personnel practices in theory and current trends
2. Explain how HRM theories are linked to strategy
3. Account for the role of strategy in organizations

Skills and abilities

4. Independently search for and analyze theoretical and practical knowledge (e.g. literature, scientific journals/articles, practical sources and own experiences) 
5. Identify strategic problems, particularly concerning strategic business development and renewal, and apply relevant theoretical perspectives on real cases
6. Discuss, analyse and evaluate the strategy process, orally and in writing

Judgment and approach

7. Critically investigate HRM trends, in theory and practice 
8. Develop and maintain a learning and teamwork approach

The course is sustainability-related, which means that at least one of the learning outcomes clearly shows that the course content meets at least one of the University of Gothenburg's confirmed sustainability criteria.

The course will use learning activities such as lectures, seminars, group works, presentations, and log book.

Language of instruction: English

The first sub-course will be examined in the following way:

• Learning outcome 1 will be examined by a written group-report (I), and an individual presentation.
• Learning outcome 2 will be examined by a written group-report (II), participation in seminars, and an individual presentation.
• Learning outcome 4 will be examined by two written group-reports (I+II), assessments of other groups' reports, participation in seminars, and an individual presentation.
• Learning outcome 7 will be examined by a written group-report (II), participation in seminars, and an individual presentation.
• Learning outcome 8 will be examined by two written group-reports (I+II), participation in seminars, assessments of other groups' reports, and an individual presentation.

The second sub-course will be examined in the following way:

• Learning outcome 3 will be examined through written examination.
• Learning outcome 5 will be examined through a written report.
• Learning outcome 6 will also be examined through a written report and orally.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules Regarding RIU Students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

For Pass on the first sub-course, the student needs Pass on group works, seminars, assessments on other groups' reports, and individual paper. For Pass with Distinction the student must also receive Pass with Distinction on individual presentation.

For Pass on the second sub-course, Pass is required on all three learning outcomes. For Pass with Distinction on the course, all learning outcomes must have been passed and the overall grade must add up to the level of Pass with Distinction.

To obtain Pass for the full course, the student must have at least Pass on both subcourses. For Pass with Distinction the student needs Pass with Distinction on both subcourses.

Completion of graduated student achievement may be admitted up to the level for Pass.

The course will be evaluated upon completion. The results of the evaluation will be communicated to the students and will function as a guide for the development of the course.