Harvard Online Courses

Course description

Human resource (HR) management can be defined as the effective use of human resources in an organization through the management of people-related activities. It is a central and strategic organizational activity of increasing complexity and importance. This introductory survey course covers the range of HR activities all managers need to understand: strategic HR, legal issues, staffing, recruitment and selection, performance management, training, compensation, labor relations, and technical support systems. Through interactive lectures and cases, students become familiar with the basic principles and techniques of human resource management. The course takes a practical view that integrates the contributions of the behavioral sciences with the technical aspects of implementing the HR function in the real world.