Human Resources I (21851)

Degree/study: degree in Business Sciences
Year: 2nd
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 5 credits
Hours of studi dedication: 125 hours
Teaching language or languages: Spanish
Teaching Staff: Maria Lluïsa Gambús and Joan Balasch

1. Presentation of the subject

The subject is an introduction to strategic management of human resources in a company.

The course provides a comprehensive framework for the consideration and analysis of the essentials of how personnel work as an aspect of the organisational structure, the human resources policy of a company and its management systems.

The tasks of the human resources department and its optimum involvement with and relationship to the business structure will be identified. Work will also cover the training and skills needed by a human resources manager to effectively manage this area.

Consideration will be given to the tools for the professional development of human resources, highlighting the role that can be played by a human resources department in achieving business objectives.

The subject also includes detailed work on the analysis and assessment of positions, linking these tools linked to the company's remuneration policy. Students will therefore learn about the factors influencing the formulation of policies and remuneration structures, and will be able to take decisions on remuneration and to determine when a remuneration policy is appropriate.

Finally, the subject will look at the payroll in depth from a legal and practical point of view.

The main objective is for the students to obtain a level of command and understanding of the discipline, so that they can apply the theoretical models to real business conditions.

The students must read the compulsory material beforehand, prepare various cases and exercises and participate in class discussions. Seeking additional information and the application of what has been learnt to specific cases will be valued highly.

2. Competences to be attained

General competences: 

Instrumental 

- Ability to perform analysis and synthesis

- General basic knowledge of human resources 

Systemic

- Problem-solving in management of a company's staff

- Ability to identify the economic, human and organisational consequences of human resources management in the organisation 

Interpersonal

- Teamwork ability;

- Assertive communication

- Learning from the errors of others

3. Contents

Subject 1. The human factor in the company

The company as a system of interactions. Human motivations and basic models of organisational behaviour.

Subject 2. The company as an organisation

Design of organisational structure. Organisational structure and personnel structure. Company strategies and company policies.

Subject 3.  The human resources department in the company

Aspects of the human resources department. Transition from the personnel department towards the human resources department. Organisation of the human resources department. Information and communication systems in personnel management.

Subject 4. Strategic planning of human resources

Staff needs, promotion, selection, training and economic costs.

Subject 5. Operating system and payment system in organisations

Design of the operating system. Analysis and description of positions. Position profiling.

Subject 6. Assessment of positions

Assessment criteria. Categories and factors. Assessment of positions and company policy. Assessment of positions and salary structures. Assessment methods of positions.

Subject 7. Definition of salary policy

General aspects. Salary and its composition: legal, organisational and strategic aspects. Types of remuneration.

Subject 8. The company salary structure

Assessment of positions and the salary structure. Salary levels, salary bands and overlapping. Salary structure trends. Salary range. Promotion and salary increases.

Subject 9. Variable payment systems

Fixed rate work, bonuses and other incentives. Objective-based management. Other means of compensation.

Subject 10. The payroll

Aspects of the payroll. Calculation of the main items. Computer system for producing the payroll.

4. Assessment

The subject is based on the principle of continuing assessment of students, with an important role played by the acquisition of knowledge and skills. To that end, participation in classes and seminars, and individual analyses of exercises and cases account for 30% of the total mark, while the examination accounts for 70%.

In order to pass the subject, both marks - the examination and class participation - must be at least pass level.

If the subject is failed, the participation grade is carried forward to the September resit examination, so that the September examination also accounts for 70% of the grade in this sitting.

5. Bibliography and teaching resources

5.1. Basic bibliography

• ALBERT, L; MICHAUD, Y; PIOTTE, R. La dirección de personal. Herder, 1991.

• BEER; SPECTOR; LAWRENCE; MILLS; WALTON. Gestión de los recursos humanos; perspectiva de un director general. Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, 1987.

• DOLAN, RANDALL, VALLE. La gestión de los recursos humanos; Ed. McGrawHill, 1999.

• GÓMEZ-MEJÍA, BALKIN CARDY. Gestión de recursos humanos. Prentice Hall. 1997.

• MARTINEZ DESCHAMPS, G. Puestos, personas y política salarial. Gestión y Planificación Integral, SA, 1997.

• MÍNGUEZ VELA, ANDRÉS. Dirección práctica de recursos humanos. Ed. ESIC, 2000.

• PEREDA MARÍN, S.; BERROCAL, F. Valoración de puestos de trabajo. Eudema, 1993.

• PEÑA BAZTAN, M. Dirección de personal. Organización y técnicas. Hispano Europea, 1993.

• WEINERT. Manual de psicología de la organización. Herder, 1985.

5.2. Teaching resources

The additional materials will be available in reprography format.

6. Methodology

The subject methodology is based on the following principles:

- Student autonomy

- Role of the lecturer

- Systematic and continuous work 

Students are specifically expected to:

1.    Read the reading material and think about it before classes.

2.    Raise doubts and questions with the lecturers before or during classes.

3.    Attend all classes.

4.    Answer lecturers' questions during classes and seminars.

5.    Read all the case studies and exercises assigned before the classes in which they are to be discussed. 

Lecturers:

1.    Will present the main points in each subject in class and resolve doubts and queries.

2.    Will assess the level of understanding and knowledge of the material, and will ask various students at random about their reading in each class.

3.    Will illustrate the application of the theoretical material with an analysis of exercises and cases.

7. Planning of activities

Setmana	Activitat a l'aula agrupament / tipus d'activitat	Activitat fora de l'aula  agrupament / tipus d'activitat
Setmana 2	Sessió 1- Tema 1 Sessió 2- Tema 1
Setmana 3	Sessió 1- Tema 2 Sessió 2- Tema 3
Setmana 4	Sessió 1- Tema 3
Setmana 5	Sessió 1- Tema 4 Practica 1- Tema 1-3
Setmana 6	Sessió 1- Tema 5 Sessió 2 - Tema 6 Practica 2- Tema 4
Setmana 7	Sessió 1- Tema 6 Practica 3- Tema 5-6
Setmana 8	Sessió 1- Tema 7 Sessió 2 - Tema 8 Practica 4- Tema 8
Setmana 9	Sessió 1- Tema 8-9 Practica 5- Tema 9
Setmana 10	Sessió 1- Tema 9 Practica 6- Tema 9
Setmana 11	Sessió 1- Tema 10