MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations

The study of relations between employers and workers in a range of sectors, settings and societies.

BMAN72391 Programme Req: BMAN72391 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc HRM & IR and as an elective to students on MSc IHRM & CIR

The course unit aims to give students an understanding of the key issues and tensions which can arise in employment relations, and the nature, objectives and methods adopted by the various parties seeking to influence the nature of those relations (e.g. government, employers, management, trade unions and employees).

At the end of the course unit students should be able to:

• Analyse and critically assess current trends in labour, management and industrial relations
• Integrate analytical frameworks, research findings and managerial choices, policies and practice
• Provide advice about good industrial relations practice in the workplace
• Work effectively as a group member in analysing industrial relations problems
• Make a coherent group presentation on a topic related to the Course unit.   

• Changes in labour market structure and regulation 
• Theoretical frameworks used in industrial relations
• Industrial relations actors: state, employers and trade unions
• Industrial relations practices: collective bargaining and strikes
• Precarious work and migrant labour
• Future of Work - technology and the green transition

20 hours of lectures (10 lectures of 2 hours each)

10 hours of interactive lectures (introduction of new material followed by critical/interactive analysis and discussion by students)

20% of the course might be subject to asynchronously delivery dependent on guest speaker availability specifically on the interactive lecture component on the unit (week 2, week 5 and week 7).

• Identify the factors which shape the nature and content of the employment relationship, e.g. Management strategies; HRM policies and practices; government policies; trade union activities; economic and labour market conditions.
• Appraise the nature, objectives and methods adopted by the industrial relation actors in attempting to influence job regulation

 

 

• Critically assess and integrate analytical frameworks, research findings and managerial choices, policies and practice in the analysis of social phenomena
• Analyse and critically assess current trends in labour, management and industrial relations

• Provide advice about good industrial relations practice in the workplace; applying theoretical knowledge to real life examples based on case study scenarios
• Use library, electronic and online resources

• Work effectively in individuating industrial relations problems in real life
• Demonstrate ability to independently gather, sift, synthesise and organise material from various sources (including library, electronic and online resources), and to critically evaluate its significance.

Critical reflection exercise similar to a presentation, but will be a marker led Q&A.

The students will complete a non-graded negotiation exercise using a case study organisation in groups. The summative assessment will be a critically reflective Question and Answer session, where students must reflect on their negotiating exercise, their chosen strategy and approach. Students will have the case study material and brief and questions in advance to prepare their responses, similar to a presentation. These Q&As will be recorded and graded as a team. (30%)

 

Individual essay 2,000 words (70%)

Informal advice and discussion during a lecture or seminar.

Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to a group via an online discussion forum.

Specific course related feedback sessions.

Written and/or verbal comments on assessed or non-assessed coursework.

Written and/or verbal comments after students have given a group or individual presentation.

Core texts

Bingham, C. (2016) Employment Relations: Fairness and Trust in the Workplace. London: Sage.

Dundon, T and Rollinson, D (2011) Understanding Employment Relations, McGraw-Hill Education, 2nd edition. (Text book introducing key elements of subject).

Colling, T. and Terry, M. (eds.) (2010) Industrial Relations: Theory and Practice, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd edition. (edited collection of specialist chapters).

Dundon, T, Cullinane, N and Wilkinson, A (2017), A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Employment Relations, Sage.

Frege, C. and Kelly, J. (eds.) (2020) Comparative Employment Relations in the Global Economy. Routledge (2nd edition)

Williams, S. (2020) Introducing Employment Relations: A critical approach. Oxford University Press.

Informal Contact Methods

Office hours

Online Learning Activities (blogs, discussions, self-assessment questions)

Drop in Surgeries (extra help sessions for stuents on material they may be struggling with).

Course co-ordinator available to talk to students at the end of each session