HRM30120 People at Work

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module is an introductory course in employment relations and human resource management (HRM). Its primary concern is to examine what management do when they manage people. It is not a techniques course, rather it is designed to develop an informed and critical understanding of how the management of people at work is undertaken, and with what consequences.

The module is intended to introduce students to academic debates in the field of employment relations and HRM and, in particular, to equip students with the means to critically appraise the normative prescriptive literature which is abundant in this area of management. That there is a gap between prescription and practice may not surprise, but the challenge of understanding why is considerable. Inevitably answers pivot on being sensitive to the context within which employers and employees work. Thus, a key element of this module will be to help students to understand how the national and international contexts of the enterprise influence the management of people at work.

Further, we emphasize that, just as in the ‘real’ world of work and business, there will be no ‘easy answers’ to some of the questions raised in this module. The nature of the phenomena under study is complex and their implications for people at work are uncertain. You will be expected to evaluate competing claims and evidence, to establish and present your line of analysis, and to provide coherent reasons for your conclusions.

The module is taught by members of the Human Resource Management and Employment Relations Group in the College of Business. Its focus reflects the Group’s academic heritage which takes cognizance of the interest of firms, employees, unions and the wider community.

Every week students will have a lecture on a topic covering the core theoretical concepts for the module. Lecture slides and readings will be posted on BrightSpace. It is important that students engage with the coursework on a weekly basis in order to familiarise themselves with theoretical foundations of the module and identify any aspect that may require further clarification.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be expected to be able to:
1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of:
• the societal contexts in which work and the organisation of work were and are shaped;
• the key trends and altering patterns of work and employment;
• the key complexities and tensions associated with the management of work within the workplace.
2. Possess and demonstrate the appropriate critical and analytical skills for understanding current and future developments in the nature of work based on a wide reading of the relevant academic literature.


Indicative Module Content:

Lecture 1. ‘People at Work’ in context

Lecture 2. Understanding the nature of the employment relationship

Lecture 3. Flexibility at work

Lecture 4. The Rise of the Platform Economy - Gig Work and its Management

Lecture 5. People voice at work

Lecture 7. Conflict at work

Lecture 8. Managing Conflict at work

Lecture 9. HR analytics

Lecture 10. Global supply chains and work

Lecture 11. The future of work

Lecture 12. End of term coursework



Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

92
Total

116
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; critical writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
HRM20010 - Managing Employee Relations, HRM20020 - Employment Relations, HRM20030 - People at Work, HRM20050 - Comparative Human Resource Mgt, SMGT10230 - Sports HRM, SMGT20200 - Sports HRM, SMGT30020 - HRM Sports


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: End of Semester Timed Assessment Week 12 Yes Graded No

60
Continuous Assessment: Book chapter review Week 7 n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Maria Belizón Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Maeve Caraher Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor John Geary Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Anne Keegan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Bill Roche Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Huw Thomas Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Jayati Bhola Tutor
Dr Micheal Collins Tutor
Dr Bianca Foehrer Tutor
Sergey Katsuba Tutor
Mr Sid McDonnell Tutor
Ms Mary Naughton Tutor
Liam Tiernach Ó Beagáin Tutor