Prof Carola Frege

This course is compulsory on the MSc in International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management and MSc in Management and Human Resources. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Also available as an option to students on the MPhil/PhD in Management: Employment Relations and Organisational Behaviour.

This course examines the human resource management (HRM) and employment relations (ER) strategies of global corporations, with the aim of understanding both the causes of different strategic choices and the consequences of these strategies for diverse stakeholders. It takes the perspective that HRM/ER strategies are influenced by a range of variables, including internal business strategy and resources, as well as external factors such as national legislation, business systems and culture, and regional and global institutions.

In the course modules, we will:

• Evaluate the strategic choices facing global corporations, including the choice between adopting highly centralized or predominantly decentralized HR policies; HR considerations in the outsourcing and offshoring of work; and the role of HRM in managing international mergers and acquisitions.
• Analyze how institutions and culture affect compensation strategies and employee participation policies – as well as the implications of these policies for economic inequality and employee well-being. • Analyze the factors shaping different patterns of migration and discrimination.
• Evaluate how regional institutions such as the European Union and multilateral institutions such as the ILO affect the HRM/ER strategies and policies of global firms.
• Examine how consumer pressure, coupled with corporate social responsibility programs, encourage global firms to extend their HRM/ER policies to their supply chain.

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

One 2,000 word essay during Lent Term and one class presentation.

Edwards, T. and C. Rees. (2011) International Human Resource Management: Globalization, National Systems, and Multinational Companies (2nd Edition). Essex: Pearson Education, Ltd. Harzing, A-W. and Ruysseveldt, J. V. (2004) International Human Resource Management, Second Edition. London: Sage Publications. Rubery, J. and D. Grimshaw (2003) The organization of employment: An International Perspective. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, NY: Palgrave McMillan. Catteneo, O., G. Gereffi, and C. Staritz (2010) Global Value Chains in a Postcrisis World. The World Bank Press.

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2000 words).