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BUSI4BH15: International Human Resource Management

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Management and Marketing

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To enable students to comprehensively engage with the complexities of dealing with a global workforce.
  • To provide students with the opportunity to critically understand international human resource management.

Content

  • The lectures and practical classes within this module will be organised around the following themes/topics:
  • International human resource management and strategic international human resource management.
  • Macro influences on the international human resource management.
  • Motivational theories.
  • International employment in MNEs the structure of the MNE, international mergers, acquisitions, and alliances.
  • Global workforce planning, forecasting, and staffing expatriation and repatriation.
  • Selection of international assignees.
  • Training and development in the global company.
  • International performance appraisal.
  • Global compensation, benefits, and taxes.
  • The future of international human resource management.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Upon successful completion of the module, the students will have:
  • Understand the difference between domestic HRM and international HRM.
  • Understand the influence of home and host countries institutions and culture on HRM policies and practices.
  • Understand the powerful resources MNEs and workers have available.
  • Understand the different types of workers.
  • Understand HRM subsystems in international environments (recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, reward management, and employment relations).

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Upon successful completion of the module, the students will be able to:
  • Critically assess the recent changes in international labour and the differences between emerging and developing economies.
  • Critically assess the influence of globalisation, the emergence of new players, and its influence on MNEs and labour markets.
  • Critically assess the importance of having a sound International Human Resource Management guideline with employees inputs.
  • Critically evaluate the processes, procedures and practices of contemporary HRM.
  • Critically discuss power relations enjoyed by MNCs and workers.

Key Skills:

  • Develop critical thinking.
  • Building and developing teams.
  • Effective written communication skills.
  • Planning, organising and time management skills.
  • Problem solving and analytical skills.
  • Advanced skills in the interpretation of data.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, guided reading and discussion of case studies.
  • The assessment of the module, by written assignment, is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge, conceptual understanding and evaluation of the literature learned in class.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures10Weekly2 hours20 
Seminars4Fortnightly1 hour4Yes
Preparation and reading126 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: AssignmentComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment2,500 words (maximum)100

Formative Assessment

Group discussion on global workforce planning and talent management.

More information

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