BUA 585 - Human Resources in Transition

(Cr: 3)

During the past decade, in a major paradigm shift, the human resource function has been moving away from its traditional role as a paper-pushing, hiring/firing support mechanism and toward bottom-line decision making. In growing numbers of corporations, employees are viewed as an integral resource, vital to the success of the firm. This, in turn, has often resulted in an expansion of the Human Resource Management (HRM) role. On the other hand, some multinational corporations have moved in the opposite direction, flattening their organizational structures and marginalizing HRM, devolving its responsibilities to staff positions.Meanwhile, international developments are becoming ever more significant as a result of the globalization of trade, finance, and the world economy. As globalization and deregulation create a world of hyper-competition, what is the operational purpose and future of HRM? This course will enable students to examine these and other current HRM issues and strategic models.