Human Resource Management

BA 453/553 Fall 2006

Sandy Neubaum

Office Hours:

Bexell 330
Tuesday/Thursday
10:00 am 11:00 am (my office)
Wednesday
2:00 pm 3:00 pm (office hours held at BINGS Coffee Shop)
(I am more than willing to accommodate student schedules and can
arrange to meet students at other times)

Phone:

Cell phone
Cell phone
Office Phone

E-mail:

[email protected]

Class Info:

http://classes.bus.oregonstate.edu/ba453/

Class
BA 453/553
BA 453/553

Section
01
02

407.340.9199 (mine)
541.231.8746 (my husbands)
541.737.2616

Day
Tuesday/Thursday
Tuesday/Thursday

Time
12:00 1:50
4:00 5:50

Location
Bexell 416
Bexell 416

In addition I work with Austin Entrepreneurship Program as a faculty advisor to the AEP-tick program and the BA
160/161/162 class.
Required Text:
Managing Human Resources, fifth edition by Gomez-Mejia, Balkin and Cardy (ISBN: 0-13-187067-x)
Suggested Readings:
For relevant discussions of human resource topics, students are encouraged to read one or more of the following on a
regular basis: Wall Street Journal, Business Week, the Corvallis Gazette, Portland Business Journal, Forbes, Fortune,
and Business & Society.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Course Description:
This course will address Human Resource topics from the managers point of view. A central theme of this course
will be to examine how an organizations strategic objectives should guide implementation of various human
resource management programs and strategies. This survey course will cover the major topic areas of personnel and
human resource management. These areas include: strategic human resource management and related issues; human
resource planning and forecasting; job design, analysis and evaluation; staffing; compensation; performance
appraisal; training and development; career management; legal and ethical issues. These issues will be discussed as
they impact managerial decision making.
Course Objectives:
This course has been designed to provide students with the following:
Understanding of and exposure to core concepts and theories in human resource management.
Increased appreciation for the role of human resource management and associated systems in organizational
performance and success.
Understanding of the major HRM needs of most organizations, and how managers can utilize HR programs,
techniques and knowledge to enhance their own performance and the performance of the employees they
supervise. This is particularly important as all managers function as human resource managers.
Ability to perform human resource tasks such as forecasting staffing needs, evaluating and design a performance
evaluation system, conducting a job analysis, evaluating training needs, etc.
1

Your individual performance is based on instructor assessment.

Your team performance is based on

Grading Requirements
Exams (3 @ 120 points)

360 points

O*Net Exercise

60 points

HR Exercises/Class Participation

120 points

Debates (team and individual grade)

180 points

Total Points

720 points

Grading
A
AB+

93% - 100%
90% - 92%
87% - 89%

B
BC+

83% - 86%
80% - 82%
77% - 79%

C
CD+

73% - 76%
70% - 72%
67% - 69%

D
DF

63% - 66%
60% - 62%
Lower than 60%

NOTE: You should know now what grade you need to receive in this class. You have ample opportunity to earn that
grade. Please feel free to discuss with me during the first two weeks of the quarter your grade requirements.
Throughout the quarter I will work with you and do all I can to help you earn the grade you need. However, do not
ask me to supplement your earnings at the end of the semester. Therefore, there is no need to request a grade change
at the end of quarter due to your need to either: (1) graduate, (2) avoid academic probation, (3) get off probation, (4)
stay in the country, (5) stay in school, (6) keep your scholarship or financial aid, (7) avoid the wrath of your parents,
or (8) avoid any other grade related calamity.
Extra Credit
There will be the opportunity for extra credit during the course of the quarter one is listed in the syllabus one will
be announced later in the quarter.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Exams
There will be three exams. Each exam will cover all materials covered in class, text and required readings. Exams
may be comprised of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, short answer, on-line research, essay questions and
case analysis.
Study guides for each exam will be available prior to the exam date.
Exams (3 @ 120 points) = 360 points
O*Net Exercise:
This assignment will allow students to complete a career track assessment tool and research potential careers further
utilizing the O*Net website. This website is a powerful tool used by HRM professionals in the field on a daily basis.
Additional information and requirements will be provided during the quarter. It will also provide the foundation for
future in-class exercises.
O*Net Assignment = 60 points

HR Exercises/Class Participation
Daily preparation for, and regular participation in, class discussions is ESSENTIAL. Each student is responsible for
all material assigned, discussed, or otherwise presented, regardless of time of enrollment or attendance.
Students are expected to attend class. It will be difficult to satisfactorily complete the course requirements if one does
not attend class regularly. If you are going to miss a class, I would appreciate being notified in advance.
Much of our class time will be spent in open discussion of cases, exercises and text material. Hence, it is considered
part of your 'job' in the classroom to contribute accordingly. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in these
activities in order to enhance your understanding of human resource management. Full preparation of cases and
reading assignments prior to class time is the minimum that is expected. Attendance will be taken, scrutinized and
the appropriate conclusions drawn. In short, it is impossible to earn points for participation and in-class exercises if
you are not in class.
During specific class meeting there will be class activities some will be simple with 0/5 point value if you are in
class you will receive the full 5-points. Other class activities will require more effort internet research, some out
of class preparation and will have a higher point value assigned to them. Still others require thought and full team
engagement these will be reviewed for content and points awarded accordingly.
What is participation?
Raising and answering questions
Sharing ideas, observations and personal experiences
Pointing out relevant data and generating potential solutions
Pointing out relationships to earlier discussions
Helping others develop their views and ideas
I encourage you to get involved!
Trust your own experiences. This course is designed to provide you with a framework to understand and
interpret these experiences. At the same time, be prepared and willing to reinterpret these experiences in light of
these theories.
Be aware of your own values and biases. Where you stand depends on where you sit. Your values inevitably
influence how you perceive and interpret situations. Rather than deny or hide them, understand them, and seek
to understand your peers.
Value the contributions of others. This learning environment is meant to be supportive. Respect for the
contributions of classmates is expected. Healthy debate, skepticism, and constructive disagreement are welcome,
but behaviors that detract from the learning of others are strongly discouraged.
Do not be satisfied with shallow analysis and pat answers. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is
- Question it.
As part of your participation in this course, I ask that you turn in the following:
Resume: Turn in a current resume detailing your work experiences. This assignment will help me to get to
know you, and to get a sense of the varied experiences that each of you bring to the classroom. Your resume
will not be graded but is a HR exercise worth 10-points (due September 3 rd).
*Extra Credit Opportunity If you are in class and participate in all in-class exercises you will receive 10-extra
credit points on the final exam.
**Missed in-class exercise students may request a make-up assignment for one (and only one) missed in-class
exercise. It must be turned in within one-week of the missed class.
HR Exercises/Class Participation = 120 points

Debates
Students will have the opportunity to debate three HR topics during the quarter. Students will prepare for the debates
in advance by conducting research into the assigned topics and formulating their own opinions based on
their research. Detailed information on how to conduct and present your research findings will be
provided during the first and second week of class.
This semester we will debate: Diversity Issues, Workplace Hiring Issues and Workplace Privacy Issues.
Opinion Papers (research)
Classroom Slides and Presentation (in-class delivery of your research)
Debate

30 points
20 points
10 points
60 points

3 debates @ 60 points = 180 points

Team grade 108/120 points

Failure to turn in required peer assessments will result in a deduction of 25 points from your overall grade.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Basic Class Policies
1. All assignments must be typed.
2. All assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class. If either you or the assignment is not present
when the assignment is collected, the assignment is considered late and may not be accepted.
3. If an assignment does not meet my requirements it will be graded accordingly. If you have any problems or
questions contact me so that we can discuss them.
4. If it appears that you will be unable to submit an assignment on time, contact me ASAP.
5. Show respect for yourself and your fellow classmates.
6. Turn off your cell phones and your lap tops.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Academic Integrity and Cheating Policy
Any case of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of F for the course. This action is allowed by Academic
Regulations and Procedures as described in the Schedule of Classes. I expect you to know and understand these
policies and regulations. .
This includes anyone found to be using the work or analysis of other individuals\groups in the class or other classes
(past or present). Anyone who provides information to other students will be similarly disciplined. Exceptions will
not be made for graduation status or magnitude/type of dishonesty.
If there is any doubt about their meaning and interpretation, ask for an explanation.
http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm.

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