Individual course project Topic: Analysis of the HRM of Amazon Organization
Objectives
This will be an exploration of the evolving role of a Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) topic that reflects one of the major topics of our course. Review the Course Objectives and the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to obtain ideas for your Course Project. Actively confer with your instructor for additional information and suggestions for the final topic of your Course Project.
Guidelines
Students will complete a major research paper on an SHRM topic of their choice that reflects one of the major topics of our course. In addition to functional topics, including issues in staffing, employee learning, employee relations, performance management, total rewards, and HR information systems, students can include topics that mirror the course’s primary perspectives of human capital management, HR metrics, or line/HR partnering as their primary subject. Students will work with the instructor on the submission of a topic and instructor approval of that topic no later than Week 2.
The Week 2 deliverables include a one-page Proposal of the Course Project and a Draft of the Outline of the paper.
Components of the Individual Signature Course Project and Presentation
Week 2: Proposal of Course Project due & Draft of Outline due. (60 points)
Week 6: Draft of Literature Review Paper due. (70 points)
Week 7: Final Literature Review due. (70 points)
Week 8: Final Presentation due. (100 points)
Best Practices
Students can choose a topic of their own areas of specific interest in any HRM area covered in the course. Given the point of view taken in HRM591, the paper should reflect one of the Course Objectives or one of the knowledge, skills, and abilities from the course. One consideration is how the chosen topic has changed to meet the challenges presented by a technology-driven global economy. Research should trace the historical roots of the topic and how technology, globalization, and other strategic forces have shaped its changes.
The paper length should be a minimum of 8-10 pages not including the title page and reference page and comply with all formatting and APA 7th Edition style standards.
In addition to the Course Objectives and knowledge, skills, and abilities provided, additional ideas are the following.
- The role of social media in organizations today and their use by human resources
- The role of employee retention as a strategy to enhance performance and productivity
- The role of total rewards in motivating staff performance
- Employment law issues in the 21st century, especially focusing on the new economy just now developing
- The evolving role of staff performance from bureaucratic performance appraisal to comprehensive performance management
- The role of labor and unions in the 21st century
- Measuring HR through predictive analytics
- Line/HR partnerships
Most of the best-known academic and popular journals will provide acceptable content. Primary among them are some of the following journals and publications.
- People & Strategy(formally human resource planning)
- Harvard Business Review
- Human Resource Management
- Academy of Management Journals(various titles included)
- Journal of Labor Economics
- Human Resource Management Review
- Personnel Psychology
- International Journal of Human Resource Management
- Journal of Management
- Sloan Management Review
- California Management Review
- Administrative Sciences Quarterly
This paper should reflect the collective efforts of the entire course content and the strategic evolution of HRM from a marginalized area of practice to one that assumes a position within management that is reflective of the potential role that effective workforce planning and development can play. Students’ research should defend why their chosen topics matter to senior management and the cost and benefit justifications that are required to defend that position.
Week 2 Due: Proposal of Course Project & Draft of Outline
Week 2: Proposal of Course Project due & Draft of Outline due. (60 points)
Part 1: A one-page proposal of your Course Project is due in Week 2. Include your main topic and any ancillary topics that you will include. Include three to four researched references that show your proposed topic has academic-based articles available. Include any assumptions that you may have concerning your topic as well as possible expected outcomes or conclusions.
Part 2: A one-page draft of your Course Project outline is due this week. At this point, your outline is necessarily high level with the expectation that as you complete additional research, more detailed information may be included on an ongoing basis.
Week 6: Draft of Literature Review
Week 6: Draft of the Literature Review. (70 points)
This is a stand-alone literature review. As such, provide a brief background on your selected topic and its importance. Include the scope of the literature review. The Literature Review reflects the research and information that was discovered in formulating, writing, and completing the Individual Signature Course Project. Relevant literature should be included. Carefully evaluate and select sources of information including those sources in the References section of your paper. As a part of your research and evaluation, select appropriate trends, patterns, conflicts, and contradictions found in the literature. Be sure to address the following questions:
- Were any gaps in the information noted? If so, include this information.
- How did you address such relevant gaps in your Literature Review?
- What new insight was discovered from the review? Why? How can you tell?
A successful Literature Review should demonstrate a student’s deep understanding of the topic but also why and how that topic matters in moving HR to a strategic position in the management of the firm.
The draft of your Literature Review is due in Week 6. The paper length of the draft should be a minimum of 8-10 pages not including the title page and reference page.
Consult with your instructor for any guidance or additional information you may need.
Continue contemplating what to include in your Final Presentation.
