Course
Syllabus Dr. David M. Piper
ILR
632 - Compensation Administration
Milkovich G. T. & Newman, J. M. (2002). Compensation 7th Ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
Other readings as assigned.
The objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive course dealing with compensation issues. The course will expose students to compensations systems influenced by performance, popular benefit packages, the benefits determination process and the legal requirements in administering compensation. The course will also address the impact compensation systems have on employee performance and the relationship that should exist between employee compensation and the obtainment of organizational objectives. Students will also study the influence unions have on wage and salary administration.
Each class session, students will engage in meaningful dialogue analyzing the assigned readings and will discuss the practicality of using the compensation elements in the everyday organization. The students will analyze the compensation issues and will determine the appropriate settings that will lead to successful implementations of compensation packages.
The course will consist of lectures, class discussion, assigned projects and group activities dealing with leadership applications. Thorough preparation for and participation in each class session is expected. During each class session, students will be required to apply what they have learned in an exercise that will be given during class. These exercises will provide the student with a hands-on experience that will reinforce the subject material. As a result, attendance to each class is crucial. Because the class will require discussion, your role each evening will be to participate intelligently.
Evaluation will be defined as follows:
10% Class participation, which include class exercises
15% Current Events in Organizational Leadership (1) articles, 2 chapter reviews
25% Mid-Term Essay Project
25% Research Paper – Presentation of Paper (5%)
25% Final Project
Grading will be done by percentiles (A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, etc).
Students will be evaluated for their participation during the class periods. Attendance is not mandatory but students can’t participate if they are not present. If a student has to miss class and notifies the instructor prior to the absence, the student may obtain the participation grade for that day by submitting a one page summary report of the topics discussed during the missed class. The due date for this summary is the next regularly scheduled class period.
Students will be required to submit current events articles (reports, articles, events) and a one or two paragraph summary describing the event and its relevance to the human resource management function. During the class period students will be selected to briefly discuss their current event and its importance to the field of HRM.
The mid-term essay project will be an in-class assignment that will list a series of questions about specific compensation issues. The research paper will require the student to pick a specific function or topic in compensation and write a scholarly paper on how the chosen function or topic impacts (both positively and negatively) the overall goals of a compensation package. The final project (out of class) will require the student to develop a comprehensive compensation package. Class participation will be based on the preparedness of each student – not only with regards to the assigned material, but also to the observation of HRM to the outside world.
The deadline for submitting course requirements is the due date specified on the syllabus. Assignments submitted after the deadline will be accepted but will be penalized one letter grade (10%) except in cases of serious personal illness or injury or other unusual circumstances discussed with the instructor in advance. Except for bona fide emergencies or unusual circumstances requiring arrangements mutually agreed upon between the student and instructor in advance of the due date, no assignment will be accepted for evaluation once graded assignments have been returned to the class.
The use of cell phones, pagers, text messaging and other digital communication or entertainment devices is discouraged during class times. Thank you.
E-mail: dpiper@iup.edu
IUP office phone: 724.357.4470 and department Fax: 724.357.1292
DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1 Introduction
Chapter 1
Week 2 Strategic Perspective
Chapter 2
Week 3 Internal Alignment & Job Analysis
Chapter 3 & 4
Week 4 Job Evaluations
Chapter 5
Week 5 Government & Legal Issues
Chapter 17
Week 6 The Benefits Determination Process
Chapter 12
Week 7 Defining Competitiveness Mid-Term
Chapter 7
Week 8 Research for Paper and Self-Study Chapters Review Chapter 6 & 8
Week 9 Pay for Performance Chapter 6 & 8 review
Chapter 9
Week 10 Pay-for-performance plans
Chapter 10
Week 11 Performance Appraisals Papers Due
Chapter 11
Week 12 Benefits Options
Chapter 13
Week 13 Union Role in Wage and Salary Administration
Chapter 15
Week 14 International Pay Systems
Chapter 16
Week 15[last] Final Compensation Plan Due