STUDY

This module provides an introductory overview for the MSc Strategic People Management (SPM) and MSc Strategic People Management with Extended Practice courses. In addition, it offers practical sessions to identify, understand and develop relevant academic and professional skills needed to excel at UK higher education (HE) level of study and in people profession practice.

This module provides an informed background to understanding the various types of organisational structural models’ businesses operate with emphasis on emergent contemporary types and how innovation and evolving generational nuances is shaping workplace strategies and managerial approaches to achieve sustainable competitive advantages. Insight into how understanding people psychology from a business perspective can lend value to perception about self and other people personalities are formed including individual and group behavioural attitudes will be provided. Understanding these fundamental psychological perspectives will prepare a solid base to enabling you make more meaningful, ethical and sustainable decisions in organisations. Sources of various individual differences such as cultural and generational will be discussed and focus will also be on applying knowledge acquired to differing organisational scenarios and contexts all aimed at being a better people manager while simultaneously implementing plans that effectively aligns with set organisational strategic objectives.

Furthermore, the module will explore the essence of sustaining leadership capabilities and importance of leading effectively in organisations especially in times of change to ensure sustainability of organisational competitive advantages in the 21st century. With the continuous evolution of the marketplace due to varying factors such as technology and innovation; changes in workplace structure and workforce demographics; evolving job dimensions and job designs as well as implications of cross-cultural diversity, leaders in organisations need to be prepared to effectively manage such varying situations to improve organisational performance. The module will focus on the dimensions of people leadership by exploring various leadership models and evaluate the implication of their application to people leadership in organisations. Various leadership traits and skills will be identified; with an exploration of how these factors influence decision making in contemporary businesses including managing diversity and innovation in the workplace and; understand the nature and context of change in organisations.

Study and Employability focused sessions

People are integral assets to achieving set organisational objectives in contemporary businesses. By harnessing diverse people skill sets and expertise, organisations are often able to be better positioned in competing advantageously in their domiciled industries and sectors globally. A key to achieving this positive outcome is to strategically resource and manage the right people with the right skills set to the right job roles at the right time in the organisations through a thorough resourcing campaign staged within its target employment market context and a robust employee retention strategy.

This module will explore the subject of strategically resourcing and managing people as talents within the organisational context, through the complete lifecycle of an employee or worker within the organisation from induction to employment cessation or succession planning where relevant. Exploration of the need to understand specialist labour market skills offering will also be discussed, to include how organisations can flexibly and responsively adapt to changing resourcing needs of their businesses when presented with varied situations, influenced by both internal and external factors such as issues surrounding legislation and ethicality of resourcing decision making.

Additionally, the module will explore the use of people analytics methods and techniques to understand trends, themes and behavioural patterns in available organisational data is increasingly becoming integral to people management professional practice. Data to be analysed could be a combination of products (goods and services), customers, employees and stakeholders data metrics to ensure comprehensive insights of trends and patterns are robust and have relevant components to make informed analysis and decisions such as budgetary activities in organisations. You will develop relevant business acumen through insights generated by use of analytics for data sets to inform decisions and to support cases for investment and resourcing. It will also enable professional confidence building in managing collaborative relationships both internal and external to organisations, that complements other elements of their practice such as in situations of people resourcing, talent management, learning and development and other activities engaged in throughout employee life cycle.

Study and Research Methodology sessions.

The module provides an in-depth exploration of the factors and complexities involved in terms of the strategic management of the employment relationship within the context of a continuously evolving environment, with a particular focus on the ever-changing employment regulatory environment.

This module focuses on different perspectives of employment relations and the cooperation and conflict that varies between workplaces. In addition, you will be encouraged to analyse and critically evaluate the role of the state, along with associated institutions and representative worker and employer bodies that shape both the employment relations and legal environment. The module will help enable critical evaluation of the different perspectives on employment relations and the cooperation and conflict that varies between workplaces, including employer strategies towards trade unions and their associated strategies.

The module will provide you with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to brief organisations on the consequences of current and future developments in employment law, and to give up-to-date, timely and accurate advice concerning the practical application of legal principles at work in different jurisdictions.

The module in identifying that the employee experience is a key component of developing positive employment relationships, will provide a further critical analysis of the concept of employee engagement, including its key components and drivers, encouraging you to critically evaluate the ‘evidential claims’ of a causal relationship with organisational performance. It will also enable you develop and grow their leadership capability in making informed organisational decisions based on knowledge of employee engagement and employment legislation in situations of change in organisations.

Employability Skills focused session.

This module focuses on today’s dynamic organisational landscape, contemporary people management skills are crucial for driving effectiveness and achieving sustained employee engagement, which directly influences sustained employee performance as a key predictor of improved customer relations and satisfaction in these organisations. The shifting demographics of the workforce, coupled with rapid technological advancements, are reshaping traditional workplace practices, making it imperative for businesses to adopt a multifaceted approach to People Management.

By incorporating learning and skills development practices alongside strategic use of technology, organizations can empower their employees and enhance overall performance. This integration not only fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation but also prepares organizations to thrive in a competitive environment. Through a series of practical, team-based activities, this module will provide valuable insights into essential transferable skills, allowing you to cultivate their knowledge and apply it to real life People Management scenarios. You will engage in critical evaluation of case studies to develop actionable solutions that leverage both people management expertise and technological advancements, ensuring that they are well equipped to meet the challenges of modern business environments.

Employability Skills focused session (continued).

The Final Project offers students the opportunity to explore a topic or question relating to strategic people management in detail and to practice and apply skills in obtaining, aggregating, and assessing data in various forms and formats.

Whilst the project places an emphasis on postgraduate-level research skills it is firmly applied in nature and students are expected to demonstrate their awareness of, and sensitivity to, the context in which their research takes place and will be received. Successful students will demonstrate their business acumen and show the importance of using good evidence to support decision-making and options appraisal.

The format and structure of the Final Project is flexible – allowing students from different backgrounds or interests to complete the work in a manner that best suits them. The decision on how to approach the work should be made with the advice of a personal academic coach, the course leader or the module lead. Once you have made a choice of appropriate final project option based on your course route, you will be allocated supervisor who will support you to completion of the project process and submission of your written work. Whilst the core elements remain the same, the options are: Applied Dissertation; Change Management Consultancy Project; Extended HR Placement Project; or School-Based HR Consultancy Report.