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21775 Comparative International Employment Relations

UTS: Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Postgraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject provides a knowledge of the nature and management of employment relations from an international perspective. It introduces, at a conceptual level, the major elements of human resource management (HRM) and the industrial relationship, including key forces, parties and processes. It examines the impact of culture, history and other variables upon the development of employment relations practices and processes, and analyses several national systems of employment relations. The subject also considers the nature and impact of international labour standards and the role of bodies such as the International Labour Organisation, the European Union and ASEAN. It examines the particular employment relations issues and difficulties associated with multinationals, expatriate labour and cross-cultural management.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. describe how national culture and differences in management style impact upon the development and implementation of employment relations policies and practices
  2. explain how industrial and labour relations systems operate in differing national context
  3. communicate current issues relating to the area of international employment relations
  4. identify appropriate employment relations strategies to help accomplish differing organisational objectives in specific industry, national and international context
  5. explain the employment relations issues facing organisations managing across national borders
  6. understand and effectively work with the institutions, processes and regulations associated with international industrial relations including the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Contribution to graduate profile

Students will gain an in-depth understanding of key situational factors, stakeholders, processes and outcomes of employment conditions. They will be able to analysis key situational factors, staffing the workplace, job evaluation, and remuneration. The subject explores approaches employment relations and the procedures for implementing strategic HRM. Students will be able to develop a strategic employment relations plan for an organisation and learn to research and lead discussion concerning the trade union movement.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject material will be presented, discussed and analysed through lectures and seminar style discussion. The subject may also be conducted to include an international study tour.

Content

  • Overview of subject, and introduction to the employment relations function including HRM
  • Introductory themes and models
  • Job analysis
  • Processes for establishing employment conditions
  • Handling grievances
  • Forms of regulation
  • Training and development
  • International standards and organisations
  • Performance appraisal: Evaluation, separation policy
  • National systems
  • Comparative analysis of national systems
  • Evaluation approaches to employment relations.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Presentation (Group)

Objective(s): 1-3, 6
Weighting: 30%
Task: Students are required to form groups of no more than five students and present in class a discussion and analysis of the key features of a particular national system of employment relations identifying how the system impacts upon the employment relations practices of organisations operating in that national system. In analysing the national system, attention should be paid to how this particular system differs from other national systems and how international standards have or have not impacted. Addresses objectives 1-3 and 6.

Assessment item 2: International Strategy Report (Individual)

Objective(s): 2, 4, 6
Weighting: 35%
Task: Students are required to submit individual reports identifying how organisations may successfully deal with national and international standards and laws in the development of their HRM policies and procedures. Reports must specifically address the methods used by organisations to develop their HR strategies in the context of international and national regulatory standards and how organisations can establish good corporate governance models in the context of such standards as well as sometimes conflicting stakeholder requirements. Addresses objectives 2, 4, and 6.

Assessment item 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s): 1-3
Weighting: 35%
Task: The final examination will use short answer questions to test topics covered in the course and will access student's understanding of the implications for ER/HR management of each stage of the employment relationship (eg recruitment through to separation) of the structures and processes evident in specific industry, national and international context as well as the employment relations issues facing organisations managing across national borders. Addresses objectives 1-6.

Required text(s)

Nankervis, A, Chatterjee, S and Coffey, J (eds), 2006, Perspectives of Human Resource Management in the Asia Pacific, Pearson: Sydney

Teicher, J, 2006, Workchoices: New Industrial Relations Agreement, Pearson: Sydney.

Recommended text(s)

Bamber G, Lansbury R and Wailes N, 2004, International and Comparative Industrial Relations: Globalisation and the Development Market Economies, Allen and Unwin, Sydney

Employment Relations Record, Vol 1, No 1, 2001

UTS Faculty of Business, Guide to Writing Assignments, UTS Sydney 1999.

Indicative references

Adler, N & Boyacifiller, N (1996), 'Global Management and the 21st Century', in Punnett, B & Shenkar, O (eds), Handbook for International Management Research, Cambridge, Blackwell Publishers

Bamber, G J, Park, F., Lee, C, Ross, P K and Broadbent, K (2000) Employment Relations in the Asia-Pacific: Changing Approaches, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Bean, R, (1995), Comparative Industrial Relations: An Introduction to Cross-national Perspectives, (2nd Edition), Routledge, London

Beaumont, P (1995), 'The European Union and Developments in Industrial Relations', New Challenges to Irish Industrial Relations, Oak Tree Press, Dublin

Bramble, (1997), 'Globalisation, Unions and the Demise of the Labourist Project', Journal of Australian Political Economy, No 38, pp31-62

Breitenfellner, (1997), 'Global Unionism: A Potential Player', International Labour Review, Volume 136, Number 4, (Winter 1997), pp531-555

Deery, S.J. and Mitchell, R.J. (eds), (1993), Labour Law & Industrial Relations in Asia, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne (CR)

Dowling, P. J., Schuler, R. S. and Welch, D. E. (1994), International Dimensions of Human Resource Management (2nd Edition), Wadsworth, Belmont, California.

Dowling, P J, Welch, D E & Schuler, R S (1999) International Human Resource Management, International Thomson Publishing, Cincinnati, OH.

Fastenau, M and Pullin, L, (eds), (1998) International Employment Relations Review, Volume 4, No 1.

Frenkel, S & Peetz, D, (1998), 'Globalization and Industrial Relations in East Asia: A Three Country Comparison', Industrial Relations, Volume 37, Number 3, July 1998

Han Sung-Joo (ed) (1999) Changing Values in Asia, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

Hickson D. & Pugh D. (1995) Management Worldwide: The Impact of Societal Culture on organisations Around the Globe, Penguin, London. (CR 658)

Hirst & Thompson, (1996), Globalisation in Question, Polity Press, Cambridge

Hollinshead, G. and Leat, M. (1995), Human Resource Management: An International and Comparative Perspective on the Employment Relationship, Pitman Publishing, London.

ILO, World Employment 1996/1997: National Policies in a Global Context, ILO, Geneva, November 1996

ILO, The ILO, Standard Setting and Globalization: Report of the Director-General, International Labour Conference, 85th Session, 1997, ILO, Geneva

ILO, Standard Setting Policy: Ratification and Promotion of Fundamental ILO Conventions, Governing Body Report, Committee on Legal Issues and International Labour Standards, 256th Session, ILO, Geneva, March 1996

ILO, Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations: Report and Observations Concerning Particular Countries, International Labour Conference, 83rd Session, 1996, ILO, Geneva

Keenoy and Kelly, D., (1996), The Employment Relationship in Australia, Harcourt Brace, Sydney.

Kyloh, R, (1996), 'Governance of Globalisation: ILO's Contribution', Working Paper, ACTRAC, International Labour Organisation, Bureau for Workers' Activities, found at www.ilo.org

Maitland, J, (1998), 'Core Labour Standards and Beyond: Reining in the Mulitnationals', conference paper for Globalisation: Restructuring Capital-Labour Relations, Melbourne, 28 June 1998, found at www.cfmeu.asn.au/mining-energy/corelab1.html

Moore, L. And Devereaux Jennings, P. (eds) (1995), Human Resource Management on the Pacific Rim: Institutions, Practices and Attitudes, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin.

Ruysseveldt van, J & Visser, J (eds),(1996), Industrial Relations in Europe: Traditions and Transitions, Sage Publications, London

Shaw, J.B., Kirkbride, P.S., Fisher, C.D. and Tang,S.F.Y. (1995) 'Human Resource practices in Hong Kong and Singapore: The Impact of Political Forces and Imitation Processes' , Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 33, 1, pp 22-39.

Spooner, K. & Wright, S. (Eds) (1997) , Centralism, Enterprise Focus and Individualism: Where is the Balance and What are the Implications? (Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the International Employment Relations Association).

United Nations Association of the United States of America (1999) A global Agenda: Issues Before the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations, 1999-2000 Edition, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc, New York.

Verma, A., Kochan, T. A., & Lansbury, R. D., (1995), Employment Relations in The Growing Asian Economies, Routledge, London

Journals

Australian

  • Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources
  • International Employment Relations Review
  • International Journal of. of Employment Studies
  • Employment Relations Record
  • Labour & Industry

United States

  • Industrial & Labor Relations Review
  • Industrial Relations
  • Journal of Organizational Behavior
  • The Academy of Manage Review

Great Britain

  • British Journal of Industrial Relations
  • Capital and Class
  • European Journal of Industrial Relations
  • Human Relations
  • Human Resource Management Journal
  • Industrial Relations Journal
  • International Journal of Human Resource Management
  • New Technology, Work & Society
  • Organisation Studies

Others

  • Economic and Industrial Democracy (Europe)
  • International Labour Review (ILO)
  • European Industrial Relations Review
  • European Journal of Industrial Relations
  • Transfer (Europe)
  • Relations industrielles (Canada)