Human Resource Management and Socio Economic Development

The course is especially designed to offer you the opportunity to develop your competences, imagination and ideas in practice. You will be enabled to learn through experience and engagement – with other students, with the course leaders and with your environment, both physical and cultural.

Course objectives

The course develops:

• Knowledge of traditional Human Resource Management (HRM) topics; of how HRM is shaped by economic, political and management choices; and of how HRM influences social cohesion, divisions and identities
• Appreciation of the motivations of people, their values, their relations and their choices
• Recognition of the aims, practices and implications of people management
• Awareness of different forms of participative management located in different forms of organisations
• Awareness of the ethical issues arising in globalised labour markets; and a holistic view of responsibility in all of its economic, environmental, cultural and social dimensions

Entrance requirements

Entry requires a good degree in any subject from a recognised university, normally the equivalent to at least a lower second class Honours degree in a UK university. Applications will also be considered from those without the standard academic qualifications but with wide relevant experience. In this latter case, applicants may be asked to attend for an interview.

The course is suitable for graduate students with an established notion of people management and an interest in how HRM fits with broader societal and economic developments.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6 (minimum 5.5 in each skill), or TOEFL: Listening 21, Reading 22, Speaking 23, Writing 21.

Funding

A limited number of 30 percent fee scholarships awarded on academic merit, may be available.

Modes of study

Full-time:
MSc: one year; Diploma: nine months; Certificate: six months

Course start date

September

Structure and content

Autumn semester: compulsory modules

• Work, Employment and Society: This module provides you with a strong foundation for the Master's course. It introduces you to the key issues, concepts and debates regarding the world of work and employment and develops your skills in academic discussion and academic writing.
• People Management: explores the policies and procedures used in organisations to manage staff. It deals with human resource planning, recruitment and selection, managing performance, rewards, grievance and discipline, learning and development, health, safety and welfare, and diversity
• Responsible Business in Society: addresses the contemporary challenges to business practice emanating from the sustainable development and responsibility agendas. It provides a strong foundation for understanding the implications of business practice on broader society, and conversely the impact that social activism, public scrutiny and pressures the brand has on business governance/corporate strategy
• Globalisation, Creativity and Competitiveness: provides the analytical foundations for understanding the significance of production activities for social and economic development. Issues addressed include: social preferences and governance, strategic choice in the organisation of production under globalisation, the use of creativity across economies and societies and its impact on wellbeing, the meaning of competitiveness and associated policies

Spring semester: compulsory modules

• The HRM Debate: This module analyses the concepts, practices and outcomes of human resource management as distinct from personnel management. It assesses the background, assumptions and aims of several HRM models and evaluates them against traditional notions and practices of personnel management in the UK
• Shaping International Business and Policy: brings socio-economic development issues to life by bridging the theory, the policy and the practice of shaping business locally and internationally. Issues addressed relate to different sectors, such as private for-profit and private non-profit, in different industries
• Management Research Methods: addresses directly the need for both appreciation of the nature of academic research in management, and the practical problem solving and creative inquiry skills needed by postgraduate students
• Contemporary Issues in HRM: This module provides an in depth examination of HRM in particular sectoral contexts.  Its seeks to provide students with a variety of examples within which theoretical HRM debates are played out

Summer:

• Dissertation in Socio-Economic Development: should essentially build on an original research question and reflect your own understanding and knowledge of selected topics learnt during taught courses, as well as your capability to critically position related issues in a socio-economic development framework

Delivery and assessment

You have an active role in your learning experience, which is supported by teaching techniques such as group-work, role-play, problem-solving, case studies, individual reflection and presentations. The course modules are assessed by various methods which include essays, individual and group projects and final examinations. The period of assessed study (lectures, tutorials, seminars) is followed by a period of supervised research resulting in a dissertation.

Preparation

Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.

Course Director

Dr Silvia Sacchetti

RAE rating

The School is committed to a research-led approach in all of its activities. This was recognised in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), which rated 85 percent of our research activity to be of international significance.

Find out more

http://www.management.stir.ac.uk/

Career opportunities

The course is relevant for those who are working, or wish to be working, in business enterprises, public enterprises, social enterprises, international organisations, government departments, NGOs, research institutes on social and economic issues, and academia. It also provides a sound foundation for those wishing to undertake doctoral research.