Module Code - Title:
PM6412
-
THE TRANSFORMATION OF WORK IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module provides an arena for the analysis of the theory and practice of how work and employment is being transformed in a global context. The need to understand how work and employment is changing in an increasingly globalised environment is of fundamental importance to society, to organisations, managers, workers, as well as other labour market agents. The module allows students to study issues which shape the transformation of work from global perspectives. It further equips students with the analytical tools to examine and explain forces shaping employment systems within and across different national contexts, including debates about the sustainability of people management practices across international borders.
Syllabus:
The module will cover both theory and thematic analysis, and global country comparisons. Indicative syllabi include: both the historical and contemporary evolution of national and international business systems; regime theories of employment regulation; how global forces and human resource management practice(s) transform the nature of work (e.g. pay and rewards, working time, technology, inclusion and diversity, employee voice, trade union representation, multinational corporate power and influence, global labour standards). Country comparisons will include, for example, those in Ireland/UK, Germany, France, Scandinavia, and the United States of America.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 1. Appraise the main features that distinguish national work and employment systems
2. Explain and evaluate the nature of work and employment strategies arising from MNC types, their embeddedness in distinct national business environments, and styles of HRM.
3. Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills by putting forward and defending ideas and opinions on work and employment in a national and global context
4. Critique the various perspectives exploring the transformation of employment relations systems.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
5. Gain insight into roles within this field of study and potential future relationships that may impact positively on the world of work, team contributions, and society at large.
6. Describe the complexity and multiple dimensions of work and employment and challenge assumptions about the role of HRM in the contemporary MNC and international business contexts
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module adopts both a thematic and applied comparative dimension to global issues transforming the world of work and related contexts. It integrates a number or different learning approaches / styles and pedagogical applications. For example, each week the class is divided into separate learning and pedagogical elements. A lecture is a summary overview of key points of learning, arguments and concepts relating to a thematic topic and/or country system. A class discussion is built into the module design to allow students to ask questions and debate concepts, as a class. The discussion element supports 'formative assessment' on a weekly basis collectively on the learning materials covered the previous week. In addition, presentations allow students to develop formal ideas and arguments for 'summative assessment'. Students are encouraged in class to ask questions, disagree with points of debate, and raise ideas and counter arguments to concepts and practices.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Martinez Lucio, M. and MacKenzie, R (2022)
International HRM: The Transformation of Work in a Global Context.
, Sage
Frege, C. and Kelly, J. (2020)
Comparative Employment Relations in the Global Economy
, Routeledge
Other Relevant Texts:
Bamber, G., Cooke, F.L., Doellgast, V. and Wright, C.F. (2021)
International and Comparative Employment Relations. Global Crises and institutional responses
, Sage
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
MSHRMATPA - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
MSHRMATFA - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
MSHURMTFA - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
jonathan.lavelle@ul.ie