Northeastern State University

College of Business and Technology

Tahlequah, Oklahoma



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Tahlequah Miracle Center

 
INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Fidelis Ossom.

Office:

Business and Technology building 221c

Office Hours:

MWF

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and  12:00 pm. to 1:00 pm.

 

T& R

12:00p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

 

And by appointment

Phone:

918-444- 2926

FAX:

918-458-2337

Email:

Ossom@nsuok.edu

URL:

http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ossom/

 

COURSE TITLE AND NUMBER

Compensation Management, Management 4163

 

CLASS DAYS & TIME:     Fall 2008

Section 1593,     Wednesdays  5:30 p.m.- 8:10 p.m., Face to Face Class in Broken Arrow B Building 135

 

PREREQUISITES

MGMT 4113 – Human Resource Management.

 

The Prerequisite needs to be completed before taking this course.  The instructor may drop any student from the course who has not completed the above prerequisites at any time during the semester.

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE

A study of compensation management including pay structures, internal and external pay equity, the compensation package, and managing the compensation system.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS (Required Textbook)

Strategic Compensation: A Human Resource Management Approach (Current Edition) by Joseph J. Martocchio, Prentice Hall

 

COURSE PURPOSE

This course focuses on the management of employee compensation.  Being mostly practitioner-oriented, the course will provide a no-nonsense approach to key wage and salary functions.  Helping the student to identify the choices that need to be made in order to develop strategically designed pay systems is a major focus of the course.  This may be accomplished by identifying pay as a potential source of competitive advantage because of its ability to affect individual and organizational behavior.  Since much of the current compensation research shows promise of helping identify the compensation choices, a review of this literature will be attempted.


Goals of the Course

The major objectives of the course are:

            A.        To examine the current state of compensation management.

            B.        To examine the implications of recent theoretical and research             

                       developments related to compensation decisions.

            C.        To offer an opportunity to develop skills in making           compensation decisions.

            D.        To offer an opportunity to develop practical skills employed by

                        compensation practitioners.

E.        To develop attitudes and habits of inquiry, in order to provide a more valid basis for diagnosing problems and planning action.

 

Learning Objectives

This course is designed for individuals who are, or aspire to be, members of formal organizations, especially those in managerial positions where a need to understand how to utilize human resources is needed in order to make beneficial decisions.  The learning objectives include:

 

To develop the analytic skills along with a conceptual understanding of current compensation practices necessary to a manager faced with compensation issues and decisions.

 

To synthesize compensation concepts, theories, and research into an understanding of how compensation systems work together.

 

To learn to use the concepts, theories, and research by applying knowledge in solving compensation exercises and cases which attempt to simulate the real world.

 

Course Arrangements

We will start with the assumption that the learning process is highly complex.  Different methods of learning work better for different people, and different methods are appropriate for the objectives set out above.  The course will therefore involve a combination of the following methods:

     A.   Readings

     B.   Lecture/discussions

     C.   Cases

     D.   In class assignments

     E.   Exercises

     F.    Essay exams

     G.   Quizzes

     H.   Research paper critiques

     I.     Proposals
     J.    Video Reaction Exercises

 

Course Requirements

 

Quizzes

 

All quizzes will utilize the same format.  They will be composed of multiple-choice questions.  The content of the quizzes will come from assigned readings and in-class discussions.  No make-up quizzes will be given.  If it is impossible for you to be in class during the date of a quiz, be sure to see the instructor before the quiz. Only officially school excused absences will be accommodated.

 

Case Analyses

 

Each student will prepare written analysis of cases.  Inasmuch as the issues to be addressed will vary, a criteria sheet will be handed out in class prior to assigning each case.  Your analyses should be at least three pages but not to exceed six pages in length, and must be typed (double spaced).

 

Readings Critique and Presentation

 

Each student will be assigned two readings (one research article and a book to critique or two articles).  Each critique should include, but is not limited to, the following:

 

     1.  Summary of article or book.

2.      Discussion of article's or book’s relationship with readings from the

      textbook.

3.      Applicability of article's or book’s findings with current business situations and problems.

    

Each article or book critique should be at least three pages but no more than six pages in length, and must be typed (double-spaced).  Each article assigned will also be presented to the class. 


Participation and Attendance

 

Students will be evaluated on how well they participate in class and group activities.  The attendance scores are also additional to the participation scores. Absences of 3 or more times in the semester will result in a one letter grade reduction of your total course grade.


Exams

 

Exams 1 & 2 will be take-home essay exams with about a one-week completion time.  The Final Exam will be in-class closed-note and closed book and comprehensive incorporating portions of previously covered material all through the whole semester.

 
Group Work Projects

 

There will be a number of compensation application assignments to be accomplished in class in work groups. 

 

HRM Proposal

 

The HRM Proposal will have three components:

(1) Assessment Phase; (2) Intervention Phase; and the (3) Evaluation Phase

A detailed handout will be provided to help write the HRM proposal.

 

On-going drafts will be presented and discussed in class.


Dates for the HRM Proposal are as follows:

 

 

Week

Proposal Activity

3

Discuss your ideas and

Complete a one page prospectus of proposal

5

Complete draft of needs assessment phase (includes literature review (about 5 pages))

7

Complete draft of intervention phases

9

Complete draft of evaluation phase

11

Complete 1st draft

13

Complete 2nd draft

15

Complete final paper

 

The paper is to be double-spaced using American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines.  Examples using (APA) guidelines are provided at the following sites:

 

http://www.easybib.com/

http://www.apastyle.org/electext.html

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/bibliography/apa/apamenu.htm

 

Class Policies and Expectations

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)

 

**Student’s Responsibilities in Completing Course Requirements**

In order to optimize your learning experience, it is imperative that you:

 

(1) Thoroughly prepare for class by reading and studying assigned material before attending class.

 

(2) Attend class on a regular and punctual basis and actively participate in classroom assignments.  If it becomes necessary for you to miss class, please notify your instructor as soon as possible. There will be no make-up quizzes.  If it is impossible for you to be in class during the date of a quiz be sure to see the instructor before the quiz.

 

(3) Meet all deadlines for turning in projects and take exams on scheduled dates.

 

It will be considered a violation of the honor code of this course to misrepresent the work of others as your own work for all assignments.  A violation of the honor code of this course may result in a failing grade for the class depending on the seriousness of the violation.  The instructor will determine the seriousness of an honor code violation.

 

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

 

Late assignments will be assessed a penalty of 20% of the total possible points.  No assignment will be accepted more than one week after the due date.

 

ADA STATEMENT

 

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the University’s Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.  Please advise the instructor of such disability and the desired accommodations at the first class attended.

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER / DISASTER POLICY

 

See the following website for the basic premises of the inclement weather policy at Northeastern State University:

http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~cbi/iwp.html

 

STUDENT EVALUATION

Student evaluation will be based upon standard definitive grade values as indicated below:

 

            A - 90% to 100%

            B - 80% to 89%

            C - 70% to 79%

            D - 60% to 69%

            F - 59% and below


Grading Requirements and Procedures

Grades appear to be necessary for three reasons:

 

     (1)  To provide the student with feedback on his or her performance.

     (2)  To enhance student motivation for attending class and studying.

     (3)  To provide potential employers with some estimate of the

           extent to which the student has mastered the subject.

 

The grading system used in this course is intended to enhance learning about organizational behavior.  Student participation in setting "grade weights" will be employed to help increase your commitment to the evaluation process.

 

Grading Criteria

---------------------

 

Your grade will be determined by scores in two major performance areas:  (1) individual performance, and (2) group performance.

 

Setting Grade Weight

----------------------------

As a class, you will be involved in setting the percentage of your grade that will come from the two major performance areas (individual performance and group performance).  The procedure through which the grade weights will be set for the class will be as follows:

 

     1. Each learning group will discuss their preferences about the

         grading criteria and will set preliminary weights for each

         area (within the approved guidelines).  Also each group will

         select a member to meet with representatives of other groups.

 

     2. Representatives will assemble in the center of the classroom

         and discuss the grading criteria until a consensus about the

         desired grade weights is reached.

 

     3. If no consensus is reached before the end of the class

         session the instructor will determine the grade weights.

 

Grading Criteria within Major Performance Areas will be provided in class.

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