What you will study
The module is designed to develop your critical, ethical, and reflective use of evidence in people management in the service of generating value for multiple stakeholders. The module consists of the following four units:
Unit 1: Value and ethics in people management
You'll begin by exploring what it means to think of people management as a value creating and enhancing activity or a sometimes value destroying activity. You'll then consider and debate the ethical responsibilities organisations and their managers have to generate value and avoid value destruction for a wide group of stakeholders.
Drawing on real-world examples of people management, you will explore what it means to take a sustainable approach to generating value through people management that takes account of the needs of multiple stakeholders, including wider society and the environment.
Unit 2: Evidence-based practice in people management
In this unit you'll examine what is involved in taking an effective and critical approach to the use of evidence in making decisions about people management practices, policies and initiatives. You'll explore the importance of considering the relevance of evidence in the specific context you will apply it, and the need to consider multiple stakeholder groups. You'll also look at how to consider evidence about ‘what works’ in the context of ‘what matters’ both in terms of organisation goals and ethical practice.
You'll consider and apply techniques for estimating the financial costs and value of people management initiatives and develop your ability to think critically about these. To finish the unit, you'll explore the psychological, social and political elements of decision processes you will need to work with as an effective people management professional.
Unit 3: People analytics
This unit introduces the emerging role of people analytics in human resource management. It aims to provide you with the skills to collaborate with data scientists and related roles, and with individuals and organisations providing consultancy support on analytics. The unit is also designed to help you to look critically at claims about analytics, big data and AI and separate the hype from genuine potential benefits. This will include examining some of the ethical issues involved in using data and analytics in people management.
Unit 4: People management, technology and the future of work
The final unit is organised around a project in which you'll conduct your own literature research and review of evidence. You'll consider some of the major trends, challenges and dilemmas in HRM technology and the future of work. You'll explore how advanced technologies radically change people management and HR practices. You'll choose one topic for review and share your findings with other students to benefit from learning about what they have discovered and reviewed.
Throughout the module, you'll apply the learning to your own context and learn from the experience of other students. A major element of the assessment will involve applying your learning to your own challenges and experience.