Module Handbook 2022/23

BST221 The Management of Human Resources

Module Leader: Rachel Williams [email protected]

Rachel Williams is a Senior Lecturer in the Management Work and Organization section of Cardiff Business
School. She has worked at the School for 15 years and was responsible for gaining CIPD accreditation of the
MSc HRM programme. Before joining the School Rachel worked as an HR professional, initially in the
NHS and manufacturing before joining the legal firm Eversheds. She held several HR roles as the practice
expanded and her final role was Head of HR for the Cardiff office.

Rachel is Admissions tutor for the BSc Business Management programme and Programme Director for the
MSc HRM programme. She is particularly interested in widening access to education and employment
opportunities. Her research interests include organisational and occupational socialization and she has
carried out work in relation to teachers and veterinary surgeons.

In her spare time Rachel enjoys running, gardening, musicals and looking after her 3 cats.
Module Aims
This module aims to provide students with a rigorous framework of knowledge and understanding
concerning the management of people within organizations.  It has a number of distinct learning objectives
and seeks to familiarise students with major contemporary research evidence on employment and effective
approaches to human resource (HR) practice.  Research focusing on the links between people management
practices and positive organisational outcomes is covered, as is research that highlights major contemporary
changes and developments in practice.  Aspects of managing human resources in an international context are
also introduced and the module explores how the major aims of HR are achieved in practice in different
organizational scenarios. The aim of the module being to help students become effective managers as well
as effective HR specialists, managing others fairly and effectively.  Finally, the module requires students to
reflect critically on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint and provides
opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module a student should be able to

 Review and critically evaluate major contemporary research and debates in the fields of human
resource management (HRM) and human resource development (HRD).

 Evaluate major theories relating to key areas of HRM and how these are put into practice by
organisations.

 Critically discuss the aims and objectives of the HRM and HRD function in organisations and
how these are met in practice.

 Assess the contribution made by HRM and HRD specialists in different types of organization.

 Examine the key issues relating to and main characteristics of HRM in an international setting.
 BST221 Timetable 22/23
 
  Live session Topic
 
Week 1 6th October Introduction to HR and work
  Guest speaker: Caleb Rooke
Week 2 13th October Recruitment 
Guest speaker: Lesley Richards
Week 3 20th October Selection
 
Week 4 25th to 27th October Gregynog Residential 

Week 5 3rd November Interviewing

Week 9 8th December Training and development 

Week 10 15th December Module revision and exam

Teaching sessions will take place 1pm – 3pm on Thursdays in room 2.01, this is on the second floor of the
Postgraduate Teaching Centre (PTC). The module materials will be delivered via blended learning. Some of
the core content will be delivered on-line through a mixture of short videos, activities and readings. This will
enable you to download, listen to and review content in your own time. We will then have two hour, face to
face sessions when we will discuss the material and build on it with opportunities to examine points in more
depth and apply the literature to practical situations.

Each week a module map will be posted on the Learning Central module, which will set out the tasks which
need to be completed that week. It is important that you work your way through this material and complete it
before the live sessions, as this will be your opportunity to ask questions about what you have read. It is
important that you try to complete each week’s work on-time as you will gain maximum benefit from the
face to face sessions if you have already completed the required tasks. Aim to produce clear notes each week
and structure the material in a way which is helpful to you. Make sure that you understand everything as you
go along. If you do this, you will find that you are able to revise the material easily, ready for the exam. If
you leave much of the work until the end of the semester, you will find it very difficult to revise for the
exams and complete your assignments for other modules on time. However, sometimes things do not go as
planned and you are likely to find reading valuable in allowing you to catch up.

Each week, reading will be posted on Learning Central. These will all be available via the Reading Lists tab
in the menu.

The live sessions every week will provide an opportunity to ask questions about the module materials and
clarify any points. Please also use the discussion board for questions, and remember that there are no ‘silly’
questions. If you don’t know something it is likely that other students are also unsure.
 Assessment

This module is assessed by an unseen closed book exam in January. The exam will require you to integrate
academic literature and practical knowledge, and provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your
ability to use evidence to support your HR decisions.

Examples of exam questions will be provided throughout the semester with opportunities to discuss suitable
answers.

Reading List

Reading for each week is available via the Learning Central Reading List function. A video with instruction
on how to access this can be found in the learning central learning materials for this module. You will also
be able to access copies of the core text books which you will find useful for this module. The key general
texts we use are:

Wilkinson, A., Dundon, T. and Redman, T. 2021. Contemporary human resource management : text and
cases . Sixth edition. Los Angeles ;: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Beardwell, J., Thompson, A., 2017. Human resource management : a contemporary approach. Eighth
edition. Harlow, United Kingdom : Pearson Education.

Marchington, M., Wilkinson, A., Donnelly, R., and Kynighou, A. (2016). Human resource management at
work . Sixth edition. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Storey, J., Ulrich, D., Wright, P. M., Taylor, and Francis (2019). Strategic human resource management : a
research overview . London ; Routledge.

Truss, C. Mankin D., Kelliher, C., Garavan, T. (2018) Strategic human resource management. Second
edition. Oxford : Oxford University Press.

Study Skills
There are also several useful study skills books in the reading list including guides on academic writing,
writing for international students and writing for mature students. Gave a look at these books early in the
year as you are likely to find that they contain some useful guidance.