Overview
HRMT 441: Strategic Human Resource Management is an advanced level human resource management course with a strategic emphasis over a broad range of HRM topics, building on the foundations that are generally covered in an introductory HRM course.
This course makes extensive use of Canadian Human Resource Management (13th ed.) by H. Schwind, K. Uggerslev, T. Wagar, and N. Fassina, a text that provides a comprehensive guide to the field. This text focuses on the key aspects of strategic human resource management with particular attention to the Canadian context. It focuses on the strategic contribution of the HR function in contemporary organizations while also explicitly addressing the relationship between HR strategies, tactics, and systems. The text includes case studies of Canadian organizations that will allow students to improve their practical knowledge and awareness of HR issues in Canada.
Outline
Unit 1: Human Resource Management: A Strategic Perspective
- Lesson 1: Strategic Human Resource Management
- Lesson 2: Human Resource Planning
- Lesson 3: Legal Requirements and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Lesson 4: Recruitment and Selection
Unit 2: Managing Employee Performance
- Lesson 5: Performance Management
- Lesson 6: Onboarding, Training and Development, and Career Planning
- Lesson 7: Compensation Management
- Lesson 8: Employee Benefits and Services
Unit 3: Managing Employee Relations
- Lesson 9: Managing Employee Relations
- Lesson 10: Ensuring Health and Safety at the Workplace
- Lesson 11: The Union-Management Framework
Learning outcomes
After completing HRMT 441, you should be able to:
- Summarize the objectives of HRM and evaluate how HRM plays a strategic role in organizations.
- Describe the HR planning process and explain its interrelationship with strategic planning in organizations.
- Explain the importance of attracting and choosing the best candidates for available jobs and strategically evaluate how effective recruitment and selection processes contribute to an organization’s success.
- Discuss why training, developing, and evaluating employee performance is critical to the achieving organizational goals.
- Identify the HR practices that organizations use to reward and recognize employees, and evaluate the contribution of such practices to an organization’s effectiveness.
- Explain how an organization can create a positive work environment, maintain proper discipline, ensure a safe workplace, and effectively navigate union-management relationships.
Evaluation
To receive credit for HRMT 441, you must receive a grade of 50 percent or better on Assignment 4, and achieve an overall grade of at least D (50 percent)for the entire course. Your final grade is determined by a weighted average of the grades you receive on the activities listed below.
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Assignment 1 | 20% | after Unit 1 |
| Assignment 2 | 20% | after Unit 2 |
| Assignment 3 | 20% | after Unit 3 |
| Assignment 4: Case Study | 40% | after all 3 units |
| Total | 100% | |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Schwind, H., Uggerslev, K., Wagar, T., & Fassina, N. (2022). Canadian human resource management: A strategic approach (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-1-26-088143-1
A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.
Other Materials
All other materials are provided on the course website.