Human Resources and Employment Relations MSc (Brunel Business School)

The MSc consists of both compulsory and optional modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

Compulsory

HRM in Context - Resourcing, Performance and Assessment: This module introduces human resources management as a field of science and as a framework for analysis of how organisations manage their people. In particular the module examines the rise of HRM, what it involves in contemporary organisations, the strategic nature of HRM and its practices, its impact on organisational performance and the changing in employment practices.

The module provides also insight into key HRM functions such as recruitment, selection, selection assessment, organisation entry and changing work roles which are central to people’s management in organisations.

International and Comparative Human Resource Management: The HRM practitioner is in a position to make a substantial contribution to helping the organisation and its managers understand and apply the knowledge and skills needed for success in an international context. This module examines human resources strategy and practices for organisations operating across national boundaries, including the European Union (EU) and its member states, the USA, Japan and South East Asia.

Issues in Employment Relations: This module reviews the scope, issues and development of systems of employee relations with primary focus on the UK sphere, referenced also by international influences and developments. In addition, the module explores potential issues of conflict in employment relationship and the processes used to resolve these conflicts and manage the relationship. Reference is made to the legal framework of employment in the UK.

The module prepares students for roles where they may be involved in decisions about employment. It helps them gain understanding of the impact and consequences of decisions about employees given their contracts with the employer and commitments to the employment relationship.

Understanding Business and Management Research: The module is predicated on the dominant role of both quantitative and qualitative methods in management research. It is based on the need to enable the understanding of research reports and use this information to improve the quality of work, decision-making, and the understanding of complex management problems. The latter will be instrumental in applying existing management theory and research to practical management problems as action researchers.

The specific aims of the module are:

• to provide a balanced view of social science and business research methods enabling a critical understanding of research information
• to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge for business management by covering issues and debates in management research as reflected in the literature
• to provide knowledge of relevant research methods and techniques for Masters level project work.

Organisational Behaviour: This module explores the main theories and key functions of leadership and management and their application. You will be able to critique these as well as appreciate the contemporary issues facing leaders and managers. You will also be able to critically evaluate characteristics of effective management and how this differentiates from leadership. You will discuss and assess relative strengths and limitations of key approaches to developing leaders and managers in organisations.

Contemporary HRM: Policy, Development and Evaluation: This module aims to further explore HRM issues particularly the functions, values and actions associated with contemporary human resources management practice. It will also explore key issues and debates in respect of HRD (Human Resource Development), with a particular focus on organisational impacts and outcomes.

The module will also consider the critical issues of the HR function and it's contribution to leadership development and strategic definition.

Finally, the module will require learners to reflect critically on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint. It will provide opportunities for applied learning and professional development.

Dissertation: A research-based dissertation is an integral and particularly important element of the programme. Students are required to base their dissertation on empirical research into a management problem or issue of their choice (subject to approval).

Dissertations are supervised by full-time members of the academic staff of the school who have a wide range of research interests and expertise. The dissertation must be submitted by the end of the academic year during which a student completes all of the taught modules of the course.

Optional

International Management:

The module has six main aims. These are to:

• examine the important trends impacting international business and the major developing players in the international economy
• explore the issues and challenges of managing in an international environment and with reference to particular countries and regions
• understand the nature and forms of interaction between an international organisation, managerial decisions and the external environment, especially the effects of globalisation upon MNCs in both developed and developing countries
• facilitate understanding of the theories and concepts of international management and how to use them to diagnose and solve managerial problems
• equip students with the analytical tools, techniques and models of negotiations, communication, and conflict resolution in international contexts
• explore the theories and concepts relating to the management of human resources in international context.

International Business Ethics and Corporate Governance: This module focuses on business ethics and corporate governance in the international context. Both areas will be addressed from the perspective of the dual "business" models of the shareholder and the stakeholder approaches. Further the broader societal impacts of business activities will be considered in-depth. The full range of businesses will be considered – from large corporations through to SMEs. Empirical studies will be used to apply the theoretical resources of moral philosophy, CSR and corporate governance.

Global Diversity Management: To get insight into Global Diversity Management by examining how organisations plan, coordinate and implement a set of management strategies, policies and initiatives. These include training and development activities that seek to accommodate diverse sets of social and individual backgrounds, interests, beliefs, values and ways of work in organisations with international, multinational, global and transnational workforces and operations.

Strategic Management:

The module has four main aims, which are to:

• enable students to appreciate the issues and challenges that confront managers responsible for strategic management in potentially complex, hostile and uncertain conditions
• introduce students to concepts, topics and methodological approaches and tools relevant to the analysis of the strategic position of the organisation
• introduce students to the development and implementation of strategies and policies, and their major operational implications
• develop students’ skills of critical thinking, logical analysis, argument and judgement via the use of case study and other materials exemplar readings and other information sources.

Entrepreneurship: This module introduces entrepreneurship as a field of study and as a framework of analysis. It focuses on the nature of entrepreneurship and its importance in society. In particular the module examines: i) the person, through the analysis and understanding of the psychological and behavioural characteristics of the entrepreneurs. This is achieved by examining and reflecting upon the major theories in the field (psychological theory and cognitive theory); ii) the process – through the review and analysis of the main approaches to entrepreneurship. In addition, the module shows how entrepreneurship unfolds in a wide range of contexts.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.