MSc Management / Course details

This course provides a comparative analysis of employment and human resource management (HRM) in its global context. Managing workers in today’s global and competitive economy is full of challenges. For example, how to attract and retain good workers? How to increase organisational commitment? How to manage human resources while facing increasing competitive and financial pressures? How to make sure that HRM serves both organisations and workers? How to organise a global workforce given the differences between countries? How to respond to existing gender differences in employment?  

Such questions can only be answered successfully by managers who have a good understanding of the nature of employment in this global context, both the differences that exists between countries and the current challenges that firms face. This course aims to provide that understanding to support all students who aim to go into management and will need to attract and motive their workers in this context of global competitive pressures.  

BMAN73122 Programme Req: BMAN73122 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc Management

• Persistent international differences in employment and human resource management (HRM) such as those related to education and training, work-life-balance, and employment conditions.
• The role of cultural norms and institutional practices as the underlying source of these international difference in employment.
• The impact of globalization and the internationalization of business on the changing nature of employment and the challenges this poses in both developed and developing countries.
• The inherent challenge to successfully manage human resources given the objective to serve organisational interests while acknowledging the needs and preferences of workers. 

• Globalisation and its impact on employment
• The cultural and institutional analysis of international differences in employment
• The quality of employment: ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ jobs
• Work-life balance
• Diversification and (how to manage) different types of employees
• International differences in HRM
• Managing an international labour force in MNCs
• MNCs and the diffusion of HRM
• Global value chains, new industries and shifting employment
• Global labour markets and the offshoring of employment
• Global working conditions and labour market regulation

20 lecture hours 
10 seminar hours (synchronous)

During and outside these sessions, the course will draw on videos, interactive formative tests (e.g. Kahoot) and interactive discussions for Q&A (e.g. Padlet). 

• Understand international differences in employment between countries
• Understand the complex nature of employment given the (contrasting) interests of employers and employees  
• Understand the far-reaching impact of globalization on both firms and employees across developed and developing countries

• Ability to analyse international differences in employment by drawing on cultural and institutional theories
• Ability to critically evaluate the political nature of employment and the implications for firms, workers and societies
• Ability to identify and explain tensions and contradictions that emerge from the challenges posed by globalization 
   

• Ability to identify challenges faced by domestic and multinational corporations in staffing and managing their organisations
• Ability to analyse how the context and wider managerial practices of firms shape the nature and management of employment 

• Ability to produce a short written document by succseefully drawing on and referencing on academic literature
• Ability to deliver an oral presentation by succseefully drawing on and referencing on academic literature
• Ability to systematically analyse and present the nature of a topical employment issue together with its implications for firms and workers and an appropriate managerial and regulatory response 

Group presentation with Individual write-up (30%)
Individual essay (70%)

As determined through the School’s regulations on summative feedback. 

The course will predominantly draw on academic articles that specifically discuss the recent developments in the various areas considered. However, the following textbooks are available for both specific and background reading:

Dicken, P. (2015) Global Shift (7th Edition), London: Sage. AVAILABLE THROUGH KORTEXT PDF READER

Edwards, T. & Rees, C. (eds.) (2017) International HRM: Globalization, National Systems and Multinational Companies (3rd Edition), Harlow: Pearson Education.

Reiche, B.S., Tenzer, H. & Harzing, A-W. (eds.) International Human Resource Management (6th Edition), London: Sage Harzing, A.-W. & Pinnington, A.H. (eds.) (2014) International Human Resource Management (4 Edition), London: Sage.

Rubery, J. & Grimshaw, D. (2003) The Organisation of Employment:  An International Perspective, London: Palgrave. AVAILABLE THROUGH KORTEXT PDF READER

Steger, M. (2023) Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (6th edition), Oxford: OUP. AVAILABLE THROUGH KORTEXT PDF READER 

Informal Contact Method: Office Hours

Programmes to which this course unit contributes: Optional for MSc Management