COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS-POLI 457:HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

     





















                                                             

                        Department of Political Science, University of Ghana                                  Instructor:  Bossman E. Asare (Office of HOD) 

 bossasare@gmail.com/ beasare@ug.edu.gh

	Course Title : Human Resource Development and Management
	Course Code : POLI 457
	Purpose 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 resource issues against the backdrop of internationally recognized benchmarks. It traces the evolution of the human resource 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 (20%) will involve fill-in-the-blanks and short essay questions. The IA will focus on certain areas. The date for the IA will be announced in class. Term Reflective Paper (10%) Each student should respond to the question below in 1000-1200 words long, 12-point font, and double-spacing: How valid is the assertion that ‘best practices in human resource management can be the catalyst for the effectiveness of the public sector in Ghana? The paper (10%) is due on the fifth week at class time. 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.
Week No.		Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment/Readings
1		Introduction to course-expectations, nature of exams and learning strategies	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23
2		the nature of human resource management and Outsourcing in HR management	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 1, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8
3		Information for making human resource decisions	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 5, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8
4		Recruiting and selection/staffing	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 7, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8, Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4, Daft chapter 2
5		Recruiting and selection/staffing	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 7, Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 8, Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4, Daft chapter 2
6		Performance enhancement	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 14
7		Managing the diverse workforce	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 8, Schermerhorn et. al chapter 3, Kreitner and  Kinicki 2, Daft Chapter 11
8		Safety, health, well-being, and security	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 12, Whetten and Cameron chapter 2
9		Teams/Groups in Organizations	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	Daft chapter 10, Schermerhorn et. al chapter 9, Kreitner and  Kinicki 10
10		Performance appraisal and career management	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	DeNisi and Griffin chapter 10
11		Leadership and management skills in public organizations	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 9, Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4, Daft chapter 2
12		Leadership and management skills in public organizations	One hour	Lecture:  JQB 23	Denhardt and Denhardt chapter 9, Schermerhorn et. al chapter 4, Daft chapter 2
13		Managing Conflicts in Organizations /Revision	Revision	Lecture:  JQB 23	Whetten and Cameron chapter 7
14 - 16	Final Exam (70%)