Department
of Political Science, University of Ghana (Main and City Campuses)
School of Social Sciences
College of Humanities
Poli
457: Human Resource Development and Management
Office:
Top of P. Science Library/Gen Office, Office Hrs: M/T/W 10-1 pm and by
appointment Class Time: Mon 15:30-17:20
(JQB 23)
Course
Description and Objectives
Human resource development
and management involve the
long-established public sector functions of selection, recruitment, evaluation,
promotion, salaries and benefits, disciplinary actions (including dismissals),
as well as policies designed to enhance the productivity of the workforce. It entails
programs, such as employee training and educational assistance, seminars on
best practices in the workplace, coaching, and organizational development.
Focusing on the public sector, the course examines human resources issues
against the backdrop of internationally recognized benchmarks. It traces the
evolution of the human resources function in an effort to show how it has
become prominent in both public and private sector management.
The course also draws insights from the
business sector and elsewhere (rich countries) to explicate what ought to be in the public sector in
Ghana. By the end of
the class, students should be able to know (a) the role human resource managers
play in public organizations; (b) that the ultimate goal of human resource
management and development is the development of a superior workforce that will
accomplish the goals of the organization; (c) the relevance of technology in
today’s HR management; (d) the role of teams in organizations; (e) the problems
inherent in human resources practices in Ghana’s public sector; (f) the
relevance of a diverse workforce on organizational competitiveness; (g) the
various skills and qualities essential in public sector management; (h) the
importance of safety and stress at the workplace, and etc.
The assigned readings are
compulsory for all students, as are class participation and attendance.
Essentially, the course employs the participant-centered and active learning
approaches to teaching. This should
suggest the use of learning cases in the class. This course is designed for
serious students who want to make impact in the class as well as in the world.
In view of this, I expect all of you to be diligent and conduct yourselves as
students who are ready to learn and also share their knowledge and experiences
with others.
Required
Text
- Angelo S. DeNisi and Ricky W. Griffin (2008), Human Resource Management (3rd Edition), Houghton Mifflin Company
Recommended
Texts
- John Schermerhorn, James Hunt, and Richard Osborn (2005), Organizational Behavior (9th Edition), Wiley. Robert B. Denhardt and Janet V. Denhardt (2009), Public Administration: An Action Orientation (6th Edition), Thomson Wadsworth.
- Richard L. Daft (2008), The Leadership Experience (fourth edition), Thomson Southwestern
- David Whetten and Kim Cameron (2005) Developing Management Skills (Sixth Edition) Pearson Prentice Hall
- Robert Kreitner and Angelo Kinicki (1998), Organizational Behavior (fourth Edition), Irwin-McGraw-Hill
Exams
Final exams will
consist of a combination of fill in the blanks, short essays, and long essay
questions. The final is cumulative, with questions ranging from the first day
to the last day of class. The Interim Assessment will involve fill-in-the-blanks
and short essay questions. The IA will focus on certain areas.
Civility
Civility in the classroom is expected of all
students. Students who disrupt class to the extent that other’s educational
opportunities are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell
phones must be turned off at all times in the classroom.
Communicating
with your Instructor
Feel free to
stop by and discuss academic matters or concerns with me in the office. All
emails sent to me should include POLI
457 in the subject line.
Class
Attendance and Participation
Attendance will be
monitored every class session, and students are expected to regularly and
relevantly contribute to class discussions by raising questions and making
salient comments. For the purpose of class participation, which is compulsory, students
are encouraged to talk about their experiences at their places of Attachments
and Internships and what they have heard/seen relating to human resource
management. This will be an opportunity for students to make oral
contributions, in addition to the regular lectures and discussions.
Importantly, be aware that students who attend class regularly tend to perform
substantially better than students who skip regularly.
Learning
Disability Students
Any student with an officially recognized disability
should make fitting arrangements with the university, not the instructor.
Plagiarism
and Cheating
Plagiarism, which is representing somebody’s work as
your own, as well as cheating in all forms, must be avoided. The consequences
of these behaviors are not worth mentioning in this class.
Course
Calendar
Week 1
Introduction to course,
the nature of human resource management and Outsourcing in HR management,
DeNisi and Griffin chapter 1, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8
Week 2
Information for making
human resource decisions, DeNisi and Griffin chapter 5, Denhardt and Denhardt
chapter 8
Week 3
Recruiting and selection/staffing, DeNisi and
Griffin chapter 7,Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8,Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4,
Daft chapter 2
Week 4
Recruiting and selection/staffing, DeNisi and
Griffin chapter 7,Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8,Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4,
Daft chapter 2
Week
5
Performance enhancement
techniques, DeNisi and Griffin chapter 14
Week
6
Safety,
health, well-being, and security, DeNisi and Griffin chapter 12, Whetten and Cameron chapter 2
Week 7
Managing
the diverse workforce, DeNisi and Griffin chapter 8, Schermerhorn et. al
chapter 3, Kreitner and Kinicki 2, Daft
Chapter 11
Week 8
Cultural
Dimensions of Human Resource Management-Kinicki 2
Week 9
Managing Conflicts in
Organizations, Whetten and Cameron chapter 7
Week 10
Teams/Groups in Organizations, Daft
chapter 10, Schermerhorn et. al
chapter 9, Kreitner and Kinicki 10
Week
11
Performance appraisal
and career management, DeNisi and Griffin chapter 10
Week
12
Leadership and management skills in public
organizations, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 9,Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4, Daft
chapter 2
Week
13
Leadership and management skills in public
organizations, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 9,Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4, Daft
chapter 2
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