Human Resource Management in a Societal Perspective

The course is a mandatory core course given within the Master's Programme in Strategic Human Resource Management and Labour Relations within the Faculty of Social Sciences, or as a freestandig course.

The course can be part of the following programme: 1) Master's Programme in Strategic Human Resource Management and Labour Relations (S2HRM)

To be eligible for the course, the student must be accepted to the Master Programme in Strategic Human Resource Management and Labour Relations within the Faculty of Social Sciences, or the Programme for Master in Sociology within the Faculty of Social Sciences alternatively a bachelor's degree in a social or behavioral science field. English 6/English B or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

The course deals with how institutional frameworks conditions HRM, organisational strategies and, and what effects organisational strategies can have on employees. Based on institutional theory, the course studies the HR-profession, labour markets, industrial relations and organisational strategies and employment relations. The course also deals with central sociological concepts such as globalisation, individualisation, power, gender, class, ethnicity and other social categorisations. The course is divided into three sub-courses:

1. HR - an introduction (HR - en introduktion), 3 credits
   Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U)
   The sub-course discusses the HR-profession,HR practice and international HRM.
2. Labour Relations (Arbetsmarknad och arbetsmarknadens parter), 6 credits
   Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U)
   Knowledge about how institutional frameworks conditions society and social organisation is the focal point of this sub-course, which deals with the labour market and the role of social partners and the state in different labour market regimes. 
3. Employment Relations and Strategies (Anställningsrelationer och strategier), 6 credits
   Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U) While sub-course 2 focuses on industrial relations (IR), the third sub-course depart from employment relations, i.e. the link between IR and HRM. The sub-course focuses on employment relations in organisations from an institutional perspective. This is studied by, for instance, how organisations in different contexts handle employment, attractive work, diversity, equality, inclusion, flexibility and digitalization.

After completion of the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe and explain how an institutional perspective may be used to understand how social conditions affect employment strategies and relations
• From a global comparative perspective, describe and explain different labour market models
• Describe and explain HRM in relationship to organisational and institutional settings
• Describe and explain what evidence-based HR can be and how a scientific approach can contribute to people management

Competence and skills

• Independently search for, analyse, and present relevant information, secondary data and previous research
• Discuss orally and in writing how information/data can be understood and explained from different theoretical perspectives
• Independently discuss how institutional frameworks affect labour relations and organisational strategies and their possible effects on employees

Judgement and approach

• Critically evaluate institutional and global frameworks affect on HRM
• Critically evaluate possible outcomes and effects that organisational strategies may have upon different categories of employees

Forms of teaching used in this course include lectures, seminars, individual assignments and group work.

Language of instruction: English.

Sub-course 1: Examination is based on written assignment. 
Sub-course 2: Examination is based on active participation in mandatory seminars and a written assignment.
Sub-course 3: Examination is based on active participation in mandatory seminars and a written assignment.

Mandatory seminars may be supplemented by individually written assignments.

Restrictions regarding the use of generative AI are specified on the learning platform or equivalent. Students are responsible for informing themselves of the current rules for examination elements such as assignments, seminar assignments and exams in the course in question.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules Regarding RIU Students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

Sub-course 1: The grades are based on the criteria given for the individually written assignment.

Sub-course 2: To achieve Pass: presence at mandatory seminars and to meet the criteria for Pass on the written assignment. To achieve Pass with Distinction: presence at obligatory seminars and to meet the criteria for Pass with Distinction on the written assignment.

Sub-course 3: To achieve Pass: preparation for and presence at mandatory seminars and to meet the criteria for Pass on the written assignment. To achieve Pass with Distinction: preparation for and presence at mandatory seminars and to meet the criteria for Pass with Distinction on the written assignment.

Course grade: To obtain Pass, students must have fulfilled all mandatory assignments and achieve Pass on all sub-courses. To obtain Pass with Distinction, students must have fulfilled all mandatory assignments and achieve Pass with Distinction on 12/15 credits (i.e. Sub-course 2 and 3) and a grade of Pass for the remaining 3 credits.

The course coordinator shall ensure that students are given the opportunity to submit an anonymous written course evaluation during the course or at the end of the course. Whenever possible, students shall also be given the opportunity to provide oral feedback on the course. A summary of the results, and any proposed changes, shall be made available to the students and discussed during the course introduction at the next course session.