Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
HRER 803: Human Resources in Multinational Enterprises (3 credits) This course examines employment relations systems in the world today and the influence of globalization on employment relations practice.
Overview
This course builds on the strategic foundations of taking businesses abroad. It investigates how multinational organizations are managing their people in this complexity and making strategic choices in international HR/ER that align with the business's intent. Multiple perspectives are considered to find an appropriate focus on local customization or global standardization or a suitable balance between both. Answers to the question of which is the best way of achieving this balance for superior firm performance lie in (a) the organizational perspective on internationalization strategy, (b) national cultural dimensions impacting individuals' decision making and behaviors, and (c) differences in institutional drivers of employment regulations and market context.
Ultimately, you’ll have the chance to explore the impact of internationalization on HR/ER professionals and the HR/ER function itself. Throughout the course, you’ll learn to apply the relevant concepts and theories. There are defined HR issues that must be considered and addressed when studying the International Human Resources Management (IHRM) challenges by both U.S. companies who plan on doing business globally and foreign corporations who plan on doing business in the U.S.
The course will be a combination of seminars, guest speakers, group work, presentations and individual assignments. As participants in this seminar, some of you will have had more workplace and/or international experience than others. These experiences can bring many rich insights into understanding the practical implications of international HR/ER. The course will allow you to share your experiences and learn from each other. Where possible for group work, you will be asked to work with others with different areas of expertise to maximize your learning experience.
Course Objectives
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
- Recognize multiple perspectives in finding an appropriate balance between local customization or global standardization of HR/ER strategy and practice:
- the organizational perspective on internationalization strategy,
- national cultural dimensions impacting individuals’ decision making and behaviors, and
- differences in institutional drivers of employment regulations and market context;
- Describe and apply concepts of comparative HR/ER, comparing the impact of national context on designing HR/ER policies and practices in different countries;
- Recognize the evolving diversity in global careers and corresponding developments in talent management and employee relations; and
- Recommend specific IHR/ER strategies and practices (e.g., for staffing and retention, global careers development, and employee communication).
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
Course Schedule
In addition to the Pre-Campus Week Assignments, read the following before your On-Campus visit:
- Lesson 03:
- Lesson 04:
- Textbook chapters 7 & 14
- Brewster, C. (2007). Comparative HRM: European views and perspectives. International Journal of Human Resource Management 18(5), 769–787.
- Lamare, J. R., Farndale, E., & Gunnigle, P. (2014). Employment relations and international human resource management. In Collings, D. G., Wood, G., & Caligiuri, P. (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to International Human Resource Management (pp. 99-120). UK: Routledge. (E-Reserve - located in the Library Resources link in the course)
- Lesson 05:
- Lesson 06:
- Textbook chapter 15
- Vidović, M., & Farndale, E. (2016). HR departments in multinational corporations. International Human Resource Management: Practices, Trends and Future Directions (pp. 21-43). New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers. (E-Reserve)
- Lesson 07:
- Textbook chapters 10-12
- Lesson 08:
- Textbook chapters 6 & 13
- Wilks, L., & Nordhaug, O. (2013). Ethical, social and environmental responsibilities in MNCs. In P. Gooderham, B. Grøgaard, & O. Nordhaug, International Management. Theory and practice: 336-355. Cheltenham, UK: Blackwell. (E-Reserve)
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
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Readings: |
Lesson 02 Commentary Text:
Other Readings:
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Activities: |
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Time frame: |
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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9:00 - 10:30 |
L1 Introduction to each other & to IHRM & Culture
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L4 Teamwork to prepare presentation on country differences
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L5 Expatriation | L7 Global Talent Management | L8 Ethics & globalization |
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10:30 - 10:45 |
Break | Break |
L7 Teamwork to prepare GTM presentation
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Break | |
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10:45 - 12:15 |
L3 Culture; Video Assignment | L5 Expatriation: Video Assignment | L9 Open-book exam (until 12:45) | ||
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12:15 - 1:15 |
Lunch |
Student presentations 12:30 - 2:45 (break 1:30-1:45) |
Lunch | Lunch (12:45-1:15) | |
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1:15 - 2:45 |
L4 Comparative HRM & ER |
L6 Internationalization of HR Department: Assignment |
Student presentations start at 2:15pm (break 3:15-3:30)
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Introduction of Lesson 10 Final Paper | |
| 2:45 - 3:00 | Break | Break | Break | Finish at 2:30 | |
| 3:00 - 4:30 | Comparative HRM in Practice | L2 Strategic IHRM - Case Study Assignment | Global HRM in practice |
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Readings: |
No reading assignments |
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Activities: |
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Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
| Lesson | Activity | Individual/ Group | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
|
01 Part 1 |
Pre-Campus: Getting Started Activities |
Individual |
Ungraded |
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01 Part 2 |
Pre-Campus: Lesson 01 Part 2 Discussion |
Individual |
Ungraded |
|
02 |
Pre-Campus: Lesson 02 International Anaylsis Discussion |
Individual |
25 |
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02 |
Pre-Campus: Lesson 02 Internationalization Assignment
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Individual |
75 |
| 02 | On-Campus (essay) | Individual | 75 |
|
03 |
On-Campus (video assignment) |
Individual |
75 |
|
04 |
On-Campus (group presentation) |
Group |
125 |
|
05 |
On- Campus (video assignment) |
Individual |
75 |
|
06 |
On- Campus (assignment) |
individual |
75 |
|
07 |
On- Campus (group presentation) |
Group |
125 |
|
08 |
On-Campus (class discussion) |
Individual |
Ungraded |
|
09 |
On-Campus (exam) |
Individual |
150 |
|
10 |
Post-Campus Assignment |
Individual |
200 |
| Course Total | 1000 |
| Grade | % Range |
|---|---|
| A | 93 -100 |
| A- | 90 - 92.99 |
| B+ | 87 - 89.99 |
| B | 83 - 86.99 |
| B- | 80 - 82.99 |
| C+ | 77 - 79.99 |
| C | 70 - 76.99 |
| D | 60 - 69.99 |
| F | 59.99 and below |
Grading Scale
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate and Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Discussion Forums
The discussion forums enable you to interact with other students and your instructor directly. The forums are the virtual equivalent of meeting others at a coffee table during a conference break. Visualize how some people take the initiative to approach anyone and open a conversation. Others get attracted to join in after overhearing something interesting at a neighboring table. The topics of discussion can range from sharing general experiences (e.g., logistical challenges) to more on-point debates about theoretical concepts corresponding to the appropriate lesson content.
Check in frequently, and engage in conversation with your classmates. When posting a query consider the following:
- Who would you like to talk to? Address your fellow students or instructor directly, as appropriate.
- Consider the issue carefully as it is explained in the text and/or readings.
- Check to see if the issue has been addressed in another post.
Individual Activities
- You will complete several individual essay-type assignments, substantiated by your knowledge of the readings, discussion forum participation, and additional research as indicated within the activity instructions.
Group Work
The course includes group work as well as whole-class discussion. For group work, the expectation is that within your assigned group, you will take responsibility for specific aspects of the group activity, which you then need to bring together sequentially with your other group members.
Final Assignment
This assignment is your opportunity to apply your learning from the course to a scenario in which international expansion is the focus. When you submit your paper, you will receive a grade and feedback from the instructor.
You will be required to submit your paper to TURNITIN before turning it into the instructor. TURNITIN is a program that analyzes content of papers for originality and property citing of sources. It is used in this course primarily to help you identify any problems of excessive or uncited material from other sources. Additional information on using TURNITIN is provided within the assignment and by your instructor.
Survey
You will be expected to complete a mid-course survey. Please take the time to provide as much information as possible, as your input is used to enhance the course for future offerings. Responses to the survey do not affect your grade; submission is anonymous.
Students please note: The Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations does not view Wikipedia as a valid source for information cited in academic work. It can be a useful tool for quickly finding general information on subjects or as a starting point for research. However, students should not cite Wikipedia as a source in papers, reports, assignments, etc.
Note: if any activities are submitted after the scheduled deadline, these activities will be marked down by half a letter grade for each day that they are late, unless advance arrangements have been secured with the instructor.
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Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
University Policies
Please note that course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. The course instructor and any teaching assistant(s), of course, have access to the course throughout the semester. Each course offered via the World Campus has several instructional design staff members assigned to assist in managing course content and delivery. These instructional design staff members have access to the course throughout the semester for this purpose. Also, World Campus technical staff may be given access in order to resolve technical support issues. In addition, mentor, department head, or program chair may be provided with course access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. Each of these individuals will keep confidential all student course and academic information.Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Photo Credits
Photos used in the lesson contents of this course: ©2009 Jupiterimages Corporation http://www.photos.com and Microsoft clipart ©2009 Microsoft Corporation http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/, unless otherwise noted.
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.