Critical explanation of the nature and importance of human resource management in organisations: definition; features of HRM approach; HRM models: D Guest, M Patterson, best practice model, contingency model, Harvard Framework; personnel management and HRM; activities of HRM.

Assessing the role and purposes: Strategy: HRM strategy; organisational strategy; HRM strategy benefits for organisations; interrelationships between HRM and organisational strategies; organisational performance and HRM strategy; HRM strategy influence on organisational strategy; organisational strategy influence on HRM strategy; value creation; human capital management; HRM strategy business focus; effective HRM.

Evaluating contributions of human resource management: evaluation of human resource management contribution e.g. characteristics, importance, techniques; the changing patterns of effective human resource management; the effect of globalisation; the use of IT.

Explaining the purpose of human resource policy: policy purposes; selection and recruitment; diversity and equality; development and training; expenses and benefits; discipline; performance improvement; rewards; pay; health and safety; discipline; information confidentiality; working time; paternity or maternity leave; harassment or bullying; management of change; grievance and dismissal; intellectual property: copyrights, patents; protected disclosure/whistle blowing; alcohol, drugs or smoking.
Analysing the impact of regulatory and legal requirements on human resource policies in an organisation: legislation of employment; rights and responsibilities of employment; payment related regulatory and legal rights; data protection, conditions and contract terms.

Analysing the impact of ethical requirements on human resource policies in an organisation: ethics in human resource management e.g. discrimination, harassment, racism, gender preference, nepotism, favouritism; employee satisfaction; compliance and grievance.

Analysing the impact of an organisational strategy, structure and culture on the management of human resources: culture and structure; culture led theoretical models: Schein, Hofstede, Handy; culture of organisation; interrelationships between HRM activities and culture.

Determining human resource requirements: personnel prerequisites identification: experiences, skills, qualifications, numbers; personnel matching to organisational prerequisites; basic prerequisite factors: skills, demand and supply of labour, workforce; external factors: policies of governments, education, employment, regional or industrial training; competitions in labour market.

Critically monitor effectiveness of human resources management and provide recommendations: importance of monitoring effective human resource management; policies, strategies, operations; HRM contributions; benefits; costs; use of resources; effectiveness; ineffectiveness; information collection on HRM performance; performance indicator development; evaluation of HRM performance indicators; quantitative measurement: person output, productivity, retention of employee, turnover of staff, cost saving; qualitative measurement: stakeholder perspectives, employee attitude surveys, HRM performance benchmarking, service level standards and agreements of HRM; costs and benefits utility analysis; HRM improvement proposals and activities.