MM340: International Human Resource Management

Module code: MM340

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Rita Fontinha, email: r.fontinha@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module examines how practices of managing human resources could be different across countries and explores companies’ approaches to managing their human resources in an international business context.

To introduce students to key concepts for understanding international human resource management, to explore the practice of managing human resources in international businesses and to consider variations in the practice of managing human resources in different countries and cultures.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and appraise the main approaches to international human resource management
2. Understand national influences on the practices of human resource management
3. Identify tensions and dilemmas in managing human resources in international business context
4. Understand human resource management approaches used by multinational enterprises
5. Critically evaluate the societal effects of human resource management practices of multinational enterprises and other organisations

Module content

1. Introduction to IHRM & the global challenge
2. IHRM strategy: modes of global integration and local responsiveness in IHRM
3. National culture and cross-cultural integration
4. Global staffing
5. Global talent management
6. International Assignments Part 1
7. International Assignments Part 2
8. International Assignments Part 3
9. Managing a global HR function
10. Global labour regulation & corporate social responsibility

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module uses a combination of lectures and seminars, with a strong emphasis placed on student participation, activities, and discussions in the classroom.

The material will be covered through a combination of lectures, and tutorials, where different case studies will be analysed.

A strong emphasis will be placed on student participation and on activities and discussions in the classroom. In case studies during lectures, companies’ approach to HRM will be presented and discussed to provide an opportunity to learn from real examples. In tutorials students will work in small groups through activities designed to increase their understanding of the core topics outlined above, including learning by doing and using creative problem-solving techniques.

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students must achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Feedback will be provided on informal group work in tutorials. Students as a group will be required to present their discussion outcomes in tutorials and feedback will be given to improve the performance of coursework.

Extra feedback can be provided in short clarification sessions to be scheduled with the teaching team.

Reassessment

Additional costs