Course summary

Human Resource Management (HRM) deals with the management of an organisation’s workforce. Organisational success depends upon developing appropriate methods of: recruitment and selection; motivation; reward; training and development; grievance and discipline; performance management and career progression. Did you know? • Human Resource Management lecturing staff are regularly nominated by students for the Students’ Union’s RATE awards for excellence in teaching. Staff come from various academic and employment backgrounds, bringing a rich variety of perspectives to their teaching. • Staff research interests include: employee ownership, employers use of social networking sites in the workplace and employability and skills. They research in cutting edge industries such as banking and software. Their research is published in leading journals and contributes to prestigious edited books and textbooks. HRM also attempts to increase the organisation’s ability to adapt within its environment through broadening the skills of the workforce. As such, HR specialists also need to have a good understanding of the labour market and their organisation’s wider social, economic and political environments. The course has a focus that goes beyond traditional businesses to include the public and non-profit sectors, community and employee-owned organisations. Every business has end users – or customers – and every successful business correctly identifies its customers and strives to deliver what they want, in order to keep them. Marketing is at the centre of what businesses do. It helps organisations work out how they can identify and satisfy customer needs using strategic thinking, business acumen and carefully designed communications. As you progress through your Marketing degree, you will have the opportunity to develop the following practical skills and attributes that are much sought after by prospective employers: Communication – the various essays, reports, examinations and presentations required throughout your studies will develop your ability to communicate effectively in a business setting. Team work – working in a group is an essential part of your Marketing degree, both during business simulation activities, as well as group debates and undertaking ‘live’ research projects for local businesses. This also builds on successful negotiation and influencing skills. Research and analysis – these skills develop as you progress through each year of your course, culminating in a significant piece of research for your Honours dissertation. By the time you graduate you’ll be able to write marketing research proposals for both commercial and academic purposes. Business/commercial awareness – through case study analysis, guest lectures and live projects with local employers, you will develop an understanding of what is going on in the business sector and the wider environment that organisations operate within. Assignments are designed to enable you to draw on your personal experiences and apply your learning directly to the business world. Time management – you will learn how to manage your time more effectively through your active involvement in group projects as well as by successfully juggling your weekly workload in order to meet your (sometimes conflicting) deadlines for coursework along with other University and extra curriculum commitments. Self-confidence – participating in every aspect of your degree will help build your confidence, both personally and professionally.