Your paper will focus on one of the following the three topics presented during Term 1
- “Strategic human resource management is the process of linking the human resource function with the strategic objectives of the organisation in order to improve performance.”
Does, and should, competitive strategy determine the design of a firm’s HR system? Give illustrations to support your answer.
- “…there is a considerable degree of ambiguity about TQM in practice – while the language is about increased involvement, there is also a strong emphasis on reinforcing management control” (Wilkinson, 1994, p.281)
Briefly describe what the term Quality Management means from an international business perspective and how would the use of HRM-style policies generate commitment to quality, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction?
3. Strategic thinking is worthless unless well formulated, implemented and controlled.’
Analyse relevant strategic HR themes and issues and, using organisational examples, evaluate the degree to which this suggestion is valid or not. Evaluate the degree to which the integration of human resources activities affects strategic thinking
In each topic you are encouraged to use business/organisational examples where relevant, contemporary and justified.
You are required to offer a more detailed examination of the issue in question, including an explicit rationale justifying the value of the issue chosen. In all cases you should give a reasoned account of why your issue is worth investigating and what you hope to achieve (i.e. a clear aim and objectives).
Further guidance and support will also be given during the progress
Your first term paper will be assessed as follows:
- Quality of the critical evaluation
- Definition and rationale for the problem being investigated.
- Discussion of relevant literature and theory and research enquiry and critical evaluation
- Conclusion, recommendations( where appropriate)
