Human Resource Management – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Typical Modules:

Core

• Theory and Practice in Management
• Human Resource Management: Contexts, Concepts and Policies
• Knowledge, Innovation and Learning
• Understanding Business and Management Research
• International and Comparative Human Resource Management
• Dissertation

Optional modules (ONE from the following):

• International Business Ethics, Sustainability and Corporate Governance
• Strategic Analysis and Management

• Theory and Practice in Management

Main topics of study include: introduction of management; overview of management thoughts; modern management environment; modern management challenge (1): globalisation, big business and the impact; modern management challenge (2): corporate social responsibility; planning and decision making; strategic management: industrial analysis approach and resource based view; managing organizations; managing human resources; leadership; managing knowledge and innovation.

• Human Resource Management: Contexts, Concepts and Policy

Main topics of study include: HRM/HRD contexts and imperatives; the changing nature of work and employment; HRM/HRD influence on organisational strategy and change; the claims and substance of HRM theory; the role of the personnel specialist and the CIPD; employee contracts; personnel information systems, recruitment and selection; performance review and staff appraisal; remuneration policy and practice, motivation and satisfaction; grievance and disciplinary handling. HRM and organisation culture/development, training and development strategies. Staffing costs, HRM service delivery (quality evaluation) and outsourcing including use of IT. Overview of HRM and ethics, professionalism, equal opportunities.

• Knowledge, Innovation and Learning

Main topics of study include: the module will explore learning at the individual, organisational, and societal levels. It will consider issues relating to the management of learning processes, including developments such as the learning organisation, knowledge management, and communities of practice. Following from this, the module will explain some of the basic ideas associated with innovation theory; technological strategy; intra-firm knowledge flows; and the development of networks for the transfer of knowledge. As part of this discussion, the course will reflect upon relatively new developments in the field, including knowledge transfer both in the global and regional economy; disruptive innovation; and the role of epistemic communities.

• Understanding Business and Management Research

Main topics of study include: the notion of research and the issue of knowledge claims; the role of theory in management and business domain; epistemology and ontology assumptions in positivism and social relativism/constructivism; empiricism; research methods and techniques; research designs (i.e. experimental, longitudinal, case studies, comparative); application of qualitative and quantitative methods to management problems; using extant information and data sets to model complex management problems; the potential and limitations of case study research and survey research methods; planning a research project (writing a research proposal; the role of literature review and secondary research); practical considerations for a research epistemology, method, techniques and execution; criticality and ethical issues, trusting the knowledge claims of others.

• International and Comparative Human Resource Management

Main topics of study include: international business and management HR issues; the elements of an international human resources strategy and implementation in local contexts and cultures; cross-cultural and multi-cultural issues arising from HRM in the UK; international versus domestic HRM; Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-American approaches, Japanese perspectives and influences; managing HRM in Europe - commonalities and differences, the EU and its influence on HRM; managing people in China/Southern Africa/India; Multi-national projects and teams; managing HRM across borders: recruitment issues and methods, employee development and the 'international manager'; supporting international/ multicultural teams at staff, project and board levels; payment systems, benefits and expatriate rewards; trends and comparisons in employment law systems; employee communications and involvement; information system support for international HRM; managing the pressures of an international job.

• Dissertation

A research-based dissertation is an integral element of the programme to which considerable importance is attached. You are required to base your dissertation on empirical research into a human resources/employment relations problem or issue of your choice (subject to approval).

Dissertations are supervised by full time members of the academic staff of the School who have a wide range of research interests and expertise in the areas of human resource management, employment relations and organisational behaviour and change. The dissertation must be submitted by the end of the academic year during which you complete all of the taught modules of the course.

• International Business Ethics, Sustainability and Corporate Governance

Main topics of study include: the relationship between business and society; foundations of ethical theory; cross-cultural ethics; Theories and concepts of sustainable development; corporate social responsibility; corporate governance; corporate reporting and accountability; sustainable production and extended producer responsibility; employees and ethics; consumer ethics; supply chain ethics; ethical and sustainable consumption; business and environmental justice; business responses to climate change; role and actions of the non-profit sector; role and actions of government.

• Strategic Analysis and Management

Main topics of study include: perspectives on and key debates in strategyand strategic management; global, market and industry sector environments; competitor analysis; value adding and value chains; assets, resources, technologies, skills and distinctive competences; governance and stakeholder analysis; the balanced scorecard approach to objective setting; strategies for creating sustainable advantage; option generation and evaluation; the importance of strategy implementation and associated conceptual frameworks such as 7S; shareholder value creation; growth logics (internal development, mergers and acquisitions, alliances and networks formation; portfolios and parenting.

Funding details

The Brunel International Scholarship

The Brunel International Scholarship is an annual award scheme designed to promote talent and encourage excellence in scholars coming to Brunel from around the globe. For 2010/11, 35 awards of either £3,000 or £2,000 are available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who have been offered a place on a full-time course at Brunel.

All applications must be submitted online before 26 May 2010.

Bursaries

Bursaries may be available from your School, and your course director once you have secured and accepted a place on a course for information on any funding opportunities.

• A limited number of part-scholarships of £1,500 are available for the MA programmes in Music and Drama. Details will be sent to candidates who have confirmed their intention to study at Brunel in the 2010/11 academic year.
• The Leaders of Tomorrow PhD Bursary in Human Centred Design is supported by a donation from Brunel graduate and philanthropist Peter Ilori. The bursary provides £5,000 of financial support towards the study fees of high-achieving graduates who wish to pursue a PhD in Human Centred Design. Selection is based on the quality of applicants´ PhD study proposal.

Extra-curricular scholarships

Extra-curricular scholarships do not cover living costs or tuition fees. They are available to both taught and research students.

A number of Music Awards to help cover music tuition costs are made each year to students who are not studying music performance as part of their academic course.

The Brunel Sports Scholarship helps elite performance athletes by supporting their academic study and sporting needs simultaneously.