This requirement will consist of an intensive exploration of the applied aspect of human resource strategy. Students will be assigned to teams each of which manages an organization that competes against one another in a Human Resources Management simulation. This affords students the unique opportunity to make decisions, assess outcomes, and make adjustments when necessary. The simulation can be programmed to simulate a profit or nonprofit organization that is in manufacturing or service. Typical decision variables involve wages, replacing employees, hiring, promoting from within, training costs for promotions, fringe benefits, budget for other activities, safety, employee participation programs, grievances, human resources information systems, performance appraisal programs, affirmative action program, production levels, overtime, employee morale, turnover, and absenteeism. Finally, students will be required to submit a detailed, written report on a case study analyzed over the course of the semester.
Upon approval of a research proposal, the student works with a qualified faculty advisor to research and write a thesis paper on a topic in his/her selected concentration area. The finished thesis must demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct comprehensive research and articulate original ideas and thought processes that make a practical contribution to the existing body of knowledge in the field of human resources. All final papers must be of an academic and research standard that is consistent with the requirements of current journals and publications.