Teaching Human Resource Management: An Experiential Approach

'de Janasz and Crossman have drawn on their professional colleagues to provide an impressive collection of ''tried and true'' experiential exercises to help students gain hands-on understanding of human resource management. These useful exercises engage students in the kind of active learning that is essential to apply HRM theories to concrete, practical situations. In reflecting on their experiential learning, students acquire a deeper, more personal knowledge of what HRM is all about. Teaching Human Resource Management: An Experiential Approach is an essential and valuable companion to more standard texts in HRM.'
- Thomas G. Cummings, University of Southern California, US

'This pioneering book by de Janasz and Grossman is a terrific resource. It not only covers a wide range and comprehensive set of topics with which all HRM students (and practitioners) need to be familiar. It also offers well-designed experiential exercises that promote students' active engagement with the topic at hand. I would love to take the course that uses this book!'
- Gary N. Powell, University of Connecticut and Lancaster University, US

'An experiential approach to the teaching of HRM makes each topic come alive. By actively participating and becoming highly engaged in each exercise, students generate important lessons that tie theory to practice. The exercises in this book enable all of that and they fill an important gap. ''Tried and true'' exercises in 15 key areas of HR, developed by a diverse group of HR scholars, provide choice, flexibility, and comprehensiveness to any HR course or executive education program.'
- Wayne Cascio, University of Colorado, Denver, US

This book breathes life into the teaching of Human Resource Management (HRM) by creating learning that applies the theoretical aspects of the discipline to meaningful contexts. In this way, readers will be able to better relate theoretical concepts to workplace decisions and dilemmas.

The management of human resources (HR) is a critical function contributing to an organization’s competitiveness in ways that are at least as important as the management of financial and capital resources. To that end, it is essential that future managers and HR specialists destined for careers in business, government and not for profit organizations develop key skills and competences in HR. Experiential learning ignites the desire to learn, while revealing the importance and impact of knowledge and skills necessary to analyze and resolve HR-related dilemmas and challenges in contemporary organizations.

While many publications provide direction and advice on the teaching of organizational behavior and leadership, it is harder to find accessible books to support the teaching of HR in motivating and grounded ways. The authors include over 65 exercises, activities, and cases for the undergraduate, MBA and executive learning classrooms. HR professors and practitioners will find it of value and students will be left feeling well prepared for the kinds of situations that await them in the field of― - and situations requiring expertise in― - HR.

Edited by Suzanne C. de Janasz, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of Management and Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, US and Joanna Crossman, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Business, University of South Australia, Australia