Syllabus
MGS 4360- Human Resource Selection
# 82498 - W 4:30-7:00; 403-GCB
Fall 2006
Dr. Lucy McClurg Phone: (404) 651-2863
Office: 1045, COBA Building
www.gsu.edu/~mgtlam
Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:30 PM
and by appointment
Text: Staffing Organizations, 5th ed. Heneman and Judge, authors. McGraw-Hill, 2006.
------Objectives: By the end of the semester, students should be able:
(1) To know and understand the basic terms, concepts, theories, and developments in the personnel selection and development field. Completion of this requirement will be assessed by taking three exams over the text and lecture materials.
(2) To recognize and apply the concepts learned in the class content to "real-life" management situations and to discover more about your own management style. This will be demonstrated by completion of in-class activities and a term project detailing a personnel selection system for a real or imaginary organization.
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Grading criteria:
Exams = 75%
Term project = 15%
In-class activities = 10%
Total = 100%
A word about grading: Grades in this class will be earned on the basis of results and not effort. It is an unfortunate reality that your efforts may not be rewarded to your satisfaction. Thus, you may spend a great deal of time on an assignment but not earn as high a grade as someone who does a better job with less effort. Please feel free to discuss your grades with your instructor at any time. I want to be fair!
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Instructional Methods: Class discussion, in-class activities, and lecture.
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Policies:
(1) The schedule may need to be rearranged at some times during the term. I will try to be flexible if you will!
(2) If you require accommodation for a disability, please speak with the instructor.
(3) Unexcused late work will not be accepted. Excused late work will be penalized by 5 points per 24 hours late. If you must miss an assignment, get permission in advance by leaving a message with the instructor. Make-up exams are generally not given, but if they are they are essay form.
(4) See the student handbook for Academic Integrity guidelines. Instances of suspected academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance with university policy.
(5) Students are responsible for lecture notes and other information missed by not attending class, including any changes in the schedule or assignments. If you miss a class and the in-class activity for that evening, you may submit an activity report (completed individually) at the beginning of the next class you attend. There will be an automatic 15% grade penalty for missing in-class activities. This is not meant as a punishment for missing class; it is an attempt to adjust for the advantage you may have in finding out the answers from someone who was in class and for having unlimited time to complete the assignment. Since many of the learning opportunities in this course take place during the class sessions, it would be a good idea to find a buddy to help you catch up when you must be absent. Be sure your buddy picks up an extra in-class activity report form for you when you are absent. You may drop one of these grades.
In-Class Activity Reports: These reports will be turned in during the class period and will be graded by the instructor. Points for each assignment vary. For some activities, you have to choice to work alone or in a team with others. If you choose to work in a team, all team members will be assigned the same grade (i.e., the grade given the report); no individual adjustments will be made. (You will have to find your own ways to punish free riders!) Successful completion of in-class activities will require that you have read the assigned material in advance and be prepared to apply concepts and respond to questions about the material.
Term Project
Each student will complete individually or as part of a team a comprehensive personnel selection system description and/or critique for a job or position in a real or imaginary company. The document describing this system will be turned in on the last day of class. The final report should consist of: (1) How information about the job is/will be obtained; (2) performance appraisal techniques used to assess success in job, including forms and expected analysis of data; (3) selection methods to be used to select workers, including detailed description or documentation of forms, interview process, parties involved, hiring process, standards for selection, etc.; (4) and validation and reliability checks for the methods used, including how these will be established in the current work place. Be sure to properly cite any sources of information used (including attaching a bibliography). Your text gives a number of sources for tests and other techniques; cite the text if you use something from it. Be as convincing as you can in your write-up. Assume you are in a consulting position for a firm and will try to sell your system to its officers. Your projects will be graded on the following criteria, with equal weights for each: (1) Detail, (2) Accuracy, (3) Organization and presentation, and (4) Persuasiveness.
*You MUST attend class to obtain full and specific information about project expectations. At a minimum you should obtain notes about the project from another student if you must miss class.
The due date for the project are noted on the proposed schedule.
Proposed Schedule
Date Topics______Text ______
August 23 Introduction to course & each other Ch. 1
Introduction to Selection
August 30 The Basic Model of Selection Ch. 4
*Job Analysis
September 6 Criterion Development Ch. 7
* Role of Perf. App.
September 13 Measurement in Selection Continued
*Reliability and Validity
September 20 Decision Theory Ch. 11
September 27 EXAM 1
October 4 Legal Issues Ch. 2
October 11 Application Forms and Other Basic Techniques Ch. 8
*Reference checks; Biodata; WAB’s
*The Selection Interview: Methods and Concerns
October 18 * IQ; Ability Tests; Creativity
October 25 Integrity Testing Ch. 9
*Personality Assessment
November 1 EXAM 2
November 8 *Performance Tests & Assessment Centers Ch. 10
November 15 Other selection techniques – What works? Ch. 12
***Projects due
November 29 Recruiting Issues Ch. 5-6
December 6 Wrap-up
* Denotes an in-class activity in this session or assignment due.
Final exam: As scheduled by the university. Wednesday, December 15, 5 PM.