Faculty Contact Information:
Herbert Brown
UMUC Europe
Unit 29216
APO AE 09102 | |
Consultation:
| Thirty minutes before and after class or by appointment | |
Required Texts and Readings:
Texts and readings used exclusively in this course--
Gomez-Mejia, L.R., Balkin, D.B. & Cardy, R.L. (2004). Managing Human Resources, (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall
Kauffman, N. & Massey, C. (2000). Human Capital Applications Using Microsoft Office 2000. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Civil Service Reform Act 1978. Retrieved January 29, 2004 from http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/complcsra.htm
Hatch Act. Retrieved January 29, 2004 from http://www.osc.gov/hatchact.htm
Pendleton Act of 1883. Retrieved January 29, 2004 from http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=48
Office of Personnel Management Strategic Plan 2002-2007. Retrieved January 29, 2004 from http://www.opm.gov/gpra/opmgpra/sp2002/appendices/statutes.asp
Text used in multiple courses --
American Psychological Association. 2001. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (5th ed.). Washington DC: Author | |
Supplementary Readings:
| Each instructor has his or her preferences for supplementary reading material that may be added here. In addition, all graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students' research and writing skills. | |
Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
| Prerequisite: Undergraduate principles of management or permission of the Program Director. Provides students with an understanding of the problems, issues, and opportunities in managing the procurement, development, utilization, and maintenance of an effective, productive, and satisfied work force. | |
Course Goals:
As a required course in the Management Track of the MPA, this course analyzes:
- Basic functions
of HRM, including recruitment and selection, training and development, rewarding and compensating, layoffs and firing employees
- Role HRM
plays in the strategic management and decision making of public, private and nonprofit organizations
- Strategies
used to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of an organizations human resources
- Major theories
that influence the practice of HRM, including motivation, teambuilding, problem solving, decision making, negotiation and conflict management
- Major U.S. public policies
, laws and courts cases that structure the practice of human resource management in the public sector and differentiate it from the private sector
- Current issues
facing HR managers and organizational leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors
- Current best practices
employed by managers in public, private and nonprofit organizations
- Increased importance of the Internet
and other electronic and technological solutions on-going training and development of employees as well as in the planning, implementation and evaluation of HRM | |
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:
- Analyze
the conflicting demands on human resource managers and the values that underlie those conflicting demands.
- Apply
theoretical perspectives to practical problems in HRM.
- Investigate
current issues and best practices in HRM
- Utilize
electronic and technological solutions to realize basic HRM activities.
- Utilize
electronic resources to find primary source documents, data, statements on best practices, and research articles related to issues in HRM.
- Develop and present
viable strategies and/or policy recommendations relating to important HR issues. | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90% or above
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the current UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog. Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participate in classroom discussions--------10%
Major paper or case studies-----------------30%
Orally/visually present prepared report-----20%
Mid-Term examiniation-----------------------20%
Final Examination---------------------------20% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the face-to-face classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an 8-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most 14-week graduate distance education courses require at least 10 hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Participation in class discussions is important. Feel free to provide input to the ongoing discussions in class. Your opinion counts and you will become more informed as you explore issues with the professor and classmates.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment.
Major paper or case study (5-7) double spaced pages. This exercise will give you the opportunity to use your research and writing skills and become more familiar with the required writing styles of UMUC. The paper should also demonstrate your ability to analyze issues, apply theoretical perspectives, investigate current issues and present your efforts in a written,clear and concise and interesting manner.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In a DE class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Prepare report and present in class (5-7) minutes on a current human resources management issue. Your presentation should provide an analysis of the issue as well as enough descriptive information to make the issue clear. Visual aids may be used. Provide the professor the title of the report in the fourth class meeting or by email to me at brownherbr@yahoo.com before the fifth class. If similar topics are proposed by more than one student, I will encourage some students to choose another issue.
Complete one or more written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.
Mid-term examination- the mid-term examination will consist of essay questions where you will be able to demonstrate mastery of the materials covered in the class up to the mid-term. Materials will include lectures, required readings in the text as well as other materials that were presented.
Final examination-the final examination will consist of essay questions where you will be able to demonstrate mastery of the materials covered in class since the mid-term examination.
Make up examinations- make up examinations can be scheduled with the professor by presenting justification for missing the regularly scheduled examinations. | |
Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 14 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Course Schedule
This schedule presents 14 units, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of Distance Education
First meeting: Sat AM, Aug 27
Introductions
Review of the Syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Orientation to Human Resources Management
History of human resources management
Second meeting: Sat PM, Aug 27
Read chapter one of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapter 1
Discuss questions 2,4 and 8 in the Discussion Questions
section of chapter 1
Read and discuss Case 1.5 at the end of chapter 1
Conduct team exercise at the end of Case 1.5.
(Volunteers are requested for the teams in all team exercises
during the course. However, the professor will draft members in
the unlikely case that there are insufficient volunteers or
some class members have not volunteered to be on teams during
the course).
Third meeting, Sun AM, Aug 28
Read chapter 2 of the text
Lecture on theories of human resource management
Lecture and discussion of chapter 2
Discuss questions 2, 3 and 4 of Discussion Questions at
the end of chapter 2
Read and discuss Case 2.3 of the text
Conduct team exercise at the end of Case 2.3
Fourth meeting, Sun PM, Aug 28
Read chapters 3 and 4 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapters 3 and 4 of the text
Read and discuss questions 1,2, and 3 of the Critical
Questions at the end of Case 3.1
Inform professor of topics for class report and major
paper. You may also e-mail the proposed topics to the
professor at brownherbr@yahoo.com before the fifth class
meeting).
Fifth meeting, Sun AM Sept 12
Read chapter 5 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapter 5
Student reports and follow up discussion of human resources
management issues (report to last 5-7 minutes)
Read and discuss Case 5.4 in the text and discuss
questions 1 and 2 of the Critical Thinking Questions of Case
5.4
Let’s spend considerable time discussing the following
issue: Using what you have learned in the course so far in
this class and your experiences, discuss the issue of
recruitment and retention in the military. What does the
military look for in a recruit? What are incentives that can
be used in recruiting? What does the military do to retain
personnel? How can retention rates be improved? What would be
your plan for recruitment and selection?
Sixth meeting, Sun PM, Sept 12
Read chapter 6 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapter 6
Read and discuss Case 6.2
Discuss questions 1 and 3 of the Critical Thinking Questions
section of Case 6.2
Discussion of major paper preparation
Student reports and discussion of issues in human resources
management
Seventh meeting, Sat AM Sept 25
Read chapters 7 and 8 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapters 7 and 8 of the text
Read and discuss Case 7.3 in the text
Discuss questions 1, 3 and 4 of the Critical Thinking Questions in Case 6.3
Read Case 8.2 in the text
Discuss questions 1 and 3 of Case 8.2
Eighth meeting, Sat PM Sept 25
Mid-term Examination
Homework for the eleventh class- review the text Human Capital
Applications. Complete exercise 5 of this text for discussion in class meeting eleven
Ninth meeting, Sun AM Sept 26
Review of Mid-Term examination
Read chapters 9 and 10 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapters 9 and 10
Student reports and discussion of human resources
management issues
Discuss question 1 in the Discussion Questions section at the
end of chapter 9
Please be prepared to discuss career development in the
military, using what you have learned in the course and your
experience as background information
Read and discuss Case 10.2 in the text
Discuss question 2 of the Critical Thinking Questions of Case 10.2
Tenth meeting, Sun PM, Sept 26
Read chapters 11 and 17 in the text
Lecture and discussion of chapters 11 and 17
Lecture on Expectancy and Motivation Theory
Discuss question 2 in the Discussion Questions section of
chapter 11
Read and discuss Case 11.3 at the end of chapter 11
Read and discuss case 17.2 at the end of chapter 17
Conduct team exercise at the end of Case 11.3
Eleventh meeting, Sat AM, Oct 9
Read chapter 12 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapter 12
Discuss questions 2, 3 and 4 in the Discussion Questions section of chapter 12
Please be prepared to discuss the structure of the military benefits plan. How might the plan be enhanced or does it need to be enhanced? Explain. Discuss some of the
Elements of the benefit system such as salary, housing allowance and health care.
How would you change the benefits system?
Discussion of exercise 5 in the text Human Capital Applications
Twelfth meeting, Sat PM, Oct 9
Major paper due
Read Chapters 13 and 14 of the text
Lecture and discussion of chapters 13 and 14
Review of progress on major paper
Lecture on selected management theories related to employee relations
Discuss questions 1,6,7,8 and 10 of the Discussion Questions of chapter 13
Discuss questions 1, 9 and 10 of the Discussion Questions section of chapter 14
Discussion of preparation for the final examination
Thirteenth meeting, Sun AM Oct 10
Read chapters 15 and 16 in the text
Lecture and discussion of chapters 15 and 16
Discuss questions 1,9 and 10 of the Discussion Questions section
of chapter 15
Read and discuss Case 15.3
Discuss questions 1 and 3 of the Critical Thinking Questions at the end of Case 15.3
Read and discuss case 15.4 in the text
Discuss questions 1 and 2 of the Critical Thinking Questions the end of Case 15.4
Read and discuss case 16.4 at the end of chapter 16
Fourteenth meeting, Sun PM, Oct 10
Final Examination
Course Evaluation
Final comments
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Academic Policies:
The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the University's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Faculty Bio:
| Dr. Brown holds a Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, an MA in International Relations from Troy State University, an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University, an MPA from the University of Southern California, an MS in Management from Troy State University, an MA in Counseling from Ball State University, and a BA in Sociology in Florida A. & M. University. He recently retired from the U.S. Foreign Service as a management practitioner, serving in 11 countries and finishing his 35 year federal career in the Senior Foreign Service. Dr. Brown has served as the Management Counselor, an executive level position, at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia, Senior Post Management Officer at the State Department, Administrative Officer at U.S. Missions in Brazil, Norway, Burundi, General Services Officer in Mexico, Pakistan and Niger and Budget and Fiscal Officer in Mali. Prior to joining State Department in 1984, he served as Housing Manager with the Navy, Army and Air Force, with overseas tours in England and Germany and assignments in California, Ohio and South Carolina. | |