AP3A64-Human Resource Management

Module Provider: Agriculture
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Ms Rebecca Jerrome
Email: r.m.jerrome@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Learn about human resource management, its main principles, components and processes, such as: the role of human resource management in successful management and how it differs from the management of other resources; key motivation and behavioural theories and their value to the motivation of staff; team roles and composition; appropriate procedures for the recruitment of new staff; staff training and development; staff appraisal; performance management; effective delegation; and employment law. Learn through lectures, group and individual exercises in class. This module is of particular relevance to those who aspire to manage staff in their early careers.

Aims:
This module aims to provide those who will manage staff in their early careers with an understanding of human resource management, its main principles, components and processes.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:
- Describe and appreciate the role of human resource management in successful management and how it differs from the management of other resources
- Explain the main motivation and behavioural theories and assess their value to the motivation of staff
- Develop appropriate reward systems
- Select effective teams on the basis of an understanding of team roles adopted by people
- Describe appropriate procedures for the recruitment and selection of new staff
- Develop a staff training and development programme for a position in an organisation
- Explain the role of staff appraisal and factors influencing its success
- Apply theories to evaluate appropriate ways of managing performance in staff and engaging employees.
- Describe and assess the factors that make for effective delegation
- Understand how the key areas of employment law affect employers

Additional outcomes:
Students will enhance their understanding of their own motivation and of ways of improving their own time management.

Outline content:
The lecture content covers:
1. The functions of management and exploring human resource management
2. Behavioural theories and their application to motivation and the design of payment systems
3. The use of Belbin's concept of team roles and other psychological tests for personal assessment and achieving high-performance teams
4. Recruitment and selection, including planning selection assessment days
5. Delegation
6. Staff training and development
7. Staff appraisal and performance management
8. Legal responsibilities of employers and their practical implications for managers

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module includes lectures, group and individual exercises in class.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		15
Practicals classes and workshops		3
Guided independent study:		82
Total hours by term		100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	70
Class test administered by School	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:
A two hour examination paper requiring the answers to two questions from four.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
There are two multiple choice question tests each accounting for 15% of the module mark. One test is after Enhancement Week and the other during the last taught session.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
By Re-examination in August/September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 March 2023