UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
MOR 471 – MANAGING AND DEVELOPING PEOPLE
(Human Resource Management)
FALL 2010
(D R A F T)
Instructor: Robert B. Turrill, PhD
Class time: M/W 12:00 to 1:50 pm
Office: Bridge Hall 303D
Office hours: Tu/Th 11:00 – noon and by appointment
Office phone: (213) 740-0732
Office fax: (213) 740-3582
e-mail:
Required text: MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES THROUGH STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS, Susan Jackson & Randall Schuler,
Cengage Learning, 10th ed, 2009
Course reader – Cases (available in the Book Store)
Introduction: This course is aimed at two audiences: 1) those individuals who wish to become general managers and need to integrate their knowledge of how to manage human resources for strategic advantage; and 2) those individuals who may be potentially human resource professionals and wish to know more about the activities of the human resource function. Treating human capital as a strategic resource demands an approach that recognizes the strategic positioning of the organization within a competitive, and increasingly global, environment where there are many diverse groups of stakeholders, and where the development and deployment of talented employees requires a partnership approach within the organization.
Course Objectives:
1. To understand how successful companies manage human capital to compete more effectively in a dynamic environment.
2. To understand the changing context of “talent management” within organizations.
3. To understand how to align human resources activities with the strategy and goals of the organization.
4. To understand how key partnerships within the firm are critical to managing the selection, development, and deployment of organizational participants.
5. To understand more effective ways to manage individual and collective performance for greater organizational and individual growth.
6. To understand the full range of human resource management activities to select, develop, deploy, and compensate members of the organization within a legal and ethical organizational framework.
7. To understand “best practices” of the firms seen as the “best organizations to work for.”
MOR 471 – Course Syllabus – p. 2
Course Format: We will use a variety of learning activities, including lecture, discussion, case analyses, team activities, self-assessment, guest speakers, videos, and experiential exercises to enhance the learning experience. Some interviewing and other field research activities will be assigned to gain greater knowledge about different
approaches to the management of people and the various professional activities performed by the human resource management function.
Course Outline and Assignments:
Students are expected to have read the assigned reading in the text as indicated in the following schedule. Each week there is a case assigned for class discussion. You will select five of the 13 cases to write-up and submit (no more than three pages of notes responding to the posted questions). The schedule may change as we assess our progress throughout the semester, and additional assignments may be made. We will have several guest speakers representing different aspects of human resource management and different points of view.
Week Date Topic Assignments
1 Aug 23 Introduction to the course
25 Taking a strategic approach Read Ch 1
“Men’s Wearhouse” Case
2 Aug 30 Understanding the environmental context Read Ch 2
“Cisco Systems” Case
Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For”
Sep 1 Meet in the ELC in JKP
3 Sep 6 Labor Day holiday
8 Aligning HR with the organization Read Ch 3
“Verizon Communications” Case
4 Sep 13 Legal context of employment Read Ch 4
“Staffing Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.” Case
15 Meet in the ELC in JKP
5 Sep 20 Conducting job analyses Read Ch 5
22 “3M’s Leadership Competency Model” Case
6 Sep 27 Recruiting and retaining employees Read Ch 6
“Microsoft: Competing on Talent” Case
MOR 471 – Course Syllabus – p. 3
Sep 29 Meet in the ELC in JKP
7 Oct 4 Selecting employees Read Ch 7
Speaker – Director, Talent Assessment, HP
6 “Employment Selection at Lerner and Associates” Case
Interview with an HR manager paper due
8 Oct 11 Training and development Read Ch 8
“Art and Practice of Learning at Oak Valley, Inc.” Case
13 Meet in the ELC in JKP
9 Oct 18 Measuring performance; feedback Read Ch 9
Speaker – Consultant, Mercer HR Consulting
20 “Morgan Stanley” (two) Cases
10 Oct 25 Mid-term exam
27 Understanding total compensation Read Ch 10
Meet in the ELC in JKP
11 Nov 1 The effect of performance-based pay on Read Ch 11
motivation and strategic objectives
Speaker – Senior Executive, Accenture Consulting
3 “Harrah’s Entertainment” Case
12 Nov 8 Providing benefits and services Read Ch 12
“Lotus Development Corp.” Case
10 Meet in the ELC in JKP
13 Nov 15 Workplace safety and health Read Ch 13
Speaker – Director, Talent Acquisition, Fox Entertainment
17 “Workplace Safety at Alcoa” Case
14 Nov 22 The role of unions Read Ch 14
Speaker – HRM officer, Raytheon
24 “Sprint – La Conexion Familiar” Case
MOR 471 – Course syllabus – p. 4
15 Nov 29 The future of Human Resource Management
Team project presentations
Dec 1 Team project presentations
Course evaluation
Dec 3 Team projects due
10 Final exam – 11:00 to 1:00 pm
Course Requirements and Evaluation:
Exams: Mid-term exam (text and class material) 15%
Final exam (case exam) 20%
Team project: Organizational analysis – best practices 20%
Individual projects: Interview of HRM/ Manager* 15%
Written case analysis notes (five cases) 20%
Class participation and preparation 10% 100%
*May be done in pairs
Each graded assignment will be evaluated on a 10-point scale where 9-10 is an excellent exam, project, or interview write-up. Case note, however, will be graded on a three-point scale. Following the grading guidelines of the Marshall School, this course will have an approximate grade point average of 3.3. (this is not a rigid target gpa). Make-up exams will not be scheduled unless there is a confirmed emergency or illness, and this is also true of written assignments. Course requirements are designed to keep you prepared and involved in the daily content and case discussions and other activities of the class. Your attendance, preparation, and participation are essential to contribute to the success of the course for all students. Attendance will be recorded each day, and you are expected to be here for the entire class. Excessive absences (more than three) will negatively affect your final grade in the course by reducing your course grade by one-third for each absence over three, e.g., from a B to a B-. During case discussions, guest presentations, and presentations of content material, laptops should be closed and all electronic devices should be turned off.
Course information, announcements, and assignments will be posted weekly on BlackBoard (blackboard.usc.edu) under MOR 471, section 16674R.
Academic Integrity: The use of unauthorized material, plagiarism, communication with fellow students during an examination, attempting to benefit from the work of another student, and similar behavior that defeats the intent of an examination or other class work is unacceptable to the University. Academic integrity policies, the description of prohibited behavior, and the appropriate sanctions are described in the 2008-2009
MOR 471 – Course syllabus – p. 5
SCAMPUS Guidebook for Students. If there are any questions concerning any of the assignments, please ask the instructor in advance of the assignment due date.
Return of Graded Paperwork: Returned paperwork, unclaimed by a student, will be discarded after four weeks, and, therefore, will not be available should a grade appeal be pursued by a student following receipt of his/her course grade.
Students with Disabilities: Any student requesting academic accommodation based on a disability is required to register with the Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure that the letter is delivered to the instructor well in advance of the first exam. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.