1.

Name of Course
International Human Resource Management

2.

Course Code
BBDH3033

3.

Name(s) of academic staff

Choong Hooi Sian

4.

Rationale for the inclusion of the course in the programme

This course enables students to appreciate the importance of human resource management
(HRM) in international commerce and equips them with skills and knowledge to accommodate
a culturally diverse workforce.
Objectives:
1. To equip students with knowledge and skills of HRM in the international environment.
2. To be aware of the cultural factors that significantly affects HRM in a global environment.
3. To adapt and apply principles of domestic HRM to an international organisation.

5.

Semester and Year offered

6.

Total Student Learning Time (SLT)

Total Student Learning Face to Face
Time (SLT)
L=Lecture
T=Tutorial
P=Practical
O=Others

7.

Credit Value
3

8.

Prerequisite (if any)

Nil

9.

Learning outcomes

28

21

25

Total Guided and

Independent
Learning

Total SLT

46

120

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

CLO1. Explain the evolution of international human resource management (IHRM) and
barriers to effective IHRM. (C5, A2, CS)
CLO2. Evaluate the role that culture plays in IHRM. (C6, A3, P2, EM)
CLO3. Criticise the development of various HRM practices in a global organisation. (C6,
A2, P2, CS)

10.

11.

Transferable Skills
Skills and how they are developed and assessed, project and practical experience and
Internship
Transferable Skills
Effective written and
oral communication

How they are developed

Developed through tutorials
and coursework.

Ethics and moral

professionalism

Developed through lectures,

tutorials and coursework.

Managerial and
entrepreneurship

Developed through lectures,

tutorials, coursework and case
studies.

Assessment
Assessed through written
coursework, presentation
and examination.
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination.
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination.

Teaching-learning and assessment strategy

Teaching-learning strategy
Lectures, tutorials, group discussions, individual/group presentation, case study, independent
research, independent reading, etc.
Assessment strategy
Coursework and Examination

12.

Synopsis
The study of International Human Resource Management encompasses the internationalisation
process of business and the relevant HRM practices for multinational enterprises. This course
will also enable students to appreciate the importance of understanding various cultural theory,
expatriate management issues and the risks and uncertainty involved in globalisation.

13.

Mode of Delivery
Lecture and Tutorial

14.

Assessment Methods and Types

Coursework (40%)
Mid-term test
Assignment
Examination (60%)

15.

Mapping of the course to the Programme Education Objectives

Course
Learning
Outcomes
CLO1
CLO2
CLO3

Programme Education Objectives

PO1

PO2

PO3

PO4

16.

Mapping of the course to the Programme Learning Outcomes

Course Learning
Outcomes
CLO1
CLO2
CLO3

17.

PLO1

PLO2

Programme Learning Outcomes

PLO3 PLO4 PLO5 PLO6 PLO7

PLO8

PLO9

Content outline of the course and the SLT per topic

Student Learning Time (SLT)
Week

Topic
Introduction
Evolution of international business
Domestic and International HRM
functions
Barriers to effective international
HRM
The Organisational Context
Six stages of internationalisation

Structural requirements and HR

functions
Control mechanism

Management demands of
internationalisation
Expatriates Management
Introduction, definition, purposes
Types of expatriates
Desirable characteristics

Roles of expatriates

Selection criteria
Repatriation & Career Issues
The process of re-entry
Job-related issues
Social factors
Designing repatriation
programmes
Multinational responses

Total Guided and

Independent
Learning

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

Managing Organizational Cultures

And Diversity
Cultural dimensions
Hofstedes attitudinal dimensions
of culture
Trompenaars cultural dimensions
The strategy for managing across
cultures
Managing Organizational Cultures
And Diversity
Globalisation vs national
responsiveness matrix
Cross cultural differences and
similarities
Cultural differences across
countries
Organization cultures in MNCs
Managing multiculturism and
diversity
Leadership in international context
Staffing International Operations

Staffing approaches

Reasons for using international

assignments
Types of international assignments
Roles of expatriates and nonexpatriates
Return on investment and roles of
corporate HR
Recruiting and Selecting Staff for
International Assignments

Myths of global managers

Profile of expatriates

Definitions

Factors moderating
performance

Dual career issues

Female expatriates
International Compensation
Objectives of international
compensation; MNEs and
expatriates
Key components
Approaches; going rate and
balance sheet

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

10

11

12

13

14

Training and Development in the

International Environment
Roles of expatriates training
Components of effective training
Developing staff through
international assignments
Organization development in the
international environment
International Performance
management
Introduction and definitions
Multinational performance
management
Performance management of
international employees
Appraisal
International Industrial Relations
Introduction
Factors underlying historical
differences in IR
Key issues in international IR

Trade union and IR

Responses of TU to MNCs
International HRM in HostCountry Context
Standardisation and localization of
HRM practices
Factors driving standardisation
Factors driving localisation
Monitoring IHRM practices in
host-country
Managing HR in offshoring
countries
International HRM Trends
International business ethics and
HRM

Mode of operation and IHRM

Ownership issues relating to HRM
requirements
Safety and security issues

Assessment:
Coursework
Examination
Total
Total
Total SLT
Subject Credit

1.5

1,5

1.5

1.5

1.5

28

21

10
15
25
25

2
2
4
46
120
3

18.

Main references supporting the course

1. Dowling, PJ, Marion, F & Allen, DE 2008, International human resource management, 5th
edn, Thomson.
Additional references supporting the course
1. Jackson, T 2002, International HRM, A Cross-Cultural Approach. SAGE Publishers.
2. Edwards, T & Rees, C 2011, International HRM, globalisation, national systems and
multinational companies, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall.
3. Mello, JA 2011, Strategic human resource management, 3rd edn, Thomson.

19.

Other additional information

Nil