SMO 311: Managing the Work Force in Canada Section B1
Winter Term 2021
Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta
Instructor: Leyuan Xie
Email: [email protected] Office Hour: Remote and by appointment
Class Information
Time & Venue: Monday and Wednesday 3:30 pm − 4:50 pm; Remote via Zoom Prerequisites: SMO 201, 301 or 310
Course Description
The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the principles of effective human resource management (HRM), and how HRM activities are situated in a variety of contexts (e.g., economic, legal, organizational). The course emphasizes that HRM functions more effectively when activities are
integrated and aligned with business or corporate strategy. Specifically, the course examines the role and interdependence among a number of core HRM activities (see Learning Objectives)
Learning Objectives
SMO 311 has been designed to provide both awareness and comprehension of the HRM function, and serves as a foundation course for the 400-level HR classes within the Alberta School of Business. This course also incorporates the learning goals of the BCom Program, in particular: critical thinking, global awareness, oral communication, teamwork, and written communications.
These learning goals are measured by assignments and exams that assess knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, global awareness, and written communication. Group research project will assess research skills, knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, organizational and time-management skills, oral communication, teamwork, and written communication. Class attendance and participation will assess professionalism, critical thinking, and oral communication.
Please note that the purpose of this course is not to turn you into a do-it-yourself HR professional. Rather, it is to equip you with the basic knowledge that will help you understand the HR function. At the end of this course, you will have developed functional competence in the following knowledge areas: Strategy;
Engagement; Workforce Planning and Talent Management; Labour and Employment Relations; Total Rewards; Learning and Development; Health, Wellness, and Safe Workplaces; Human Resources Metrics and Reporting (cf. the Certified Human Resource Professional Competency Framework, Human Resource Institute of Alberta https://www.cphrab.ca/)
Required Textbook
Steen, S.L., Noe, R.A., Hollenbeck, J.R., Gerhart, B., & Wright, P.M. (2019). Human Resources Management. 5th Canadian Edition. McGraw Hill Education.
Method of Instruction
The method of instruction will be a blend of lecture format and application exercises (e.g., case analyses and discussions), delivered remotely. Students are expected to prepare for each class (e.g., read the assigned textbook chapters). Barring technical difficulties, virtual attendance is strongly recommended and will be monitored throughout the semester. Course materials (i.e., lecture slides, handouts) will be posted on eClass regularly. All in-class materials and all of the readings are potentially testable.
Evaluation Schedule, Weighting, and Final Grades
Job Analysis Exercise and Case Study Assignment 10%
Exams (February 10, March 10, April 7) 45%
Group Presentation (Due on April 16) 35%
Virtual Attendance and Participation 10%
Evaluation Criteria
Job Analysis Exercise. In Week 4 we will be devoting class time to an exercise that will involve investigating what we know about a particular job (to be assigned by the instructor) in terms of duties, responsibilities, core work activities/behaviours, and human attributes (e.g., required knowledge, skills, abilities, personality characteristics), organized into a comprehensive job description. Each group (see below) will submit their report before the next scheduled class. Note that students should expect to work outside of class to complete this assignment. This component is worth 5% of your final mark.
Case Study Assignment. In Week 8, on the topic of performance management, a case study analysis will be assigned. This is an individual essay assignment and will be 3-paragraph in length.
Grading of the case study analysis will be based on evidence of critical thinking and engagement with the content of Chapter 7 of the textbook. This assignment is worth 5% of your final mark.
Exams. Three non-cumulative exams will be scheduled throughout the term, one at the end of each module (see Topic Outline). The content covered by each exam will include all the assigned
readings and lecture slides within the appropriate module. Exams will comprise both multiple choice and short answer questions. Together, the three exams will be worth 45% of your final mark (15% each).
Group Research Project. For this assignment, the class will be organized into 3-4 groups (about 5 students per group). Each group will be assigned a focal company. Your collective task will be to perform research on your assigned company and address the questions designated by the instructor. Then, organize all of the information into a 30-minute virtual presentation that will be recorded and sent to the
instructor on or before the due date. Details of the procedures to complete this group project will be announced in the first week of the semester. Please note that marks for this component will be primarily based on your recorded presentation. This component will be worth 35% of your final mark in the course.
Attendance and Participation. Attendance of live Zoom meetings will be taken, at the instructor’s discretion, throughout the term. Marks for this component will be based on the quality of participation from each student. This component is worth 10% of your final mark.
The University of Alberta Grading System
Evaluation will be completed and expressed in raw scores (i.e. points or percentages) throughout the course. Letter grades will be assigned only to the final distribution of mark totals for the course. Student grades will be determined based on a combination of absolute achievement and relative performance in this class and remain unofficial until approved by Faculty Council or it’s designate (i.e. Associate Dean).
Final grades in this class will follow generally the guidelines laid down by the University for the
distribution of grades in a 3rd year class (B average). Grading is therefore similar to a curve, although this normally works to students’ advantage given that raw scores are usually on the low side.
See https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedures/Pages/DispPol.aspx?PID=101
Academic Integrity, Honesty, and Plagiarism
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.
Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/media-
library/documents/resources/policies-standards-and-codes-of-conduct/cosb-updated-july-1-2019.pdf) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism,
misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
Policy on Recorded Materials
Audio or video recording of live Zoom lectures, breakout room discussions, guest speaker series, or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor.
Tentative Topic Outline: SMO 311 Winter Term 2021
MODULE 1
Week 1 January 11th and 13th Strategies, Trends, and Challenges in Human Resource Management
Read: Chapter 1
Monday: Course Overview Wednesday: Introduction to HRM
Week 2 January 18th and 20th The Legal Context for HRM and Creating Safe and Healthy Workplaces
Read: Chapter 2
Monday: Legal Context; Case Discussion Wednesday: H&S Context
Week 3 January 25th and 27th Analyzing Work and Designing Jobs; Group Assignments Read: Chapter 3
Monday: Library Resources – Presentation by Céline
Wednesday: Grouping and Company Assignments Week 4 February 1st and 3rd Job Analysis Exercise
Monday: Job-Analysis Exercise (worth 5% of your final mark; needed for Weeks 5 and 9) Wednesday: Case study
Week 5 February 8th and 10th Planning for and Recruiting Human Resources Read: Chapter 4
Monday: Job Analysis Due (Beginning of Class);
Exercise (Developing a Recruiting Strategy) Wednesday: MODULE 1 EXAM (Chapters 1 − 4) READING WEEK BREAK - NO CLASSES ON FEBRUARY 15th & 17th
MODULE 2
Week 6 February 22nd and 24th Selecting Employees Read: Chapter 5
Monday: Meeting with Céline on Group Project Wednesday: Meeting with Céline; Lecture
Week 7 March 1st and 3rd Training, Learning, and Development Read: Chapter 6
Monday: Lecture
Wednesday: Lecture; Touch on Module 2 Exam Week 8 March 8th and 10th Managing Employees’ Performance
Read: Chapter 7
Monday: Lecture; Case Study Assignment Wednesday: MODULE 2 EXAM (Chapters 5 − 7)
MODULE 3
Week 9 March 15th and 17th Guest Speaker Series (TBD) Read: Chapter 8
Monday: Guest lecture (TBD) Wednesday: Job Evaluation Exercise Week 10 March 22nd and 24th Total Rewards
Read: Chapter 8
Monday: Lecture; Time to work in groups
Wednesday: Lecture; Case Study Assignment Due Week 11 March 29th and 31st Creating and Sustaining High-Performance Organizations
Read: Chapter 11 Monday: Lecture
Wednesday: Touch on Module 3 Exam Week 12 April 5th & 7th Managing Human Resources Globally
Read: Chapter 10 Monday: Lecture
Wednesday: MODULE 3 EXAM (Chapters 8, 10, 11)
MODULE 4
Week 13 April 12th & 14th Group Presentations
Monday: Time to work in groups Wednesday: Time to work in groups;
Group Research Project due on Friday, April 16th
