HRM 3704
Together We Pass
Study Notes 2018
Written by Dylan Florence
www.togetherwepass.co.za
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.1
,WELCOME
If you are reading these notes you are studying HRM3704 (Contemporary Issues in Human
Resources Management) with UNISA. These notes are aimed at being a guide to assist you in
passing this module, and aim to extract the essence of what you need to pass this module with
ease at your exam.
Please remember to use these notes in conjunction with all our other features. The most important
of which is to work together with the lecturers and your fellow students in the study group.
Teaching is the best way to learn, so make sure you answer other students’ questions as often as
you post your own questions on areas where you’re struggling.
What else do you get to assist you in passing when you join a Together We Pass study group?
• A lecturer/guide to answer questions, facilitate discussions, and ensure you remain on track
and motivated in your studies
• A discussion forum where you can ask for help with difficult questions, from other students
as well as your dedicated lecturer
• The chance to teach others when they are stuck
• Compare and discuss assignments (cheat free)
• Great additional resources, such as past papers and tutorial letters
• Exam revision packs
We at Together We Pass wish everyone the best of luck this semester, and we look forward to working
with you!
Should you want to get in touch with us, please view our contact details below:
Together We Pass
EMAIL
WEB www.togetherwepass.co.za
FB www.facebook.com/togetherwepass
GOOGLE+ Together We Pass on Google+
TWITTER @togetherwepass
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.2
,HRM3704 – Contemporary Issues in Human Resources Management
Contents
STUDY UNIT 1: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT’S ROLE IN THE
EVOLVING PARADIGM .............................................................................................. 9
Human Resource Management ........................................................................................ 9
Evolution of HRM ........................................................................................................... 9
Strategic Human Resource Management Approach ......................................................................... 11
Employer-Employee Relationship .................................................................................................... 11
Approaches to Modern HRM............................................................................................................ 12
STUDY UNIT 2: HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE .............................................................................................................. 13
Competitive Advantage .................................................................................................................... 13
Sources of Competitive Advantage .................................................................................................. 14
Four groups of company resources (Barney) .................................................................................... 14
Four questions to determine a resource’s value ................................................................................ 14
Strategic fit and flexibility ................................................................................................................ 15
How can a company sustain strategic fit whilst enjoying flexibility in acompetitiveenvironment? 15
HR’s role in gaining a competitive advantage .................................................................................. 15
Evaluate HR against measures of sources of competitive advantage ............................................... 16
Resource-based view (RBV)............................................................................................................. 16
Motivation levels .............................................................................................................................. 17
Interest alignment.............................................................................................................................. 17
Resource-based view (RBV) – alliances........................................................................................... 18
Resource-based view (RBV) – resources ......................................................................................... 18
Best Practices Paradigm ............................................................................................................... 19
Universalistic approach.............................................................................................................................................. 20
Configurational approach.................................................................................................................. 20
Process Paradigm .............................................................................................................................. 21
STUDY UNIT 3: HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP ................................ 22
LEADERSHIP ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The ten leadership management roles ............................................................................................... 23
Leadership Theories ....................................................................................................... 25
Trait Theories – What Type of Person Makes a Good Leader? ....................................................... 25
Behavioural Theories – What Does a Good Leader Do? .................................................................. 25
Leadership training and development techniques ............................................................................. 26
Leadership role of human resources ................................................................................................. 27
STUDY UNIT 4: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................... 28
Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) ........................................................................... 28
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.3
, What Does Strategic Human Resource Management Include? ........................................................ 28
Strategies for Organizational Leadership .................................................................................................................. 28
Strategies for Talent Growth ...................................................................................................................................... 28
Strategies for the Promotion of High Performance........................................................................... 29
Planning Strategies............................................................................................................................ 29
Strategic Management ...................................................................................................................... 29
How to design and implement an HR strategy ................................................................................. 29
Models of Strategic Human Resource Management ........................................................................ 31
STUDY UNIT 5: MANAGING FLEXIBLE PATTERNS OF WORK FOR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ................................................................................... 33
Define the concept of flexibility ....................................................................................................... 33
Definition and description of flexibility in the workplace ................................................................ 34
Organization readiness for flex work ............................................................................ 35
Changing dynamics of flexibility .................................................................................. 35
Types of Flexible Work Arrangements ......................................................................... 36
How to Make Flexible Work Arrangements a Success for Your Business: Problems and Solutions
........................................................................................................................................................... 37
Problem #1. Failure to Include Employees in Planning Stage ................................................................................... 37
Problem #2. Failure to identify that Certain Positions/Individuals are not Conducive to Flexible Work
arrangements .............................................................................................................................................................. 37
Problem #3. Informal Policies that Lead to Inconsistencies and Inequities ............................................................... 37
Problem #4. Decrease in Communication .................................................................................................................. 38
Problem #5. Resistance of Management ..................................................................................................................... 38
Problem #6. Failure to Monitor, Assess and Update Flexible Work Arrangements .................................................. 38
Problem #7. Legal Pitfalls .......................................................................................................................................... 38
The Atkinson flexible firm model..................................................................................................... 39
Arguments against the Atkinson Model ........................................................................................... 39
Benefits of Workplace Flexibility..................................................................................................... 40
STUDY UNIT 6: TALENT MANAGEMENT – AN HR CHALLENGE ................... 42
Enhancing Competitive Advantage .................................................................................................. 42
Why Talent Management Is an Important Business Strategy ........................................................... 42
Theories of Talent Management .................................................................................... 43
Human Capital Theory ................................................................................................... 43
Basic Premise of Theory ................................................................................................................... 43
Basic Concepts, Relationships between Concepts and Assumptions ......................................................................... 43
Evaluation of the Theory .................................................................................................................. 43
Applications ...................................................................................................................................... 44
Resource-Based Theory .............................................................................................................................................. 44
Slight Difference Depending on Stated Talent Strategy ............................................................................................. 45
It is just called by a different name. ............................................................................................................................ 45
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.4
Together We Pass
Study Notes 2018
Written by Dylan Florence
www.togetherwepass.co.za
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.1
,WELCOME
If you are reading these notes you are studying HRM3704 (Contemporary Issues in Human
Resources Management) with UNISA. These notes are aimed at being a guide to assist you in
passing this module, and aim to extract the essence of what you need to pass this module with
ease at your exam.
Please remember to use these notes in conjunction with all our other features. The most important
of which is to work together with the lecturers and your fellow students in the study group.
Teaching is the best way to learn, so make sure you answer other students’ questions as often as
you post your own questions on areas where you’re struggling.
What else do you get to assist you in passing when you join a Together We Pass study group?
• A lecturer/guide to answer questions, facilitate discussions, and ensure you remain on track
and motivated in your studies
• A discussion forum where you can ask for help with difficult questions, from other students
as well as your dedicated lecturer
• The chance to teach others when they are stuck
• Compare and discuss assignments (cheat free)
• Great additional resources, such as past papers and tutorial letters
• Exam revision packs
We at Together We Pass wish everyone the best of luck this semester, and we look forward to working
with you!
Should you want to get in touch with us, please view our contact details below:
Together We Pass
WEB www.togetherwepass.co.za
FB www.facebook.com/togetherwepass
GOOGLE+ Together We Pass on Google+
TWITTER @togetherwepass
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.2
,HRM3704 – Contemporary Issues in Human Resources Management
Contents
STUDY UNIT 1: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT’S ROLE IN THE
EVOLVING PARADIGM .............................................................................................. 9
Human Resource Management ........................................................................................ 9
Evolution of HRM ........................................................................................................... 9
Strategic Human Resource Management Approach ......................................................................... 11
Employer-Employee Relationship .................................................................................................... 11
Approaches to Modern HRM............................................................................................................ 12
STUDY UNIT 2: HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE .............................................................................................................. 13
Competitive Advantage .................................................................................................................... 13
Sources of Competitive Advantage .................................................................................................. 14
Four groups of company resources (Barney) .................................................................................... 14
Four questions to determine a resource’s value ................................................................................ 14
Strategic fit and flexibility ................................................................................................................ 15
How can a company sustain strategic fit whilst enjoying flexibility in acompetitiveenvironment? 15
HR’s role in gaining a competitive advantage .................................................................................. 15
Evaluate HR against measures of sources of competitive advantage ............................................... 16
Resource-based view (RBV)............................................................................................................. 16
Motivation levels .............................................................................................................................. 17
Interest alignment.............................................................................................................................. 17
Resource-based view (RBV) – alliances........................................................................................... 18
Resource-based view (RBV) – resources ......................................................................................... 18
Best Practices Paradigm ............................................................................................................... 19
Universalistic approach.............................................................................................................................................. 20
Configurational approach.................................................................................................................. 20
Process Paradigm .............................................................................................................................. 21
STUDY UNIT 3: HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP ................................ 22
LEADERSHIP ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The ten leadership management roles ............................................................................................... 23
Leadership Theories ....................................................................................................... 25
Trait Theories – What Type of Person Makes a Good Leader? ....................................................... 25
Behavioural Theories – What Does a Good Leader Do? .................................................................. 25
Leadership training and development techniques ............................................................................. 26
Leadership role of human resources ................................................................................................. 27
STUDY UNIT 4: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................... 28
Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) ........................................................................... 28
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.3
, What Does Strategic Human Resource Management Include? ........................................................ 28
Strategies for Organizational Leadership .................................................................................................................. 28
Strategies for Talent Growth ...................................................................................................................................... 28
Strategies for the Promotion of High Performance........................................................................... 29
Planning Strategies............................................................................................................................ 29
Strategic Management ...................................................................................................................... 29
How to design and implement an HR strategy ................................................................................. 29
Models of Strategic Human Resource Management ........................................................................ 31
STUDY UNIT 5: MANAGING FLEXIBLE PATTERNS OF WORK FOR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ................................................................................... 33
Define the concept of flexibility ....................................................................................................... 33
Definition and description of flexibility in the workplace ................................................................ 34
Organization readiness for flex work ............................................................................ 35
Changing dynamics of flexibility .................................................................................. 35
Types of Flexible Work Arrangements ......................................................................... 36
How to Make Flexible Work Arrangements a Success for Your Business: Problems and Solutions
........................................................................................................................................................... 37
Problem #1. Failure to Include Employees in Planning Stage ................................................................................... 37
Problem #2. Failure to identify that Certain Positions/Individuals are not Conducive to Flexible Work
arrangements .............................................................................................................................................................. 37
Problem #3. Informal Policies that Lead to Inconsistencies and Inequities ............................................................... 37
Problem #4. Decrease in Communication .................................................................................................................. 38
Problem #5. Resistance of Management ..................................................................................................................... 38
Problem #6. Failure to Monitor, Assess and Update Flexible Work Arrangements .................................................. 38
Problem #7. Legal Pitfalls .......................................................................................................................................... 38
The Atkinson flexible firm model..................................................................................................... 39
Arguments against the Atkinson Model ........................................................................................... 39
Benefits of Workplace Flexibility..................................................................................................... 40
STUDY UNIT 6: TALENT MANAGEMENT – AN HR CHALLENGE ................... 42
Enhancing Competitive Advantage .................................................................................................. 42
Why Talent Management Is an Important Business Strategy ........................................................... 42
Theories of Talent Management .................................................................................... 43
Human Capital Theory ................................................................................................... 43
Basic Premise of Theory ................................................................................................................... 43
Basic Concepts, Relationships between Concepts and Assumptions ......................................................................... 43
Evaluation of the Theory .................................................................................................................. 43
Applications ...................................................................................................................................... 44
Resource-Based Theory .............................................................................................................................................. 44
Slight Difference Depending on Stated Talent Strategy ............................................................................................. 45
It is just called by a different name. ............................................................................................................................ 45
© 2018 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
Pg.4
