MANA 4228 – 001 Human Resource Staffing and Performance Management
Fall 2009: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00am – 9:20am
Location: COBA 152
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Harris
Office Number: COBA 224
E-Mail:
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 – 2:00 or by appointment
Course Description:
Covers the areas of employee selection and performance management systems. Topics include: recruitment strategies, methods of selection, development and validation of selection and employee appraisal instruments, and implementation of performance management processes. Prerequisite: MANA 3318 and MANA 3320.
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will be able to discuss human resource staffing issues such as strategic issues, legal issues, job analysis, recruiting, selection, and retention verbally and/or in writing.
- Students will be able to discuss performance management issues verbally and/or in writing.
- Students will be able to identify the importance of staffing and performance management to organizations.
Text:
- Klinvex, K., O’Connell, M., and Klinvex, C. (1999). Hiring Great People. McGraw-Hill.
- Course reader available from UTA Bookstore 400 South Pecan Street.
- Business trade/popular press book (see below)
Course Requirements:
Class Participation and Attendance: Your participation and attendance in this class is highly encouraged. Your participation will be evaluated based the value your participation adds to the class. Therefore, participation is not only evaluated on how much you participate, but also on the quality of your participation. It is expected that you will read each chapter from the textbook before the class meeting which it is assigned. This should help you to provide valuable contributions to the class. There will also be a variety of in-class assignments through out the semester. These may be turned in to evaluate not only your attendance, but also your participation.
In-class assignments cannot be made up.
Quizzes: A number of quizzes will be given during the class (see the calendar for dates). 10 minutes will be given at the beginning of each class a quiz is scheduled. If students arrive to class after the quiz has been given they will not be able to take the quiz. Each quiz will contain multiple choice and/or short answer questions and will be worth 10 points each. Students will be able to drop their lowest quiz score.
Make up quizzes will not be given.
Essays: Three take-home essay assignments will be given. The essays will cover topics discussed in class. The answers to the essays must be typed, doubled spaced, with 12 point font. See dates on the calendar listed below.
Late essays will not be accepted
Individual Book Analysis: MEMO TO MANAGEMENT: Assume that you have been selected by your employer to critically evaluate one of the books from the book list. Prepare a two-page (single-spaced, double between paragraphs) MEMORANDUM to management that:
Evaluates and analyzes an important relevant theme from the book. This discussion will provide: What does this book indicate about the issues that will face companies in the future? Do you agree or disagree? Justify. Based on your analysis, how significant are these issues to businesses and organizations? Given the topic of the book and in particular the theme you have selected, to what should leaders be focusing on? Why?
Note: Please be creative! Somehow make the reader pay attention to this topic, theme, idea, and your recommendations. Papers that are just book reports, i.e., merely reporting what was said without significant analysis and applications of relevant theories, frameworks, course ideas, are not acceptable.
Late memos will not be accepted
Group Book Discussion: Groups will form around each book. Everyone who has read the same book (book groups) will work together to prepare to lead the class on a 40 minute discussion of the book The discussion should be a lively and engaging way to convey the important contents of the book, hold the class’s interest and attention. The discussion should briefly summarize the book’s important ideas to convey them to the class. Each group must engage the class in a discussion, therefore groups may need to be creative.
Please provide a group-generated written (one page) summary of the major ideas in the book/presentation for all members of the class.
Late book discussions will not be accepted
Books to Choose From
Books were chosen based on a review of current popular business press and trade books.
Boudreaux, John W. & Ramstad, Peter M. 2007. Beyond HR: The New Science of Human Capital. HarvardBusinessSchool Press.
Cappelli, Peter, 2008. Talent on Demand: Managing Talent in an Age of Uncertainty. HarvardBusinessSchool Press.
Lawler, Edward E. III. 2008. Talent: Making People Your Competitive Advantage. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Lewis, Michael. 2004. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. W.W. Norton & Co.
Make-Up Policy
Make-up quizzes, essays, in-class assignments, book memos, and book discussions will not be given.
Grading Policy
Participation and Attendance30 Points
Quizzes80 Points
Essay Assignment 120 Points
Essay Assignment 220 Points
Essay Assignment 220 Points
Book Memo25 Points
Group Book Discussion 25 Points
Total 220 Points
220 – 198 Points = A (100% - 90%)
197 - 176 Points = B (89% - 80%)
175 – 154 Points = C (79% - 70%)
153 - 132 Points = D (69% - 60%)
Below 132 Points = F (Below 60%)
WebCT
WebCT will be used in this class. The web address iswebct.uta.edu There are log-in instructions listed on the WebCT Website. On WebCT you will be able to download the PowerPoint presentations for each topic that is covered in class. Course grades will also be posted on WebCT.
Calendar:
The contents of this calendar may be changed depending upon class size and other circumstances.
Date / Topic / ReadingsAugust 25 / Class Introduction
August 27 / Strategic HR / Human Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage
September 1 / Strategic HR
September 3 / Staffing Introduction / Staffing in the 21st Century
September 8 / Quiz
Legal Issues
September 10 / Legal Issues
September 15 / Quiz
Planning / The No-Stat All Star
September 17 / Job Analysis
September 22 / Job Analysis
September 24 / Quiz
Recruiting / Guide to Recruiting
September 29 / Recruiting
October 1 / Recruiting
Distribute Essays / Gen Y & Boomers
October 6 / Quiz
Measurement
October 8 / Selection
Essays Due / NFL Wonderlic
Interviews
October 13 / Selection
October 15 / Quiz
Decision Making
October 20 / Decision Making / Selection Decision
October 22 / Retention
Distribute Essays
October 27 / Quiz
Performance Appraisal / Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright
October 29 / Performance Appraisal
Essays Due
November 3 / Quiz
Performance Appraisal Issues and Appraisal Interview / Management By Whose Objectives
Alternatives to the Performance Appraisal
November 5 / Performance Appraisal Issues and Appraisal Interview
November 10 / Quiz
Incentives / On the Folly of Rewarding A While
Hoping for B
November 12 / Incentives
November 17 / Quiz
Goal Setting
Pay Secrecy / The Best Laid Incentive Plans
When Salaries Aren’t Secret
November 19 / Book Memo Due
Book Discussion
November 24 / Book Discussion
November 26 / No Class: Thanksgiving
December 1 / Book Discussion
Distribute Essays
December 3 / No Class: Work on Essays
December 8 / Essays Due
Drop Policy:
It is the student's responsibility to complete the course or withdraw from the course in accordance with University Regulations. Students will not be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. Students are strongly encouraged to verify their grade status before dropping a course after the first withdrawal date. A student who drops a course after the first withdrawal date may receive an "F" in the course if the student is failing at the time the course is dropped. Please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs and the Schedule of Classes for specific university policies and dates.
Americans With Disabilities Act:
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 102 of University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity:
It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.
"Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2)
Student Support Services Available:
The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.
Final Review Week:
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. Classes are held as scheduled during this week and lectures and presentations may be given.
Librarian to Contact: Ruthie Brock
E-Culture Policy:
The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University email address as an official means of communication with students. Through the use of email, UT-Arlington is able to provide students with relevant and timely information, designed to facilitate student success. In particular, important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation may be sent to students through email.
All students are assigned an email account and information about activating and using it is available at New students (first semester at UTA) are able to activate their email account 24 hours after registering for courses. There is no additional charge to students for using this account, and it remains active as long as a student is enrolled at UT-Arlington. Students are responsible for checking their email regularly.
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