Individual Course Project Overview
The project will provide an in-depth look at how a major multinational company operates overseas in two separate countries. The country comparison project includes an 8 to 12-page paper to compare and contrast laws and regulations, mandated compliance issues, demographics, culture, currency, economic and political stability, language, labor relations (unions), HRM policies and practices, HR trends, the likely effects, and the characteristics of the HR department or function of two separate countries. Please select any two countries (within the seven regions listed below) to compare and contrast.
Provide as much insight into, and explanation of, the differences or similarities as possible. Use your understanding of the impact of the contextual factors (see below) on the HR policies and practices to estimate what a country’s HR policies and practices are likely to be, just in case you can’t find specific information on them. Make predictions about future trends toward possible convergence of HR policies and practices. Integrate research from online sources to support your ideas and conclusions.
For each country, select a target city to use in your analysis. The following is a list of the seven regions that you can select from:
1. Middle East (i.e., cities in Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia) 2. Asia I (i.e., cities in India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia) 3. Asia II (i.e., cities in Japan, Korea, China) 4. West Europe (i.e., cities in France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom) 5. East Europe (i.e., cities in Poland, Bulgaria, Russia) 6. Africa (i.e., cities in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa) 7. Central and South America (i.e., cities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba)
You have been asked to compare and contrast two city locations within a given geographic region. You will develop a paper regarding the pros and cons of each location from the HR perspective. That is, doing a comparative HR analysis for each city. Ultimately, you will want to put forth its recommendations for a recommended city within the region.
The Comparative Analysis Finally, after you have selected the countries and cities, you will use the following scenario as a point of reference to do your comparative HR analysis strategic plan.
Your company is looking for a location for a new production facility in your geographic region. This production facility will hire many local workers for all aspects of the facility (e.g., production, supervision, quality, shipping, and other line functions). There may be a few (but not too many) traditional expatriates in accordance with the country’s established regulations. Fill in some details about your hypothetical organization to make the presentation more interesting and more relevant.
Prepare a report comparing and contrasting the cities you have selected from the region. The focus of the report is how the management of your human talent will affect the ability to be successful in that region. You will need to discuss a variety of issues in order to conduct a thorough analysis. The following is a list of the possible issues. These are only suggestions. You probably will not be able to cover everything. It is your prerogative to present the issues you believe are most relevant for the given region. Basically, give a well justified decision regarding the location you have selected from an HR perspective.
Suggested Details Here are some details that you can include in your research paper:
Analysis of need/availability of talent (local, third country nationals) Legal obligations and concerns affecting HR and labor relations Mandated regulatory compliance of the country Flexibility of the wage bill (ability to adjust hours and ability to adjust headcount) Labor and management relations challenges that impact the decision-making
process of global leaders Employee Relations Staffing and Selection Compensation and Benefit Programs Affirmative Action (if applicable to the country) Competence of workforce (education/training) Turnover rates Medical and health systems Cultural dimensions. How do they affect the practice of HR? How will they affect the
functioning of the location? The way the organizations are structured in the country Political and economic stability, currency exchange issues Quality and performance standards to create the best place to work for Mechanisms to attract, recruit and select, and retain qualified talent Value, empower, motivate, and reward employees Generating a cohesive culture when leading the organization’s vision and mission Nepotism Ethical concerns regarding hiring, child labor, bribery, etc. Salary levels expected by host nationals Availability of housing, schools, benefits, etc. for expatriates Other compensation and benefit concerns Language Religion and level of orthodoxy Other norms of the business community (e.g., greetings, meetings, negotiation) Women in business Group norms (e.g., individualism/collectivism) Level of formality (i.e., deference, hierarchy) Value of time and time consciousness
Each paper should be neatly typed, should use appropriate graphics, and should be approximately 8-12 pages in length, not counting title page, reference page(s) or appendices.
In addition, each paper should be neatly typed, free of grammatical and spelling errors, doubled-space, 12-point font Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, and adheres to current APA guidelines.
Papers will be graded according to the rigor of the questions asked, the research and information provided, how well the questions are answered in the research, and the depth and breadth of their research scope.
Generally speaking, papers that are merely informational are not sufficiently rigorous to show academic understanding and strength. A paper that develops the strategic link between international human resources and global business strategy and follows the business strategy through to the human resources strategy and the specific issues and tactics.
Course Project Deliverables
This assignment has two components: a proposal and an outline. Submit the outline and proposal as one document as a total of two pages, not including the title and reference page(s).
Proposal and Outline DUE 3/13
Proposal
The one-page proposal must include your main topic, any ancillary topics, three to four researched references (peer-reviewed) that show your proposed topic has academic- based articles available, and any assumptions that you may have concerning your topic as well as possible expected outcomes or conclusions.
Outline
The one-page outline draft should be high level with the expectation that as you complete additional research, more detailed information may be included on an ongoing basis.
Submit the outline and proposal as one document as a total of two (2) pages not including the title and reference page(s).
Criteria and Description
Title Page Title Page is per APA 7th edition guidelines
Proposal
A one-page proposal. Include your main topic and any ancillary topics that you will include. Include three to four researched references that show your proposed topic has academic-based articles available. Include any assumptions that you may have concerning your topic as well as possible expected outcomes or conclusions.
Outline
A one-page draft. At this point, your outline is necessarily high level with the expectation that as you complete additional research, more detailed information may be included on an ongoing basis.
Reference Page
Must have at least three references and properly formatted per APA 7th edition.
Documentation, APA Formatting, and Editing
The paper has been spelled-checked for accuracy. Properly referenced, formatted according to current APA,Style and free of grammatical errors.
Course Project Draft Paper DUE 3/27
This assignment is a rough draft of the course project paper.
Criteria Descriptions
Documentation and Formatting
It is properly referenced according to APA guidelines.
Organization and Cohesiveness
It is written in a cohesive manner that flows from stated assumptions.
Editing It is spell-checked for meaning as well as accuracy.
Content
Paper demonstrates and explains the evolving role of a Strategic Human Resource Management topic that reflects one of the major topics of the course. In addition to functional topics, including issues in staffing, employee learning, employee relations, performance management, total rewards, and HR information systems, this paper included topics that mirrored the course’s primary objectives. Student worked with the instructor on submission of a topic and instructor approved the topic.
Course Project Final Paper DUE 4/17
The complete and polished course project final paper. The 8 to 12-page paper must include the following details.
Introduction and Background International Human Resource Strategy Comparative Analysis
Criteria Descriptions
Introduction and Background
Subject, cities selected, how comparable, why important, relevant and sufficient background information produced and presented
International Human Resource Strategy
Assembled and examined, philosophical approach assessed, used more than sufficient “Details” listed above
Comparative Analysis
Research and Documentation correctly applied at a graduate level of analysis synthesis and Assessment
Quality and Presentation
Overall quality and presentation of the finished paper, charts, graphs, formatting, section headings, cover page, table of contents, references, appendices and strict adherence to APA writing guidelines included
