Course Resources Archive

This module considers people as the ultimate competitive advantage. In this module it is approached through the maintenance of the employment relationship and through the development of policies and practice through a range of Human Resource Development (HRD) activities.

The module focuses on the very real business issue of employee development and will include some mini skills based activities in class.  The module reflects some of the standards identified in the various relevant sections of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s Intermediate level qualifications.

This module enables you to gain a critical understanding of two key HR strategies that can develop competitive advantage for organisations, the management of the employment relationship and the development of people.

This module will engage the learner in the debate around the developments of the employment relationship and the strategic focus of managing that relationship to develop and maintain competitive advantage.  This will develop from the competing approaches that contextualise contemporary developments in employment relations to the interventions that are enacted within the private sector, public sector and third sector.

The module then addresses how the people in the organisation can be developed by discussing the philosophy, practices, frameworks and/ or policies of employee development and the specific role that HRD can play in an organisation's human resource management activities to achieve sustainable and competitive advantage. Underpinning these areas is the notion of professionalism and ethical business practice.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. Critically explore the competing approaches, role of parties, labour market trends and data that contextualise contemporary developments of the employment relationship .(PL0 1)
2. Critically evaluate the main sources of employment relations legislation and a range of employee relations interventions derived from legislation, including areas of involvement and participation, conflict behaviour and dispute resolution.  (PLO 2)
3. Critically explore  the external trends, development and competing approaches of contemporary HRD and their implications for HRD in practice (PLO1,2,3)  
4. Analyse the role, responsibilities & contribution of developments in HRD practices/interventions to develop different categories of employees in a range of organisational settings (PLO 1)
5. Identify and critically evaluate how learning and development needs can be met, both by the individual and the organisation through the application and use of a range of relevant methods, paying particular attention to key requirements in the design and development of a range of inclusive learning and development activities (PLO1,2,3,4).
6. Identify and apply models of evaluation to development interventions to demonstrate value  (PLO 3,4,5)

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.