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Human Resource Management (Osaka University)

What's new

  • The announcement of the final report has been updated.
  • The schedule and homework assignment for January 23th has been updated.
  • (Nov. 21) There are changes in course schedule. Please look at the revised schedule at the bottom of this page.
  • The reading and homework assignments for the class on October 31 has been updated (see below).
  • The textbook is now available and on sale at Seikyo Bookstore (it is much cheaper to buy it there than through different stores such as Amazon).
  • (Oct. 4) There is a delay in shipping of the textbook to the bookstore. You may use a sample chapter linked below until the textbook is available for sale. The sample chapter is from 7th edition, the content of which is slightly different from 6th edition (our textbook).
  • Chapter 1 Sample (7th edition)

Final Report (Deadline: Feb. 6)

Choose one case (except for Google) from the comprehensive cases in the textbook and create answers for all questions attached to the case. You can use any format for your paper. Submit your term paper to the Administrative Office (Kyomu) either in Toyonaka or Suita campus. The deadline of submission is February 6th.
Additional case (you can choose this case for the final report, too).

-Students who did not make chapter presentations in class should complete two cases instead of one.

Homework assignment for January 23th

1) The benefits that Google pays obviously represent an enormous expense. Based on what you know about Google and on what you read in this book, how would you defend all these benefits if you’re making a presentation to the security analysts who were analyzing Google’s performance?

2) To support its growth and expansion strategy, Google wants (among other traits) people who are super-bright, and who work hard, often round-the-clock and who are flexible and maintain a decent work-life balance. List five specific HR policies or practices that you think Google has implemented or should implement to support its strategy, and explain your answer.
3) What sorts of factors do you think Google will have to take into consideration as it tries transferring its culture and reward systems and way of doing business to its operations abroad?
4) Given the sorts of values and culture Google cherishes, briefly describe four specific activities you suggest they pursue during new-employee orientation.

Reading assignment for October 31st

Homework assignment for October 31st

1) According to Slovensky and Ross (2012), what are the advantages of using social media information for application screening?

2) What about the disadvantages?

3) If you were a HR manager, would you use social media to screen candidates prior to an interview? Why or why not?

4) If you decide to use social media to screen candidates’ profile, what procedures would you adopt to avoid concerns about accuracy, consistency, justice and protection of applicant privacy?

Required Text

Gary Dessler, A Framework for Human Resource Management (6th ed.), Pearson Education (Available at Toyonaka Seikyo Bookstore).

Course Objectives

Managing human resources is critical to the success of modern business organizations. The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of human resource management especially from strategic and international perspectives. The topics covered in this class include staffing, compensation, performance appraisal, training, labor relations, and global human resource practices.

Methods of Instruction

The class format will be a combination of short lectures, videos, class discussions, and other exercises. In order to make the most of our class time, be sure to read assigned chapters before the class. I assume that all participants in my class have already read and understood the content of the chapters when class starts. Then I am open to any questions or discussions regarding the study topics.

At the begging of each class, one or two students are expected to give a short speech (about five to ten minutes) that includes the summary of the assigned chapter, your relevant experience, and issues that you want to discuss in class. You may want to bring handouts, newspaper or magazine articles, and so forth as supplemental material.

Methods and Criteria of Evaluation

Grades will be determined based on homework and class participation (80%) and a final report paper (term paper) (20%).

Useful Links

Seniority pay, promotions and older job seekers
http://www.dol.govt.nz/services/lmi/workforce2020/ageing/seniority/seniority_05.asp

Guide to Human Resource Management-Comparative HRM between Japan and the US
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/laborinfo/library/documents/hrm_jp.pdf

Labor Situation in Japan and Analysis
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/lsj.html

Labor Laws in Japan
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/laborinfo/library/Laws.htm
O*NET OnLine
http://online.onetcenter.org/

Career Matrix
http://cmx.vrsys.net/TOP/

Patients' Health Motivates Workers to Wash Their Hands
http://www.siop.org/article_view.aspx?article=896

Course Schedule

  • This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Some classes may be canceled due to the instructor’s business trips to foreign countries or other reasons.

1. Oct. 3. Orientation

2. Oct. 10. Chapter 1 (Managing Human Resource Today)

3. Oct. 17. Chapter 2 (Managing Equal Opportunity and Diversity)

4. Oct. 24. Chapter 3 (Personnel Planning and Recruiting)

5. Oct. 31. Special topic (1) Human Resource Management and Social Media

6. Nov. 7. Chapter 4 (Testing and Selecting Employees)

7. Nov. 14. Chapter 5 (Training and Developing Employees)

8. Nov. 21. Chapter 6 (Performance Management and Appraisal)

9. Nov. 28. Chapter 7 (Compensating Employees).

10. Dec. 5. Chapter 8 (Ethics and Fair Treatment in Human Resource Management)

11. Dec. 12. NO CLASS

12. Dec. 19. Chapter 9 (Managing Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining)

13. Jan. 9. Chapter 10 (Protecting Safety and Health)

14. Jan. 16. Module A (Managing HR Globally)

15. Jan. 23. Google's Case (p.360-363 of the textbook)