Technology Improvement

International Human Resource Management

Institute of International Business

National Cheng Kung University

Spring, 2010

Instructor: Hsi-An Shih

Office: R61407

Phone: 275-7575 # 53520

E-mail: hashih@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Office Hour: by appointment

Course Objectives and Description:

In a global marketplace, the success and indeed the survival of an organization depends on how well it manages its workforces. The global organization must effectively manage the home country, the host country and often, the third country nationals in a variety of employment settings. Decisions about the proportions of each type of employees to use, how to recruit, and manage these employees and the nature and the extent of customization are critical issues facing firms today.

This course attempts to shed light on the factors to be considered in making these international human resource management decisions. We will examine various theoretical frameworks of cultural differences to understand employee motivations across the world. The primary emphasis, however, is on developing a practical tool kit of models and techniques that you can apply to problems in IHRM.

The objective of this course is to provide you with an appreciation of the general themes and concerns in IHRM today. Hopefully, this background will help you

1. better understand the implications of global assignments which you may undertake to build your career portfolios.

2. make better decisions about managing an international workforces.

Textbook:

Dowling, P. J., Festing, M., & Engle, SR. A. D., 2008, International Human Resource Management, South-Western College Publishing.

Grading

Class Participation 35%, Written Exam: 30%, Term Paper and Presentation 35%

Weekly Course Overview

Week 1: The Introduction of International Human Resource Management

Week 2: Overview of International Human Resource Management (1)

Textbook: Dowling et al., ch.1.

Roberts, K., Kossek, E. E. and Ozeki, C. 1998. Managing the global workforce: challenges and strategies, Academy of Management Executive, 12(4): 93-106.

Week 3: Overview of International Human Resource Management (2)

Dickmann, M. and Harris, H. 2005. Developing career capital for global careers: The role of international assignments, Journal of World Business, 40, 399-408.

IVEY Case: Toivonen Paper in the U.S.: Human Resource Implications of Foreign Corporate Ownership

Week 4: Cross Culture Communication

IVEY Case: Intel in China

Week 5: Staffing and Selection (1)

Case: Quality compliance at the Hawthorn Arms

Textbook: Dowling et al., ch.5

Black, J. S. & Gregersen, H. B., 1999. The right way to manage expatriates, Harvard Business Review, March-April, 3-8.

Week 6: Staffing and Selection (2)

IVEY Case: Ellen Moore (A)

Week 7: Mid-term Examination (optional) and Term Paper proposal Presentation

Week 8: Training and Development (1)

Textbook: Dowling et al., ch.6

Case: Spanning the globe

Week 9: Training and Development (2)

IVEY Case: Bristol Compressors

Week 10: Performance Management (1)

Textbook: Dowling et al., ch.11

Tahvanainen, M. 2000. Expatriate Performance Management: The Case of Nokia Telecommunications. Human Resource Management, 39 (Summer-Fall), 267-275.

Week 11: Performance Management (2)

IVEY Case: Black & Decker-Eastern Hemisphere and the ADP Initiative.

Week 12: Compensation

Textbook: Dowling et al., ch.7

Case: Wolfgang's balancing act

Week 13: Repatriation

Dowling et al., ch.8

Case: Jaguar or bluebird? (A)

Bossard, A. B. and Peterson, R. B. 2005. The repatriate experience as seen by American expatriates, Journal of World Business, 40, 9-28.

Week 14: Term Paper Presentation (1)

Week 15: Term Paper Presentation (2)

Week 16: Final Written Examination

Description of the class:

I arrange this class by the important topics of IHRM. Our learning activities of each topic will cover one or two weeks. Each topic will deliver through lecture, article and case presentation and discussion. During the article and case discussion, the assigned group will present the content of the case in 30 to 45 minutes first. After that, we will discuss the assigned and your questions.

Please submit your one group-based question for each article to class coordinator no later than every Friday 12 pm. I'll pick up some of them for our class discussion.

Concerning about the term paper, I hope that report can be written in the type of case of IHRM issues. Please contact with your interesting company and make interview(s) with them to find out

1. What are their IHRM practices?