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The core of Human Resource Management (HRM) is the recognition of the value of employees for organizational success, which is often defined in terms of creating and sustaining competitive advantage. Selection, development and performance management of employees become core activities of personnel management. Such practices are no longer seen as tasks that are the responsibility of a separate personnel department, but they become part of top management’s personnel strategy. Line managers are increasingly expected to play an active role in implementing HR policies and practices.
The course is structured through the three main phases of employment management: entry, performance, and exit of employees in technology-based organizations.

At the end of this course, students are expected to competently:

• analyze the nature of human resource management (HRM) within organizations
• provide arguments how HRM contributes to organizational performance
• recognize HRM practices and analyze the success of these within different organizations
• show the need for alignment between HR practices
• show the need for alignment between HRM and business strategy
• recognize best practices with regard to the selection and performance management of employees
• qualify scientific research in the area of managing people
• recognize the current and future challenges of technology firms in managing people

The course consists of weekly lectures. The lectures are dynamic and participative including:
- Theory presentations and interactive lectures by the staff
- Presentations by a guest speaker from practice
- Weekly presentations by students who work together in expertise groups
- Case write-ups
- Group exercise work at companies;

Students will be evaluated according to the following two components:

1. Individual final exam (70% of final grade)
2. Group exercise work and case write-ups (30% of final grade)

Ad.1
The final exam will be a closed book exam on the content of this course. Hence, students who take the course seriously and structurally prepare the literature and assignments will be very likely to pass the exam. The exam will consist of Open Questions. Please note that the classroom discussions on the business cases are particularly likely to help you in performing well on this part of the exam.

Ad.2
In practice, management decisions are seldom made by a single manager. In fact, managers spent considerable time discussing their ideas with others to achieve consensus or to make a more informed decision. Therefore, you are required to work as teams on the case write-ups and for the final assignment that includes the analysis of HRM aspects at a company.

BSc niveau