HR2SX3 - HRM context and challenges 01 Sep 2019 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: HR2SX3
Module Title: HRM context and challenges
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Professional Development
Faculty Sub Group: Professional Development
Module Leader: Davina Evans, Tiru Madahar
Module Team: Shehla Khan, Karl Greenhough, Rebecca Brittain, Kevin Brown, Christine Esposito, Adam Poole
First Intended Intake: SEP 2019 Final Year of Intake: 2024
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Sep 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

The module aims to provide students the opportunity to identify and review the external and contextual factors affecting organisations, and to access the impact of these factors on the HR function. It will examine HR’s role in strategy formation and implementation in both national and international contexts; enabling students to explore and understand institutional differences across domestic and international settings, and of internal and external differences.

As aspiring HR professionals, students need to understand key developments in the business and external contexts within which they operate, in order to strategise and respond to the myriad of challenges (both currently and on the horizon) businesses face in the global environment.

The module is designed to encourage students to adopt a critical perspective of these contexts and to provide workable organisational and HR solutions; drawing on tools and techniques covered in previous modules (such as Environmental Analysis) to address them.

Content Summary

Indicative module content includes:

  • The nature of HRM in contemporary organisations.
  • Philosophies and definitions of HRM.
  • Types of organisations and the role of HRM within them.
  • Exploring the nature of international HRM, national differences and the transfer of HRM philosophies and practices across borders.
  • The nature of strategic HRM and its role in supporting the organisations overall strategy.
  • Factors impacting on organisations and the forces and emerging themes shaping the HR agenda.
  • The importance of understanding the internal and external environment of organisations and the contextual nature of key drivers for change.
  • Identification of key drivers for change and the importance and nature of strategic HRM in response to them.
  • How corporate and HR strategies are shaped by the business and external contexts.
  • The context of international HRM and the transfer of HRM ideologies across borders.
  • HRM and national culture.
  • The nature and importance of understanding institutionalism.

This module is mapped to the following CIPD unit(s):

5BICv2 Business Issue and the Contexts of Human Resources

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Practical classes and workshops 30
Independent Study 90
Directed Study 60
Formative Assessment - Independent 2
Groupwork 8
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 The student will determine key contemporary business issues and main external factors affecting different organisations across global settings.
LO2 The student will explain how HR strategies and practices are shaped and generate meaningful responses to business challenges.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Oral Assessment (CW) Presentation (CW) 1 Presentation of strategic plans based on research findings. 15 N/A 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Practical Written Work 1 Concept map with bibliography - A detailed concept map applying the theory and knowledge gained, with an annotated bibliography to provide support and justifications for connections between topics. 0 2500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (CW) 1 ✔ ✔
Practical Written Work 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S. (2014) Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice. (13th ed). London: Kogan Page.

Bratton, J. and Gold, J. (2017) Human Resource Management Theory and Practice. London: Palgrave.

Beardwell, J. and Thompson, A. (2017) Human Resource Management Theory and Practice. London: Palgrave.

Crawshaw, J. Budhwar, P. and Davis, A. (2017) Human Resource Management: Strategic and International Perspectives. London: Sage.

Harzing, A. and Pinnington, A. (2015) International Human Resource Management. LA: Sage.

Kew, J. and Stredwick, J. (2016) Human Resource Management in a Business Context. London: CIPD.

Wintersberger, D. (2017) International Human Resource Management: A Case Study Approach. London: Kogan Page.