Managing Human Resources

To gain internal efficiency then control is needed to make sure that human character and behaviour is aligned with the organization's objective. It might be the case that control might become even more essential and complex as the millennials (born around the millennia) are entering the labour market. The argument is that old work ethics are under pressure from a new, aesthetically radically different, consumer driven work ethics.

There are two central issues arising out of this:

• Does this consumer driven, aesthetical, work ethics change how organizations have to, or can, 'approach' and conduct organizational control?
• Does this consumer driven, aesthetically, work ethics support or obstruct individual and organizational responsibility?

In this course students will work with the topic of managing human resources with regards to individual responsibility in organizations. The course consists of two main themes:

1) Organizational programs for controlling human character and behaviour,
2) Aestheticization of society, organizations and individuals.

At the start students will be familiarized with the thwo themes, not as simple toolboxes, but as contemporary phenomena that has widespread influence both within and outside workplaces. To develop and stimulate their ability to discuss and argue, students will work closely in groups to produce an academically informed but journalistically accessible text in the form of an opinion essay. This task forces students to think about writing in a different format: where words are used economically to inform and persuade a more general audience.

Finally, the students will write an independent essay in which they develop their ability to critically evaluate and reflect upon the main themes of the course. This will take the form of a home exam.