LFU:online

The objective of this course (in conjunction with the VO/2 Basic Course HRM: Leading and staff development) is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the contemporary workplace and the nature of employee development and leadership in organizations. After completing this course students should be able to:

• ­Explain in detail some of dominant models that underpin leading and developing people in organizations
• ­Employ these models in analysing practical problems in the workplace
• ­Describe the implications these models have for managing organizations and employees
• ­ Consider these models from managerial, critical, and feminist perspectives
• ­ Critically evaluate research papers in the field of HRM, and
• ­ Will have produced a group paper on a research topic in the field of leading and staff development

The seminar in a first step deepens students’ understanding of the HRM concepts introduced in the VO/2 Basic Course HRM: Leading and staff development via a range of different exercises. In a second step, students critically examine an academic article in the topical field of the course. Finally, they write a group research paper, in which they choose a theoretical perspective, identify a manageable research question and assess relevant literature.

In-class exercises (e.g., case analyses, debates, simulations), short presentations by students, additional short inputs by the lecturers

·         Individual reading assignment (30%)

·         Group presentation (20%)

·         Group seminar paper (50%)

Participation in the seminar (minimum requirement) 

Bratton, J. & Gold, J. (2012) Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice, 5th Edition, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2012) Research Methods for Business Students, 6th Edition, Essex: Pearson.

Positive completion of the mandatory course "Fundamentals of Management: organization and HRM" referred to in §6 (2-4) and four additional mandatory courses from the core area of management referred to in §6 (2)

The research papers are a foundation for students’ empirical research projects in the SBWL Personal Vertiefung.