Human Resource Management and the Digital Workplace - Higher Certificate

Assessment

Students are assessed through continuous assessment throughout the semester. Each module has 2 assessments which can be a mixture of written assignments, presentations and role plays.

Autumn Modules

PM4911 Introduction to People Management

Technology and digitalisation have been a driving force of change across industries and organisations. People Management is critical in paving the way for digital transformation and shaping the future of work in organisations. This module introduces students to the role of people management in contemporary organisations, emphasising the transformations that have arisen in people management practices because of digitalisation, sophisticated information systems and new technologies. A core aspect of this module will be to foster the development of a critical understanding of the use of data and technology in people management, including how data is acquired, analysed, and applied in people management decision-making.  The module will examine the theoretical underpinnings of people management and evaluate the role of human resource management professionals and line managers, as decision-makers central to the way in which organisational policies and practices are developed and enacted.

PM4921 Fundamentals of Employment Relations

The purpose of the module is to introduce students to the nature of Employment Relations in Ireland both as an academic subject and a practical activity in the workplace. More specifically, the module aims to introduce students into the key actors, structures and processes of employment relations in the workplace; to understand the role of employers, employees, and employer and employee representatives play in employment relations processes; to introduce students to the importance of policies, processes, and practices in maintaining good employment relations; to identify the various dispute resolution bodies that operate in Ireland.

PM4931 Employee Resourcing Skills and Digitalisation

The use of artificial intelligence, and technology in general, has been increasing in recruitment and selection and students, and it will be necessary that students as people managers, are aware of the technologies and understand their advantages as well as their limitations. Getting the initial stage of the employee lifecycle right is essential. This means hiring the right people for the right roles and onboarding them correctly. If students, as HR practitioners can fully engage in this stage correctly, it is likely to reduce problems at later stages of the cycle such as underperformance and conduct issues. The central objective of this module is to promote the understanding of the initial stage of the employee lifecycle. It further aims to develop fundamental some key skills applicable to this stage, with a focus of increasing knowledge of the role of digitalisation in attracting and selecting employees.

Spring Modules

PM4912 Fundamentals of Organisational Behaviour

This module introduces students to the key concepts in Organisational Behaviour (OB) in order to understand some of the fundamentals of human behaviour.  It explores the complex work organisation from a behavioural perspective by introducing students to the interplay between human behaviour and the work context – it also fosters an awareness amongst students of the impact of digitalisation on the way we behave at work. It explores behaviour using a number of conceptual anchors including a systematic research anchor (OB knowledge should be based on rigorous research); multidisciplinary anchor (module draws from management, IT, psychology and sociology); a multilevel anchor (individual, group and organisational perspectives); a practical orientation anchor (OB theories need to be useful in practice) and a contingency anchor (the importance of context).

PM4922 Fundamentals of Learning and Development

The purpose of the module is to deliver a grounding in the main Human Resource Development theories, concepts, and issues. It is intended as an introduction to theory and practice of Human Resource Development in an organizational context. This module will provide principles of developing people, focusing on individual learning, the importance of creating and maintaining a positive learning/e-learning environment, and the practical knowledge and skills required for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of an activity or session at work. The module also highlights the importance of digital transformation on the HRD function. 

PM4932 Evidence-based HRM and the Digital Workplace

There is increasing recognition amongst the HR professional community of the importance for practitioners to have an evidential understanding of decision outcomes and the existence of a research-practice gap. Evidence based decision making is critical to professional judgement in the context of significant HRM challenges including the effective management of technological change. This module aims to foster an appreciation amongst students of the importance of basing decisions on the best available evidence rather than personal preference, anecdote and unsystematic experience. The module will expose students to the variety of sources of evidence relevant to organisational decision making and broaden their skills in presenting evidence within organisations. Students will develop an evidence-based report on a contemporary HR challenge including one with technological implications.  The module will invite students to reflect on their competence development and comprehension skills during the evidence-based exercise.