Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Coursera

Core Practices and Contemporary HR Management

via Coursera

Overview

AI, Data Science & Cloud Certificates from Google, IBM & Meta — 40% Off
One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera. 40% off Coursera Plus Annual.
Unlock All Certificates
A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course explores Human Resource Management from its foundational principles to contemporary practices, covering recruitment, talent management, performance appraisal, and leadership development. You will examine modern HR challenges including diversity, equality, employee engagement, and technology integration, learning how HR policies impact organizational performance and employee well-being. The course combines theory with real-world applications, including case studies and emerging trends in electronic HRM and global HR strategies, ensuring you can apply concepts effectively in varied workplaces. Ideal for HR professionals, managers, and business leaders, this course suits learners with some business or HR knowledge and aims to strengthen expertise in HR strategies and modern workplace issues. By the end of the course, you will be able to design effective HR strategies, manage employee relations, leverage technology in HRM, and address diversity and engagement challenges in modern workplaces. This course is part two of a three-course Specialization designed to provide a comprehensive learning pathway in this subject area. While it delivers standalone value and practical skills, learners seeking a more integrated and in-depth progression may benefit from completing the full Specialization. This Specialization is based on the book, The SAGE Handbook of Human Resource Management, by Adrian Wilkinson, Nicolas Bacon, Scott Snell, and David Lepak Copyright ©2019 by Sage Publications Limited. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. Published by Sage Publications Limited, London. Used by arrangement with Sage Publications Limited.

Syllabus

  • Recruitment and Selection
    • This module explores the evolving landscape of recruitment and selection, highlighting the integration of HR strategies, the influence of employer branding, and the impact of technology on hiring processes. Learners will examine applicant reactions, organizational image, and recent research trends to understand how modern selection practices affect both individual and organizational outcomes.
  • Training, Development and Skills
    • This module explores the impact of training and development on employee skills, productivity, and career opportunities. Learners will examine the diversity of training practices, the evolving nature of work, and the challenges of aligning workforce skills with job market demands. The module also addresses issues related to vocational education quality and the underutilization of skills in the labor market.
  • Talent Management: Disentangling Key Ideas
    • This module examines the foundational concepts and ongoing debates in talent management, highlighting its strategic importance for organizations. Learners will explore how talent is defined, differentiated, and managed, as well as current research challenges and opportunities in the field.
  • Leadership Development: The Shift from ‘Ready Now' to ‘Ready Able'
    • This module explores the rapidly changing landscape of leadership, emphasizing the importance of agility, emotional intelligence, and transparency in modern organizations. Learners will examine the impact of technological, socio-economic, and workforce shifts on leadership roles and required capabilities. The module also highlights the growing significance of digital learning and networked collaboration for future leaders.
  • Understanding Performance Appraisal: Supervisory and Employee Perspectives
    • This module explores the dynamics of performance appraisal from both supervisory and employee perspectives, focusing on appraisal methods, rating accuracy, and the influence of interpersonal relationships. Learners will gain insights into how supervisor behaviors and employee motivations impact the effectiveness of performance management systems.
  • Compensation
    • This module explores how compensation strategies impact organizational performance, including the effects of pay levels and pay-for-performance programs. Learners will examine theoretical frameworks, incentive and sorting effects, and the challenges of measuring performance. The module also addresses contextual factors and potential pitfalls in designing effective compensation systems.
  • HRM, Equality and Diversity
    • This module explores the shift from equality to diversity in human resource management, examining the rationale, challenges, and practical implications of diversity policies. Learners will analyze the limitations of the business case for diversity, the importance of contextualized approaches, and the roles and responsibilities within organizations. By the end, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of how equality and diversity are addressed in HRM research and practice.
  • Creating and Sustaining Involvement and Participation in the Workplace
    • This module examines the principles and practices of employee involvement and participation (EIP) in the workplace, exploring key frameworks, managerial motives, and individual factors that shape EIP schemes. Learners will analyze how EIP initiatives are established, implemented, and sustained, as well as the outcomes and challenges associated with their long-term success.
  • Exploring Electronic HRM: Management Fashion or Fad?
    • This module explores the evolution of electronic human resource management (e-HRM), examining its impact on HR efficiency, strategic value, and employer branding. Learners will analyze management fashion theory as it applies to e-HRM, review case studies, and consider the socio-psychological and techno-economic forces influencing its adoption. By the end, participants will be able to critically assess whether e-HRM represents a genuine innovation or a passing trend.
  • Health, Safety and Well-being
    • This module explores the evolution of occupational health and safety (OHS) worldwide, examining key regulatory developments, workforce changes, and the impact of industry shifts on workplace well-being. Learners will gain insights into global OHS data, statutory frameworks, and the importance of worker participation and enforcement mechanisms.
  • Industrial Relations: Changing Trends across Theory, Policy and Practice
    • This module examines the evolution of industrial relations, highlighting key theoretical foundations, the development of collective bargaining, and the interplay between labor and management. Learners will explore historical and contemporary perspectives, gaining insight into how these dynamics shape workplace practices and policies.
  • Discipline and Grievances
    • This module explores how organizations manage workplace discipline and grievances across different institutional and national contexts. Learners will compare models from emerging markets, the United States, and regulated employment systems, and examine recent research on balancing fairness and effectiveness in these processes.
  • Downsizing
    • This module examines the concept of downsizing, exploring its definitions, forms, and the organizational motivations behind it. Learners will analyze the historical context, methods, and alternatives to downsizing, as well as evaluate its impacts on employees and organizational performance. The module also considers real-world examples, such as the Great Recession, to illustrate key points.
  • Employee Engagement: The Past, the Present and the Future
    • This module explores the evolution of employee engagement, examining key definitions, theoretical frameworks, and its relationship to concepts like burnout. Learners will gain insight into how engagement is measured, its impact on organizational effectiveness, and implications for HRM strategies. The module also highlights emerging perspectives and future research directions in the field.
  • Working Time and Work–Life Balance
    • This module explores the challenges of balancing work demands with personal life, examining trends in working hours, sources of work–life conflict, and the effectiveness of organizational policies. Learners will investigate how different countries and organizations address temporal pressures and the impact of these strategies on employee well-being and inclusion.
  • The Changing Face of Work Design Research: Past, Present, and Future Directions
    • This module explores the evolution of work design research, examining key theories, models, and the impact of social and contextual factors on job satisfaction and performance. Learners will investigate both classic and contemporary perspectives, as well as the contingencies and interventions that shape effective work environments. The module also highlights emerging directions and gaps in current research.

Taught by

Sage Instructors

Reviews

Start your review of Core Practices and Contemporary HR Management

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.