MN5421 Managing People in Global Markets

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Module description

The module focuses on the management of human resources in global markets and will help participants understand the problems of managing people in an international/multinational context. One of the most important trends in the development of modern economies is the increased globalisation of business. Notwithstanding its economic and social impact, however, globalisation is having a significant impact on how we manage people, not only in multinational enterprises but in our indigenous companies as, increasingly, we borrow ideas on best practice from overseas. Such efforts at globalisation, whilst generally successful in bringing economic success, have been fraught with problems, which are often the consequence of ethnocentric management teams and their attempts to export US-style best practice human resource management to other countries. Thus, it is critically important for globalising firms to make sensible and contextually-sensitive decisions in key areas of human resource management, which take into account institutional, cultural and psychological differences between parent company institutions, values and practices, those of host countries and those of third country nationals employed to work in global organisations. These decisions usually concern such areas as how people are organised, recruited, selected, deployed, developed, motivated, compensated and how their performance is managed. They also focus on whether or not global organisations employ uniform human resource practices in their various locations throughout the world. Ultimately, effective international human resource management (IHRM) rests on a thorough understanding of the problems of managing people from different backgrounds and this module attempts to explore such problems in-depth and help students apply their understanding to practical managerial situations.

Intended learning outcomes

• Understand the complexities of managing people in global markets and organisations, and the context that shapes international HRM
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of international HRM, the impact of cultural values and 'institutional embeddedness
• Demonstrate an ability to communicate HR issues and policies effectively
• Evaluate and formulate policies relating to the management of workforces in international organisations