Overview

This unit will introduce students to the fundamentals of internal and external Human Resource (HR) consulting. The focus will be on generating solutions to a significant HR-challenge faced by a client from either the private or public sector. Students will be afforded an opportunity to interact with the clients. The emphasis will be on problem solving through the application of theory and consulting frameworks. The project report produced for the client will demonstrate how human resources can be leveraged in a given context to make a strategic contribution.

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
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
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:

  • Critically analyse how HR practices and policies can make a strategic contribution at an organisational level
  • Apply problem-solving skills and theoretical knowledge to generate options and design an intervention to address a significant HR-related challenge faced by a client
  • Develop a systematic understanding of the types of methods, approaches and tools available to both
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods to plan and independently produce a research report on a specific HR-related topic
  • Work collaboratively in groups as a leader or member of a consulting 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% 1,4,5 
Brief 1Group 10 - 20% 2,4,5 
ReportGroup 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Consulting frameworks and problem solving tools
  • The external context including global forces, industry analysis and labour market analysis
  • Implications of various organizational metaphors
  • Change implementation and organisational inertia
  • Specific HR challenges faced by the industry clients

Study resources

Reading materials

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