Syllabus - Summer 2009
GPPS 5361 - Strategic Staffing and Talent Management

Excluding textbooks, the information on this syllabus is subject to change.  For the most
up-to-date syllabus, check this site on the first day of classes. 

This is a three-credit graduate level course and is an elective course offering in the Human Resource Management field of study of the online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree. The MPS degree is offered through the University of Connecticut 's Center for Continuing Studies

The developer of this course is Dr. Peter Diplock.

Course Title: Strategic Staffing and Talent Management (GPPS 5361)

Credits: 3

Instructor: Dr. Patricia Ippoliti

Email: Patricia.Ippoliti@uconn.edu

For special permission to register for this course, contact Donna.Campbell@uconn.edu. Include your Peoplesoft ID number and reason for taking the course.

This course presents the theoretical frameworks and practical tactics for the acquisition, deployment, and retention of the talent necessary to achieve the strategic and tactical objectives of the business. Topics will include strategic staffing, human resource planning, recruitment, assessment, selection decision-making strategies, and succession planning and retention strategies. The importance of linking staffing and talent management to business strategies, objectives, and competitive challenges will be emphasized .

By the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

• Describe the relationship between organizational strategy, HR strategy, and Staffing strategy .
• Explain the Staffing support activities and action steps necessary to implement a variety of Staffing strategies.
• Design recruitment strategies consistent with goals outlined in HR and Staffing strategies .
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of various selection and assessment methods.
• Describe the key processes involved in formulation of staffing decisions related to ‘fit' and ‘match' outcomes .
• Synthesize processes and decisions involving staffing system management (administration, evaluation, legal) and retention management (turnover).

 

This is a reading intensive course, and you are expected to engage with the learning material outlined in a timely, thorough, and thoughtful manner. You are encouraged to reflect on your own work experiences as you read material for this course, and many of the assignments will require that you provide evidence of understanding through your ability to contextualize key points (i.e. to 'apply' concepts to different settings and situations ).

Summary of Course Grading

Course Components	Points	Percentage
Module Discussions	200	20%
Quizzes	100	10%
Contemporary Connections	100	10%
Case Analysis	600	60%
TOTAL	1000	100%

Module Discussions (20%)

Each of the six modules contains a learning activity (or activities) where you will be asked to apply your knowledge related to the topic covered. These activities are varied in format. A significant portion of your grade is based on the quality and thoroughness of your required module discussion postings. Your responses to specified questions, at the conclusion of each module, are meant to provide evidence that you understand key concepts from the readings. Much of your learning in the course will come from your discussion postings and reading and responding to the postings of other students. Within the course, each activity explains your expected role and outlines the grading criteria. The deadline for completing each activity is listed in HuskyCT's Calendar tool .

Quizzes (10%)

At the conclusion of each of the six modules, you will have an opportunity to assess your understanding of key concepts, models, theories, and applications by taking a quiz with multiple choice and true/false format questions.

Contemporary Connections (10%)

Because of the accelerated format of this course (6 weeks) it is often difficult and challenging to manage the transitions and intersections between modules. As you will see there will be many opportunities throughout the course where an insight generated from module 2 is applicable to a conversation in module 4, or a question generated in module 5 that has implications for a discussion that took place weeks ago in module 1. The contemporary connections discussion area is specifically intended to encourage students to make these cross-module connections and observations, and provide everyone with an opportunity to bring contemporary issues to bear on the course in a timely fashion even if they aren't aligned perfectly with dates and boundaries of each module. Your instructor will provide more details regarding how they plan to use the contemporary connections section of the course once the course begins.  

Case Analysis (60%)  

Throughout the course we will be utilizing the ‘Tanglewood Case' as a means to apply theories and concepts to a specific work context. We will use this case throughout the course with applications in each module to illustrate the ongoing link and need for alignment between ‘Business' strategy, ‘HR' strategy, and ultimately our focus in this particular class---‘Staffing' strategy. Specific case based questions are identified in the assignment drop box for each module.  

Final Course Grade
The final course grading scale is as follows:

Grade	Letter Grade	GPA
97-100	A+	4.3
93-96	A	4.0
90-92	A-	3.7
87-89	B+	3.3
83-86	B	3.0
80-82	B-	2.7
77-79	C+	2.3
73-76	C	2.0
70-72	C-	1.7
67-69	D+	1.3
63-66	D	1.0
60-62	D-	0.7
<60	F	0.0

You are responsible for acting in accordance with the Student Code, available at http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code.cfm?from=im&fn=Judicial%20Affairs.

Course Communication and Etiquette

At all times, course communication with fellow students and the instructor are to be professional and courteous. If you are new to online learning, you may want to look at this guide titled, The Core Rules of Netiquette.

It is expected that you proof read all your written communication in the course, including discussion posts, assignment submissions, and mail messages. Incorrect spelling and grammar will be penalized when course work is graded.

Course Due Dates

The Calendar tool in HuskyCT lists the course's important due dates and details the course schedule. All course deadlines are based on Eastern Time; if you are in a different time zone, adjust your submittal times accordingly.

Instructor Availability

I will check into the course frequently, once a day at the beginning of the course and on average once every two days after that. If I expect to be away due to illness, travel or family obligations, I will make every attempt to notify you in advance. If you need to discuss an issue with me individually, please use the Mail tool within HuskyCT.

Feedback and Grades

I will make every effort to provide feedback and grades in a timely manner. To keep track of your performance in the course, use the MyGrades tool. In addition, the Assignments and Assessments tools have their own grading feedback mechanisms.

Students with Disabilities

Students needing special accommodations should work with the University's Center for Students with Disabilities . You may contact the Center by calling (860) 486-2020 or by emailing csd@uconn.edu . If your request for accommodation is approved, an accommodation letter will be provided. Please present your official letter to the instructor as soon as possible so special arrangements, as appropriate, can be made. (Note: Student requests for accommodation must be filed each semester.)

The University of Connecticut's online course management system, HuskyCT, is a product of Blackboard, Inc. "Blackboard measures and evaluates accessibility levels using two sets of standards; Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act issued from the United States federal government and the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) issued by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)." (Retrieved December 1, 2008 from http://www.blackboard.com/company/accessibility.aspx)

This course text may be purchased locally or through an online bookstore.
Required Course Text :

Henneman, H.G., & Judge, T.A. 2009. Staffing Organizations (6 th Edition). McGraw-Hill Irwin

All other required course readings are available via the Internet or linked within HuskyCT.

• Word processing software
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

Your Internet browser and browser settings need to be HuskyCT compatible. See Settings.

Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University's standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research.