Year

2024

Credit points

10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

HRMG601 Human Resource Management

Teaching organisation

3 hours per week for twelve weeks or equivalent.

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit explores sustainability-oriented aspects of HR functions and practices in large companies in a globalised world. Also, the focus of the unit is to integrate sustainability principles in both HRM theory and the practical decision-making of all managers performing the role of managing people. In sustainable HRM, the notion of success is extended beyond the single financial performance bottom line, considering simultaneously human, social and ecological sustainability based on a paradox perspective. Research and insights from diverse fields, including strategic HRM, Sustainable HRM, Green HRM, corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and organisation theory as well as examples and cases from HRM practice provide inspiration to students to appreciate social justice and equality for employee dignity.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Learning Outcome NumberLearning Outcome Description
LO1Evaluate sustainable and unsustainable HRM and organizational practices and their impacts.
LO2Critically review theories, research and practices with regard to the complexities of human sustainability in the context of dynamic organisations for common good.
LO3Elaborate acquired knowledge and skills to understand and implement sustainable HRM strategies and practices for shared value for organisations, natural environment, and society.
LO4Developed competence to measure, analyse and discuss how to increase the sustainable and decrease the unsustainable aspects of HRM practices from the synthesis perspective to achieve organisation shared value

Content

Topics will include:

  • Human resource management in the 21st century: Sustainable HRM
  • Appraise the context for developing sustainable HRM
  • Examine the paradox perspective for sustainable HRM
  • Elaborate sustainable HRM values and strategies
  • Interpret the theories of sustainable HRM
  • Discuss reducing harm and negative externality as a strategy for sustainable HRM
  • Explore greening as a strategy for sustainable HRM
  • Construct implementing sustainable HRM practices
  • Reflect on measurements for sustainable HRM practices
  • Analyse sustainability reporting and Sustainable HRM
  • Re-defining the strategic HR role to sustainable HR role
  • Distinguish global sustainable HRM practices 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Mode: Lectures; tutorials; workshops

Duration: 12-week semester or equivalent. Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including any class attendance that may be required, readings and assessment preparation.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies. 

Overview of assessments

Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment TasksWeightingLearning Outcomes

Assessment Task 1: Verbal Presentation

This assessment task consists of 10-minute verbal presentation with additional 5 minutes for Q&A. This task requires students to critically reflect on a sustainable HRM topic of their choice,  demonstrate how this modified their horizon and  provide implication for future research and practice.

Submission Type: Individual 

Assessment Method: Oral presentation

Artefact: Oral presentation/recording, and presentation notes (500 words)

30%

LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Critical Essay

This assessment task consists of a 1500-word written critical essay. This task requires students to critically discuss how new developments in sustainable HRM extends strategic HRM theories in benefiting organisations as well as society.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Essay

Artefact: Written essay

40%

LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Sustainable HRM for common good – Case analysis report

This assessment task consists of a 1500-word written report. This task requires students to critically review research and practices with regard to the complexities of sustainable HRM initiatives based on published real world sustainability reports. Students will be required to analyse Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for sustainability submitted by two corporations and develop  a report regarding the initiatives that the corporations have taken to address sustainable HRM indicators.

 

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Report

Artefact: Written report

30%

LO2, LO3, LO4

Mariappanadar S (2019) Sustainable Human Resource Management: Strategies, Practices and Challenges. 1st ed., Macmillan International, UK.

Vanka, S., Bhaskara Rao, M., Singh, S. (2020). Sustainable Human Resource Management: Transforming Organizations, Societies and Environment, Springer.

Mariappanadar, S. (2020). Do HRM systems impose restrictions on employee quality of life? Evidence from a sustainable HRM perspective. Journal of Business Research118, 38-48.

Macke, J., & Genari, D. (2019). Systematic literature review on sustainable human resource management. Journal of Cleaner Production208, 806-815.

Aust, I., Matthews, B., & Muller-Camen, M. (2020). Common Good HRM: A paradigm shift in Sustainable HRM?. Human Resource Management Review30(3), 100705.

Representative texts and references

Mariappanadar S (2019) Sustainable Human Resource Management: Strategies, Practices and Challenges. 1st ed., Macmillan International, UK.

Vanka, S., Bhaskara Rao, M., Singh, S. (2020). Sustainable Human Resource Management: Transforming Organizations, Societies and Environment, Springer.

Mariappanadar, S. (2020). Do HRM systems impose restrictions on employee quality of life? Evidence from a sustainable HRM perspective. Journal of Business Research118, 38-48.

Macke, J., & Genari, D. (2019). Systematic literature review on sustainable human resource management. Journal of Cleaner Production208, 806-815.

Aust, I., Matthews, B., & Muller-Camen, M. (2020). Common Good HRM: A paradigm shift in Sustainable HRM?. Human Resource Management Review30(3), 100705.

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