STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module will recognise the importance of human resources to the successful operation of hotels but will emphasise the strategic aspects of Human Resource Management (HRM) that will influence the development of hotel chains. Hotel companies need to develop and implement effective human resource practices and policies to achieve competitive success, especially in the current economic climate. The module is intended to provide an opportunity to review models and concepts underpinning Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) and current trends and issues in the strategic HRM for international hospitality and event industry. It therefore approaches the economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects of managing hospitality and event businesses world-wide from a critical perspective and asks students to consider how societal and organisational advantage can be achieved through strategic approaches to the management of HR. The module will provide a grounding in the knowledge and application of strategic HRM practices within the global hospitality and event industry such as Employee Resourcing, Employee Development, Pay, Appraisals and Performance as well as Employment Relations. The content of the module will review several case studies from the hospitality and event industry delivered by industry experts and lectures/ tutors.

Module provider

Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management

Module Leader

XU Tracy (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Models and concepts underpinning Strategic HRM


• The societal and institutional context of HRM


• Strategic management of the employer / employee relationship


• Quality, Culture and Change


• Employee Resourcing, Employee Development, Pay, Appraisals and Performance, Employment Relations


• Global / International issues in SHRM


• Employers’ branding

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Students will be required to produce a set of eight powerpoint slides only that follow the brief of the group presentation but choosing an alternative approach.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to encourage students in the first instance to develop their individual ability to analyse in depth hospitality and event companies’ strategic HRM practices. 

First assignment:

Students will be asked to evaluate the strategic HRM approach of one company in the global hospitality and event industry. Therefore, each student, through thorough research, will present a case for the establishment of competitive advantage through people. Appropriate theory, models and concepts should be used to underpin the discussion. Evaluation whether such competitive advantage has benefits for the sustainability of the business will be also needed.

Second assignment:

A group presentation on the development of new and emerging approaches to SHRM and their broad understandings in application for international organisation. Alternative or creative ways that have so far been overlooked can also be proposed. This will be 20 minutes duration and will be presented according to the agreement of the group using whatever methods they deem appropriate. The subject matter and its structuring, relevance, currency and creativity will be the focus of the marking criteria.

Third assignment:

Students will be asked to reflect on their group work in the form of a short essay (1000 words)

Alternative assessment

Students will be expected to produce a set of eight powerpoint slides only that follow the brief of the group presentation but choosing an alternative approach.

Formative assessment and feedback

No additional formative assessment will be required for this module. Feed forward feedback will be given through the summative assessment. In addition feedback will be through group tutorial sessions, through on line discussion fora using SurreyLearn and through staff weekly office hours.

Module aims

• This module aims to develop an awareness and understanding of the complexities associated to strategic HRM in hospitality and event companies. Students will be introduced to the models and concepts underpinning Strategic HRM and topics such as Employee Resourcing, Employee Development, Pay, Appraisals and Performance, Employment Relations. The aims of the module are to provide students with a range of perspectives for reviewing the strategic HR environment taken by hospitality and event companies at national and international levels.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to encourage students to think critically about the strategic HRM of companies in the international hospitality and event industry.

The student experience of learning is designed to be:

• a blend of class, discussion-based learning,


• through set lectures and seminars,


• group workshops and case-study group work, focussed on group presentations and reflective accounts.


• where appropriate and available, guest presentations by invited industry professionals


• guided study - students will be provided through SurreyLearn with a series of activities including inter alia reading and discussion fora to extend their understanding

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM321

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.