Overview
Students will identify and explore the contemporary issues effecting human resource management practice and the impact they are having, and potentially could have, on an organisation's ability to effectively and strategically attract, recruit, retain and manage its human resources in an increasingly dynamic and global environment. The unit critically links human resource management theory and its practical application to contemporary HRM issues. If you have previously successfully completed the unit HRMT20023 Contemporary Studies in Human Resource Management you are not required to undertake this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2021
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Have your say feedback; self reflection
Success in this unit requires students to engage with the unit on a regular basis to obtain formative feedback and to progress their assessments throughout the term. Positive feedback was received in relation to providing individual consultation time on a regular basis.
Retain this approach, alongside the interactive nature of the workshops, continue to provide ongoing feedback to students.
Feedback from Have your say feedback
The group assignments are not useful. Through online sessions, people are not engaged and they affected others. so, maybe to reconsider another individual assessment for the unit.
Consider establishing alternative forms of assessment (e.g. individual task) suitable for online delivery.
Feedback from Have your say feedback
The course was a little outdated due to COVID 19.
Provide the latest materials (e.g COVID -19) to assist students to better understand the contemporary labour market in which they are either seeking employment or are indeed employed.
Feedback from Have your say feedback
The unit coordinator is an amazing lecturer and extremely helpful. She has greatly improved my learning process and ability to understand the content and assessments. She has been amazing at being available whenever I have needed help and guidance.
Continue to strongly support and engage with students to ensure that the assessment requirements of this Unit are made clear to the students.
- identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness;
- evaluate the implications of the main contemporary HR issues for their potential to impact on the effective strategic management of an organisation;
- reference and critically assess current theory and practice and use this research to propose ways to address issues of contemporary relevance to HRM;
- compare and evaluate approaches which could be used to innovatively and effectively address contemporary HR issues; and
- prepare professional reports and make presentations to initiate and support the implementation of initiatives dealing with contemporary HR issues.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 15% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation - 15% | |||||
| 4 - Group Work - 35% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 15% | |||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 15% | |||||||||
| 4 - Group Work - 35% | |||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
This unit will be based on peer -reviewed journal articles and therefore, no recommended text book.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
u.amarakoon@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 08 Mar 2021Module/Topic
Introduction - The "New HRM"
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 15 Mar 2021Module/Topic
Social trends – Changing labour market and changing organisations
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 22 Mar 2021Module/Topic
Competition & Choice; Competing for people
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 29 Mar 2021Module/Topic
Searching and researching; Writing essays and reports; Conducting a literature review; Analysing a case
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Forming groups
Week 5
Begin Date: 05 Apr 2021Module/Topic
Contemporary job design- Flexible jobs and flexible workplaces
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Forming groups
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 12 Apr 2021Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 19 Apr 2021Module/Topic
Engaging, recognising, and rewarding people
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practice in-class (online) test
Week 7
Begin Date: 26 Apr 2021Module/Topic
Managing the workplace – health and safety, industrial relations
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 03 May 2021Module/Topic
Managing the workplace – ethics and organisation culture
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 10 May 2021Module/Topic
Managing knowledge and learning
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 - Part A - Group presentations
Week 10
Begin Date: 17 May 2021Module/Topic
Developing HR Strategy
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 - Part A - Group presentations
Week 11
Begin Date: 24 May 2021Module/Topic
Managing the HR function
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 - Part A - Group presentations
Week 12
Begin Date: 31 May 2021Module/Topic
Contemporary challenges in HRM
Chapter
Refer to weekly reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 07 Jun 2021Module/Topic
No exam
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 14 Jun 2021Module/Topic
No exam
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Write an academic essay on "Changing nature of jobs in the context of global challenges".
Your essay should focus on,
- implications of specific global challenges on jobs,
- opportunities and challenges for human resource managers, and
- opportunities and challenges for employees
Your essay should draw on relevant themes from the first five weeks of the unit, and use at least eight (8) references from relevant peer-reviewed academic journals.
Length: Approximately 1500 (+/- 10%) words (excluding reference list)
Important: Before commencing this task, carefully read the detailed assessment task and marking rubric available in the unit Moodle site.
Vacation Week Monday (12 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Submission online only through the unit Moodle site
Graded assignments will be returned to students after moderation in two working weeks (vacation week is excluded).
Your report will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
- Introduction & Conclusion (4%) - Well formulated introduction and conclusion.
- Research (9%) - A thorough knowledge of the relevant material demonstrated through the use of an appropriate body of quality sources (including at least 8 peer-reviewed journal articles).
- Analysis (9%) - Identification of the issues, critical analysis, and clear argument supported by evidence.
- Application of theory/literature (9%) - Application and/or integration of relevant theory and literature in the discussion to address the assessment task.
- Presentation (2%) - Clear and concise written communication skills, within the word limit.
- Referencing (2%) - Correct referencing of sources (APA style)
Penalties for late submissions are applied according to policy [(-5%× 35)/day = -1.75 marks/day]
Important: Plagiarism and academic misconduct are taken very seriously. Such incidents will be reported to the Academic Integrity Unit of the University and may result in a “zero” mark.
- identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness;
- evaluate the implications of the main contemporary HR issues for their potential to impact on the effective strategic management of an organisation;
- reference and critically assess current theory and practice and use this research to propose ways to address issues of contemporary relevance to HRM;
- compare and evaluate approaches which could be used to innovatively and effectively address contemporary HR issues; and
- prepare professional reports and make presentations to initiate and support the implementation of initiatives dealing with contemporary HR issues.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
2 In-class Test(s)
During the Week 7 regular workshop, you will get access to a short case with five (5) questions. You have to read the case and write your answer in bullet points in the space provided to you.
Note : This online test will only be available during your workshop time. No alternatives are available for this online class test. Your participation in the test is compulsory.
Duration - One (1) hour
Week 7 Friday (30 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 - during the scheduled workshop
To be returned within two working weeks
Your test performance will be assessed on the extent to which you meet each of the following criteria:
- Understanding the case (3%)
- Relevance and appropriateness of responses (6%)
- Demonstrate understanding of appropriate HRM theory and concepts (6%)
- identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness;
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
3 Presentation
Based on one (1) of the three presentation topics (made available in Moodle site) selected by your group, prepare a presentation for the CEO.
Your presentation should include,
- a comprehensive analysis of HRM challenges and opportunities (related to the chosen topic), and
- recommendations for short and long term action.
This presentation should be a preview of your written report for the CEO, which will be submitted in 12 week
Oral presentations: All members of the group should participate in the presentation.
References: A minimum of 4 peer-reviewed journal articles in APA style.
Submission: One member submit the presentation in Moodle on behalf of the team.
Students will present during workshops in Weeks 9, 10 and 11.
Students will be given detailed feedback immediately after the presentation. Grades will be given in one working week.
Your presentation will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
- Quality of research and analysis (3%) – Draw from two or more topics from the unit and refer to at least four (4) relevant peer-reviewed academic journal articles.
- Application of theory (3%) - Incorporate theory and literature to identify key issues and provide recommendations to meet the assessment requirements.
- Structure (2%) - Concise and structured presentation with an introduction, main presentation, and conclusion. References in APA style.
- Delivery (2%) - Quality of visual aids and verbal communication delivered within the allocated time.
- Team work (2%) – Work collaboratively as a team.
- Individual marks (3%) – Assessment of an individual’s presentation skills.
- identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness;
- evaluate the implications of the main contemporary HR issues for their potential to impact on the effective strategic management of an organisation;
- reference and critically assess current theory and practice and use this research to propose ways to address issues of contemporary relevance to HRM;
- compare and evaluate approaches which could be used to innovatively and effectively address contemporary HR issues; and
- prepare professional reports and make presentations to initiate and support the implementation of initiatives dealing with contemporary HR issues.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
4 Group Work
Based on the topic your group has selected, develop a report to the CEO of the respective organisation.
Your report should include
- a comprehensive analysis of HRM challenges and opportunities (related to the chosen topic), and
- recommendations for short and long term action.
It must draw on relevant topics from the unit and refer to at least ten (10) relevant peer-reviewed academic journal articles.
Length - 2500 words (+/- 10%) (excluding reference list)
Important: Before commencing this task, carefully read the detailed assessment task and marking rubric available in the unit Moodle site.
Review/Exam Week Monday (7 June 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Only ONE (1) report per group must be submitted on Moodle
Feedback and marks will be received along with the certification of grades process
Your report will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
- Executive summary (2%) - Content clearly presented and summarised report succinctly.
- Research (7%) - A thorough knowledge of the relevant material demonstrated through the use of an appropriate body of quality sources (including at least 10 peer-reviewed academic journal articles).
- Analysis (8%) - Identification of the issue(s), critical analysis, and clear argumentation supported by evidence.
- Application of theory/literature (7%) - Application and/or integration of relevant theory and literature in the discussion to address the assessment task.
- Presentation (5%) - Logical structure including a clear introduction, conclusion, and recommendation (3%); Clear and concise written communication (2%) .
- Referencing (1%) Correct referencing of sources in APA
- Individual's contribution (5%) - Assessment of an individual's contribution by group members
Penalties for late submissions are applied according to policy [(-5%× 35)/day = -1.75 marks/day]
All students must submit their group contribution assessment form. If any member has not submitted the group contribution form, s/he will not be given an individual’s contribution marks.
Important: Plagiarism and academic misconduct are taken very seriously. Such incidents will be reported to the Academic Integrity Unit of the University and may result in a “zero” mark.
- identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness;
- evaluate the implications of the main contemporary HR issues for their potential to impact on the effective strategic management of an organisation;
- reference and critically assess current theory and practice and use this research to propose ways to address issues of contemporary relevance to HRM;
- compare and evaluate approaches which could be used to innovatively and effectively address contemporary HR issues; and
- prepare professional reports and make presentations to initiate and support the implementation of initiatives dealing with contemporary HR issues.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
