Why should you study human resources
management?. You might be wondering how the topic relates to your interests and
career aspirations. Suppose you want the opportunity to manage people, either
for another a firm or one you start yourself. Having a good understanding of
human resources management is important for managers and entrepreneurs of all
types-not just human resources personel. All managers are responsible for at
least some of the activities that fall into the category of human resources
management. Managers play a key role in selecting employees, training and
motivation them, appraising them, promoting them, and so forth[1]
[1] Scott Snell,
George Bohlander , Managing Human Resources. South-western cangage Learning. Page 4.
Comparative HRM
At VU University Amsterdam,
you will learn all about effective HRM by comparing and applying theories and
practices at micro level (individual behaviour, such as employee motivation),
meso level (organizational HRM practices, such as performance management) and
macro level (contextual factors, such as national culture). This wide-ranging
and multi-level approach is a cornerstone of this unique programme.
Critical developments
You will be encouraged to
hone your critical and analytical skills by assessing current HRM theories and
practices in light of their suitability over time and how they relate to
various aspects of social, political and technological progress. You will look
into whether traditional HRM theories are still relevant when applied to
contemporary HRM issues, such as the ageing workforce in Western countries or
the shifting balance between work and family commitments.
Contemporary research
Not only will you learn to
conduct your own research, but you will also utilize, apply, and reflect on
contemporary research in the field of HRM, both fundamental and empirical. In
your Master’s thesis, you will be able to show that you have amassed sufficient
knowledge of HRM to formulate a relevant research question and build a sound
theoretical framework to support your hypotheses. You will also collect
empirical data (for example, through a questionnaire survey or interviews) in
order to test these hypotheses. Finally, you will use your data to answer your
research question and explore the theoretical and practical implications of
your conclusions.
