• The Open University

Human Resource Management: The Changing Social and Technological Environment

Discover how HR responds to the forces and the trends involved in social and technological change.

Brainstorming meeting

  • Duration

    3 weeks

  • Weekly study

    14 hours
Overview
Requirements
Educators

Understand the historical trajectory of HR challenges.

This course examines the implications for HR practice of a range of trends, developments and social changes. These include: shifts in social structures; the rise of individualism; consumer culture; the decline of deference; migration and its implications for labour markets; skill levels and free labour movement within the European Union; work permits for migrant labour from outside the EU; diversity in age, gender and ethnicity of employees; and technological changes such the rise of the internet and the use of social media.

What topics will you cover?

  • The key developments in technology relevant to HRM
  • The social context of work, social trends and their implications for HRM

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Who is the course for?

This course is for students enrolled in the Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resource Management.

What software or tools do you need?

A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

A desktop or laptop computer with either:

  • Windows 7 or higher
  • Mac OS X 10.7 or higher

The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset (headphones or earphones with an integrated microphone)

Who will you learn with?

Charles Barthold

Charles is a Lecturer in Management (Open University). He has extensive experience in teaching on topics related to Organisation Studies. He completed his PHD at the University of Leicester.

jp

joanne pearson

Futurelearn facilitator

Ainger Scanlon

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969

  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK

  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn