Essay title:
A critical evaluation of the models, concepts, and contemporary practices of Human
Resource Management and why they are essential for 21st century tourism organisations.
Resource Management and why they are essential for 21st century tourism organisations.
The essay must:
1. Explore the HRM function in organisations and the different approaches to understanding HRM.
2. Examine how a Human Resources (HR) department can manage employee resourcing (employee
recruitment and selection processes and the practical application of these practices).
recruitment and selection processes and the practical application of these practices).
3. Review employee development strategies and the overall impact of HRM on organisational
performance.
performance.
4. Include examples of industry practice from different organisations.
Description of the task:
The guidance below sets out the requirements of the task and a suggested structure for the essay. This
essay requires you to include all the following:
essay requires you to include all the following:
Introduction (300 words)
A suggested format would be to create an introduction which defines HRM,
include a brief discussion of its history and outline the aim of the essay, which briefly describes what you
will cover in the essay.
include a brief discussion of its history and outline the aim of the essay, which briefly describes what you
will cover in the essay.
First section (400 words)
should critically discuss HRM functions in organisations. What are the
functions of HRM in organisations? What role do HR practitioners play in organisations? How is HR role
evolving in contemporary organisations? In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to
apply relevant concepts and practical examples from tourism industry to support the discussion.
functions of HRM in organisations? What role do HR practitioners play in organisations? How is HR role
evolving in contemporary organisations? In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to
apply relevant concepts and practical examples from tourism industry to support the discussion.
Second section (400 words)
Should critically analyse the link between HRM and businesses
performance. Critically analyse the link between HRM functions and businesses/organisations
performance in the 21st century. In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to apply
relevant concepts and practical examples from the tourism industry to support the discussion.
performance. Critically analyse the link between HRM functions and businesses/organisations
performance in the 21st century. In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to apply
relevant concepts and practical examples from the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Third section (400 words)
Should critically explain the different approaches to understanding HRM.
Explain the various models, theories, approaches, and frameworks of HRM. Here you are expected to
explain models/approaches such as Harvard and Michigan Model, Soft and Hard Approaches, Best
Practice and Best Fit Approaches, Strategic Human Resources Management, etc. In addition to research
evidence, students are also expected to apply relevant models and concepts as well as practical examples
from the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Explain the various models, theories, approaches, and frameworks of HRM. Here you are expected to
explain models/approaches such as Harvard and Michigan Model, Soft and Hard Approaches, Best
Practice and Best Fit Approaches, Strategic Human Resources Management, etc. In addition to research
evidence, students are also expected to apply relevant models and concepts as well as practical examples
from the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Fourth section (400 words)
Should critically describe how HRM function can manage employee
recruitment. To provide the discussion, you should: Define recruitment, describe the recruitment process,
discuss different types of recruitment methods, and their advantages and disadvantages. In addition to
research evidence and statistical data, students are also expected to apply relevant examples from within
the tourism industry to support the discussion.
recruitment. To provide the discussion, you should: Define recruitment, describe the recruitment process,
discuss different types of recruitment methods, and their advantages and disadvantages. In addition to
research evidence and statistical data, students are also expected to apply relevant examples from within
the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Fifth section (500 words)
Should critically explain how HRM function can manage employee
selection and induction. To provide the discussion, you should: Define selection in employee resourcing,
explain the selection process, discuss different types of selection methods, explain staff induction and why
it is important. In addition to research evidence and statistical data, students are also expected to apply
relevant examples from within the tourism industry to support the discussion.
selection and induction. To provide the discussion, you should: Define selection in employee resourcing,
explain the selection process, discuss different types of selection methods, explain staff induction and why
it is important. In addition to research evidence and statistical data, students are also expected to apply
relevant examples from within the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Sixth section (400 words)
Should critically discuss (any three of the HRM practices) human
resource planning, performance management, talent management, career management and
employee engagement. To provide the discussion, you should: Explain the concept of human resource
planning and its importance, explain the concept of performance management and its components, explain
the concept of talent management and its different approaches (the focus here should be inclusive and
exclusive approaches to talent management), describe career management and its importance to
organisation performance, explain employee engagement and the characteristics of an engaged employee.
In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to briefly apply relevant examples from within
the tourism industry to support the discussion.
resource planning, performance management, talent management, career management and
employee engagement. To provide the discussion, you should: Explain the concept of human resource
planning and its importance, explain the concept of performance management and its components, explain
the concept of talent management and its different approaches (the focus here should be inclusive and
exclusive approaches to talent management), describe career management and its importance to
organisation performance, explain employee engagement and the characteristics of an engaged employee.
In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to briefly apply relevant examples from within
the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Seventh section (500 words)
Should critically evaluate the concept of learning, e-learning,
knowledge management, staff retention and their importance to organisational performance. To
provide the discussion, you should: Define learning and briefly evaluate different types of learning, define
e-learning and its advantages and disadvantages, examine knowledge management and its benefits, and
discuss staff retention and the various approaches to retaining staff. In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to briefly apply relevant examples from within the tourism industry to support
the evaluation.
knowledge management, staff retention and their importance to organisational performance. To
provide the discussion, you should: Define learning and briefly evaluate different types of learning, define
e-learning and its advantages and disadvantages, examine knowledge management and its benefits, and
discuss staff retention and the various approaches to retaining staff. In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to briefly apply relevant examples from within the tourism industry to support
the evaluation.
Eight section (400 words)
Should critically explore employee relations, employment relationship,
basic principles of employment law, employee rights at work and why they should be appropriately
managed by organisations. In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to apply relevant
concepts and examples from within the tourism industry to support the discussion.
basic principles of employment law, employee rights at work and why they should be appropriately
managed by organisations. In addition to research evidence, students are also expected to apply relevant
concepts and examples from within the tourism industry to support the discussion.
Conclusion (300 words)
Summarise your findings, reiterating the key points and arguments for the
importance of HRM for organisational performance in the 21st century.
importance of HRM for organisational performance in the 21st century.
Note: In addition to research evidence and statistical data, students are also expected to apply relevant
theories, concepts and contemporary practice of Human Resource Management in all sections of the
essay. You must cite and reference all information used in the essay, using the Harvard Referencing Guide.
theories, concepts and contemporary practice of Human Resource Management in all sections of the
essay. You must cite and reference all information used in the essay, using the Harvard Referencing Guide.
Indicative resources:
Recommended texts
Core:
Wilton, N. (2022) An introduction to human resource management, 5th ed. London: SAGE
Publications.
Bratton, J. and Gold, J. (2017) Human Resource Management – Theory & Practice. 6th ed.
Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Recommended:
Beardwell, J. and Claydon, T. (2017) Human Resource Management – A Contemporary
Approach. 8th ed. Harlow: Pearson
Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., (2020). Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management
practice. London: Kogan Page Publishers.
Burke, R.J., (2018). Human resource management in the hospitality and tourism sector. Handbook
of human resource management in the tourism and hospitality industries, pp.3-39.
Academic journals, articles and other resources
CIPD (2023) Recruitment: An Introduction [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/factsheets/recruitment-factsheet/ Accessed date: 13/02/2024)
CIPD (2022) A Guide to Inclusive Recruitment for Employer [online]. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/guides/inclusive-employers/#what-is-equality-diversity-andinclusion-
edi Accessed date: 13/02/2024)
CIPD (2023) Selection Methods [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/selection-factsheet/ Accessed date: 14/02/2024)
CIPD (2023) Employee relations: An introduction [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/relations-employees-factsheet/ Accessed date:
15/02/2024)
Core:
Wilton, N. (2022) An introduction to human resource management, 5th ed. London: SAGE
Publications.
Bratton, J. and Gold, J. (2017) Human Resource Management – Theory & Practice. 6th ed.
Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Recommended:
Beardwell, J. and Claydon, T. (2017) Human Resource Management – A Contemporary
Approach. 8th ed. Harlow: Pearson
Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., (2020). Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management
practice. London: Kogan Page Publishers.
Burke, R.J., (2018). Human resource management in the hospitality and tourism sector. Handbook
of human resource management in the tourism and hospitality industries, pp.3-39.
Academic journals, articles and other resources
CIPD (2023) Recruitment: An Introduction [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/factsheets/recruitment-factsheet/ Accessed date: 13/02/2024)
CIPD (2022) A Guide to Inclusive Recruitment for Employer [online]. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/guides/inclusive-employers/#what-is-equality-diversity-andinclusion-
edi Accessed date: 13/02/2024)
CIPD (2023) Selection Methods [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/selection-factsheet/ Accessed date: 14/02/2024)
CIPD (2023) Employee relations: An introduction [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at:
https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/relations-employees-factsheet/ Accessed date:
15/02/2024)
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