A.     READ CHAPTER 13 IN the TEXT BOOK

Chapter Overview. This chapter addresses the importance of effective employee relations.  It explores the roles of managers and employee relations specialists, and it describes how they should work to coordinate an employee relations program.  This chapter also presents a model of how communication works.  Moreover, it explores specific policies that give employees access to important company information, as well as those that provide feedback to top managers.  Last, the chapter examines some programs for recognizing employees’ contributions (both individual and team) to company goals.

After reading this chapter, You should be able to deal more effectively with the following challenges:

1.            Know the roles of the manager and the employee relations specialist.

2.            Become aware of developing employee communications.

3.            Learn practices for encouraging effective communications.

4.            Describe employee recognition programs.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand the key terms on page 421. Your exam will cover this.

Answer the following questions from your text book (50 – 500 words for each question)

Question 13-1 on page 422.

B.     READ CHAPTER 14 IN the TEXT BOOK

Chapter Overview. This chapter examines employee rights and employee discipline.  The concepts of employee rights, management rights, and the employment-at-will doctrine are discussed.  Some challenges managers encounter in balancing employee rights with their own rights and responsibilities (duties) are explored.  Employee discipline is discussed, and some suggestions for managing difficult employees are offered.  The chapter concludes with a discussion of how the HR department can support managers faced with employee discipline issues.

After reading this chapter, You should be able to deal more effectively with the following challenges:

1. Understand employee rights.
2. Understand management rights.
3. Become aware of employee rights challenges: a balancing act.
4. Learn practices for administering and managing discipline.
5. Develop competence for managing difficult employees.
6. Become aware of preventing the need for discipline with human resource management.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand the key terms on page 457. Your exam will cover this.

Answer the following questions from your text book (50 – 500 words for each question)

Question 14-1 and 14-5 on page 458.

C.     READ CHAPTER 17 IN the TEXT BOOK

Chapter Overview. This chapter demonstrates how managers can effectively utilize HRM practices to enhance their firms’ competitive response in an era when the opportunities and challenges facing business are international in nature.  It covers the stages of international involvement, the challenges of expatriate job assignments, and the ways to make those assignments more effective.  It also discusses the development of HRM policies in a global context and the specific HR concerns of exporting firms.

After reading this chapter, you should be able to deal more effectively with the following challenges:

1. Specify the HRM strategies that are most appropriate for the firms at different stages of internationalization.
2. Identify the best mix of host-country and expatriate employees given the conditions facing the firm.
3. Explain the challenges of expatriate assignments.
4. Learn how to effectively manage expatriate assignments and minimize the chances of failure.
5. Develop HRM policies and procedures that match the needs and values of different cultures.
6. Consider ethical implications of HRM policies and procedures on a global basis.

 IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand the key terms on page 560. Your exam will cover this.

Answer the following questions from your text book (50 – 500 words for each question)

Question 17-1 and 17-9 on pages 560-561.