Overview

This unit of study emphasises the practicalities and thinking required of HR (Human Resource) Managers to ensure that the actions undertaken by the HR function both prepare and align the organisation’s strategic plans to meet future challenges. The unit will adopt a systemic view to examine how different HR practices align to make a strategic contribution to the organisation. The unit will also adopt a holistic approach to investigate linkages between firm performance, organisational strategy, and HR strategy.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply advanced and coherent knowledge of the key concepts and theoretical foundations of strategic human resource management
  • Critically analyse and address complex strategic HRM issues to support a change process
  • Critically evaluate and contrast theories of strategic HRM and their application in organisations
  • Apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
  • Function as an effective member or leader of a team

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AnalysisIndividual 30 - 40% 1,3 
AssignmentIndividual 30 - 50% 1,2,3 
Research AssignmentGroup 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Theoretical foundations of strategic HRM
  • HR strategy, structure, policy and organisational culture
  • Contingency, configurational and best practice approaches
  • Facilitating resource deployment through HR architectures
  • The global, virtual, and technological context of HR
  • HR as a conscience keeper, employee champion, and change agent

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.