Since the majority of organisations is highly dependent on human resources, HRM is a central function of any organization. The general purpose of this class is to familiarize students with the basic principles and techniques of human resource management. This class provides participants with in-depth knowledge on HRM and offers the chance to apply this knowledge immediately in various exercises. A very practical and hands-on approach is an essential characteristic of this lecture so that students get highly engaged in the class topics. Among other topics, the class will focus on:

· Fundamentals of HRM “why HRM?”

· Management HRM responsibilities and attitude

· Lifecycle of HRM and HRM functions, such as: recruitment, staffing, training and development, performance management, compensation and retention

· Selected HR trends and relevant environmental factors

In today´s daily business at least a basic understanding of HRM is essential – since all managers, regardless of their specialization, play an integral role in carrying out HR policies and practices in their organization – and they have to deal with their organization’s human resources department.

After attending this class, participants will

· appreciate the importance of human resource management as a field of study and as a central management function;

· be able to describe fundamental HRM functions – such as recruitment, staffing, training and development, performance management, compensation and retention – and be familiar with each element’s key concepts and terminology

· have applied the principles and techniques of human resource management gained through this course to the discussion of major personnel issues and the solution of typical case problems.

· Be familiar with the complexity and challenges of HRM and reflect on trends and environmental influences.

· have gained practical insights and hands-on experience through dealing with real-world HRM issues and cases (emphasis is placed on developing problem solving and critical thinking skills)

· can describe practical relevance of successful HRM for organisational success

· have improved their skills to work in culturally diverse teams, including communication and presentation skills

Attendance and punctuality throughout the course are mandatory. In case of class/exam clashes students are allowed to miss up to 4 hours – for this absence a compensation paper has to be delivered. In case of sickness a doctor’s certificate is needed. Students are asked to show self-initiative, inform the lecturer about their situation promptly and clarify their compensation.

Human Resource Management is an interactive class based on theoretical and practical insights; it integrates various teaching methods such as group work, theory lectures, case studies, discussions, presentations, peer reflections and similar methods, which are crucial for achieving the main learning objectives.

The class will provide students with a learning environment that allows for reflection on different issues regarding Human Resource management from different perspectives, and will give them the chance to improve their technical and social competencies, particularly their communication and cooperation skills.

Substantial classroom discussion and participation are encouraged and expected. Attendance and punctuality throughout the course is absolutely mandatory.

Assessment will be based on both individual and team performance. The final grade consists of the following components:

Individual performance: 55%

· Short essay write-up before class start: 25%

· Participation and active contribution in class (including in-class quizzes etc.): 15%

· Written Exam (short case write-up): 15%

Group performance: 45%

· Group presentation on an assigned topic (25%)

· Written group report on key learnings (20%)

The final grade will be calculated according to the following formula:

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