The course offers an introduction to core HRM activities. Student will develop knowledge key areas of HRM, and will be enabled to appreciate the main areas of HRM, in a comparative and international perspective. This includes an understanding of national business systems and culture as they interrelate to HRM and an understanding of the influence of employers, employees, trade unions and the state in shaping of HRM practices.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to - develop an understanding of the issues arising in management of human resources in both smaller organizations and large multinational companies - critically assess a variety of contemporary, policy-relevant issues and perspectives which inform the study of HRM - make informed evidence-based decisions about the creation of HRM practice bundles and will be able to critically assess their potential outcomes More specifically: 1) Knowledge and understanding: The course will offer a tour on HR problems commonly encountered by small and large firms alike. Understanding of key theoretical concepts has to be acquired in order to approach the cases discussed in the course. This course provides advanced knowledge and analytical resources that will enable students to understand the processes, content and consequences of different HRM strategies, their international and ethical dimensions, and their similarities and differences in the context of a volatiole and uncertain environment. 2) Applying knowledge and understanding: The students will be able to: • apply HR concepts to specific cases • select the best configuration of HR practices under given circumstances • examine evidence and make evidence-based decisions on HR problems • develop an understanding of how institutions shape, constrain and enable HR work in different countries 3) Making judgments: On the back of cases and in-class activities students are regularly asked to make decisions, and explain their rationale for arriving at the decision taken. Students are expected to take an evidence-based approach such they will be able to make informed decisions on people related aspects of selection, recruitment, change management and other HR related matters. Students are asked to demonstrate critical understanding by evaluating decision option from various angles thereby identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the preferred and alternative options. 4) Communications Skills: This course will give the students the possibility to acquire and understand major terms and concepts in order to communicate their ideas, proposals, analysis and critical reasoning with respect to Human Resource Management issues in organizations in the most effective and appropriate way. Through the various activities, group presentations and case discussion students are challenges each week to explain their rationales and viewpoints thereby practicing and enhancing communication skills. 5) Learning skills: This course will contribute to empower learners and their ability to understand HRM problems in organizations. It will give them the tools to assess the alternatives in the design of HRM systems. The course promotes an evidence-based approach for HR decision making and provides many opportunities for student to learn through applying this approach to HR cases and other activities (see details in the syllabus).

The course consists of several parts relating to the management of human resources in an international context: (1) The first part will introduce the primary functions of HRM and identify considering key organizational issues and major environmental factors they confront. (2) The second part will contextualize these matters in the context of the contemporary challenges faced by HR managers. (3) The third part deals with comparative HRM, in other words it looks at major systems of HRM across countries.

All readings will be made available on the learning platform and are indicated in the syllabus. The course is based on articles and not a single textbook in order to guarantee coverage of the topics from many different angles. Single studies on focused aspects of single topics are included in order to showcase evidence and methods for the generation of evidence. Students need to make an effort to understand the analyses presented in the readings.

Each session will blend theory with practice: Theory parts provide overview of key topics using traditional through interactive lectures and we will set the theoretical scene of real HRM issues. Practice parts are focused on the discussion of relevant studies, in-class activities or cases: students will be challenged to apply principles, concepts, and frameworks to real organisational challenges and / or they will be exposed to live cases – i.e. from time to time industry keynote speakers will share their real life experiences with them and explain challenges faced and implemented solutions. The class discussion is going to be guided by the inputs provided by students through their active involvement, by which we mean that for each session (but the first one), students are expected to: Before each session, study the material – usually one/two papers and / or case studies – suggested in the reading list; During the session, actively discuss papers.

1) There is no mid-term exam on this course Non-Attending Students: 2) The course will assessed through a mandatory 1-hour exam consisting of both closed and open-ended questions (100%) 3) The study program for non-attending students will be made available on the learning platform. It includes all readings relevant for attending students plus several additional materials. Attending Students: 4) Attending students are assessed through individual and group contributions as indicated below: - group presentation (50%) - individual class participation (20%) - individual exam (30%) Throughout the course in-class activities, case discussions and individual contributions will be used to monitor student progress. 5) The group task this year will involve a virtual collaboration with students from WU Vienna. Task details will be presented in week 1.

Participation in class and interest in a relevant subject. The instructor will create a priority list considering the annual workload related to supervising students. Hence, ‘the sooner the better’, but also ‘the better the student the better’. The student needs to submit a project proposal.