Course Overview

This course will introduce you to the theories and practice of human resource management. HRM plays a critical role in ensuring that firms not only attract and select the best talent, but also motivate, reward and retain them. Much like finance, marketing and accounting, HRM has evolved into a discipline that is grounded in theory and rich with empirical evidence.

Starting with the classic separation between labor and management, HRM has evolved from treating labor as a cost of production, to positioning HR as an investment in human capital which yields positive returns. Indeed, recent practices in HRM such as participatory management and empowerment assume that improving organizational performance rests crucially on the healthy dependence between management and their employees.

Course Structure

The course is designed to guide you through the core functions of HRM. We will study recruiting, selection, training, compensation, motivation and leadership. The course has a strong international and comparative focus. We will establish Japan as the benchmark, then examine the pros and cons of Japanese HR relative to the U.S. and Europe. We will conclude by exploring recent changes in Japanese HR, with particular focus on how globalization is transforming Japanese HR.