Overview
In this unit, you will examine contemporary issues in human resource management (HRM) and explore the impact that new developments in people analytics have on an organisation's ability to strategically attract, recruit, retain and manage its human resources in a competitive environment. In addition, this unit will raise your awareness of the relevance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in good business practices, as well as apply lessons from those cultures for good ethical, social, and governance outcomes in HRM contexts.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Survey
Low response rates and lower satisfaction scores in T2-2025 suggest reduced student engagement and limited opportunities for feedback dialogue, particularly in smaller cohorts.
Increase structured opportunities for formative feedback and engagement, including targeted check-in activities prior to major assessments, and clearer promotion of student evaluation processes. Teaching staff should explicitly close the feedback loop by communicating how student feedback has informed unit improvements.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator
some students required clearer guidance on assessment expectations, evaluation criteria, and performance standards, particularly for the analytics-focused components of the unit.
Implement explicit, structured in-class assessment activities across all cohorts from the early weeks of the term, including assessment walkthroughs, discussion of marking criteria and exemplars, and guided evaluation of sample responses during workshops.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator
Lower engagement levels in some cohorts suggest that group formation and peer engagement may not have been sufficiently established early in the term, limiting collaboration and participation in workshops.
Introduce early, staff-supported group development activities within the first two weeks of the term. Teaching staff should actively facilitate group formation, clarify group roles and expectations, and encourage early collaboration through low-stakes, in-class activities. This approach should be supported by structured icebreaker tasks and early collaborative exercises to promote engagement and accountability from the outset.
- Identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness.
- Critically analyse key contemporary HR issues and their implications for effective HRM.
- Evaluate approaches that could be used to address contemporary HRM issues.
- Develop an understanding of people analytics, its opportunities and risks in relation to HRM.
- Analyse and interpret organisation's data to make evidence-based HRM decisions.
None
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Presentation - 15% | |||||
| 2 - Group Work - 35% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
Introduction to People Analytics: A Practical Guide to Data-Driven HR
- Edition: 2 (2023)
- Authors: Khan, N., & Millner, D.
- Kogan Page, Limited
- London London , UK
- ISBN: 9781398610057
The 2023 e-book is accessible for online reading via CQUniversity Library.
- Binding: eBook
The 2023 e-book is accessible for online reading via CQUniversity Library.
Predictive Analytics in Human Resource Management : A Hands-On Approach
- Edition: 1 (2021)
- Authors: Nijjer, S., & Raj, S.
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Milton Milton
- ISBN: 9781000208139
The 2021 e-book is accessible for on-line reading via CQUniversity Library.
- Binding: eBook
The 2021 e-book is accessible for on-line reading via CQUniversity Library.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom
- Excel
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.veres@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 13 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Contemporary HRM and Introduction to People/HR Analytics
Chapter
Week1 e-reading list on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 20 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Diversity, Indigenisation and Talent Management
Chapter
Week 2 e-reading list on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 27 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Flexibility, Future of Work, and Career Management
Chapter
Week 3 e-reading list on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 03 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Sustainable HRM and Well-being
Chapter
Week 4 e-reading list on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 10 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Introduction to HR Analytics
Chapter
Chapters 1 and 2 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 (15%) – Group Presentation: Deliver a 10-minute group presentation during your workshop and submit presentation slides via Moodle.
Group Presentation Due: Week 5 Monday (10 Aug 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Week 6
Begin Date: 17 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Data Acquisition & and Problem Modeling
Chapter
Chapter 3 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026Module/Topic
No class
Chapter
No reading
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 31 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Predictive Analytical Tools, and Techniques
Chapter
Chapter 4 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 (35%) – Group Report: Submit a professional group report analysing a contemporary HRM challenge and providing evidence-based recommendations for organisational practice.
Group Report Due: Week 7 Monday (31 Aug 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Week 8
Begin Date: 07 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Predictive HR Analytics in Recruitment & Selection
Chapter
Chapters 6 and 7 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 14 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Predictive HR Analytics in Turnover and Separation
Chapter
Chapters 6 and 7 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 21 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Predictive HR Analytics in Engagement, Performance, and Compensation (Part 1)
Chapter
Chapter 8 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 28 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Emerging Trends in Predictive HR Analytics and Ethical Considerations (Part 1)
Chapter
Chapter 8 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 05 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Emerging Trends in Predictive HR Analytics and Ethical Considerations (Part 2)
Chapter
Chapter 9 of Nijjer, S., & Raj, S. (2021) and other weekly readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 12 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 (50%) – Individual Portfolio: Submit an individual HR analytics portfolio demonstrating data analysis, interpretation, and evidence-based HR recommendations.
Individual Portfolio Due: Exam Week Monday (12 Oct 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 19 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
In this assessment, you will work in a group of 3–4 students from the same workshop to prepare and deliver a 10-minute PowerPoint (PPT) or poster presentation to the CEO and senior management team of a chosen organisation.
Using the same organisation that will form the basis of Assessment 2, your presentation will focus on a contemporary HRM challenge and/or opportunity related to topics covered in Weeks 1–4. The presentation should provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of the issue, supported by relevant organisational context, and include evidence-based short-term and long-term recommendations.
You are expected to draw on relevant peer-reviewed academic journal articles published within the last five years and apply these to your analysis. All sources must be cited throughout the presentation and included in a reference list using APA 7th edition referencing.
All group members are expected to participate in the presentation. One group member will submit the presentation on behalf of the team via Moodle. Feedback will be provided following the presentation.
For this assessment, students must adhere to the requirements of the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). AI tools may be used for planning, idea development, and research; however, the final submission must demonstrate your own critical thinking, analysis, and engagement with the topic.
Week 5 Monday (10 Aug 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Week 7 Monday (31 Aug 2026)
Verbal feedback will be provided in class and marks will be released to students two working weeks after the submission.
Your presentation will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
- Research, Analysis and Organisational Context (20%) – Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the chosen HRM challenge(s) and/or opportunity(ies) through critical analysis and application to the selected organisation.
- Application of Theory and Evidence (20%) – Effectively integrate relevant HRM theory and contemporary peer-reviewed academic literature to support analysis and key arguments.
- Recommendations (5%) – Provide practical, evidence-based short-term and long-term recommendations that address the identified HRM challenge(s) and/or opportunity(ies).
- Visual Design and Structure (20%) – Develop a professional, well-organised presentation with appropriate visual aids, logical structure, and accurate APA 7th edition referencing.
- Delivery and Presentation Skills (35%) – Deliver a professional and engaging presentation that demonstrates effective communication, audience engagement, time management, and contribution from all group members.
You will lose marks for this task if you are not present on the day.
Late Submission: Penalties for late submissions are applied according to policy (5% per day).
Plagiarism: Any detected plagiarism will be reported to the Academic Services Centre and may result in a “zero” mark.
- Identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness.
- Critically analyse key contemporary HR issues and their implications for effective HRM.
- Evaluate approaches that could be used to address contemporary HRM issues.
2 Group Work
Using the same organisation selected for Assessment 1, develop a professional report for the CEO and senior management team that provides practical, evidence-based recommendations for addressing a contemporary HRM challenge and/or opportunity.
Building on your Assessment 1 presentation, your report should:
- provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of contemporary HRM challenges and/or opportunities related to your chosen topic(s).
- use relevant organisational context to support your analysis.
- provide evidence-based short-term and long-term recommendations that address the identified HRM challenge(s) and/or opportunity(ies).
- demonstrate how your team has incorporated and responded to the feedback received during the Assessment 1 presentation.
- cite at least eight relevant peer-reviewed academic journal articles published within the last five years and include them in a reference list using APA 7th edition referencing.
Submission: One member may submit the report on behalf of the group via Moodle.
Before commencing this task, carefully read the detailed assessment instructions and marking rubric available on Moodle.
Important: For this assessment, students must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). AI tools may be used for planning, idea development, and research; however, the final submission must clearly demonstrate your own critical thinking, analysis, and engagement with the topic. Failure to appropriately disclose the use of AI tools or any misuse will be regarded as a breach of academic integrity and handled in accordance with university policies.
Week 7 Monday (31 Aug 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Week 9 Monday (14 Sept 2026)
Written feedback and marks will be released to students two working weeks after the submission.
A full marking rubric will be available on the Moodle site. Your report will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
- Executive Summary (5%) – Provides a concise and professional overview of the key issues, findings, and recommendations presented in the report.
- Research and Evidence (20%) – Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic through the use of relevant, contemporary, peer-reviewed academic literature and supporting evidence.
- Critical Analysis and Organisational Context (25%) – Critically analyses the chosen HRM challenge(s) and/or opportunity(ies) and effectively applies the discussion to the selected organisational context.
- Application of Theory (20%) – Effectively applies relevant HRM theories and concepts to explain organisational issues, support analysis, and inform recommendations.
- Recommendations (15%) – Provides practical, evidence-based short-term and long-term recommendations that are clearly linked to the analysis and organisational context.
- Communication and Report Structure (10%) – Presents a professional, well-structured report with clear written communication appropriate for a CEO and senior management audience.
- Referencing (5%) – Demonstrates accurate and consistent application of APA 7th edition referencing conventions.
Late Submission: A penalty of 5% per day applies without prior approval.
Plagiarism: Any detected plagiarism will be reported to the Academic Services Centre and may result in a “zero” mark.
- Identify key contemporary issues throughout the employment cycle and evaluate those which could affect HRM effectiveness.
- Critically analyse key contemporary HR issues and their implications for effective HRM.
- Evaluate approaches that could be used to address contemporary HRM issues.
3 Written Assessment
This portfolio assessment requires you to complete three interconnected tasks focused on HR analytics and contemporary HR challenges. You will be provided with a workforce dataset in Excel and will use HR analytics techniques to analyse employee compensation, performance, and workplace survey data.
Across the three tasks, you will conduct statistical analyses, interpret your findings, and discuss the implications of the results for human resource management practice. The tasks build upon one another, with findings from earlier tasks informing your final discussion and recommendations.
A desktop version of Microsoft Excel is required to complete this assessment. Detailed instructions, dataset information, and task requirements are available on Moodle.
Important: For this assessment, students must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). AI tools may be used for planning, idea development, and research; however, the final submission must clearly demonstrate your own critical thinking, analysis, and engagement with the topic. Failure to appropriately disclose the use of AI tools or any misuse will be regarded as a breach of academic integrity and handled in accordance with university policies.
Exam Week Monday (12 Oct 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2026)
Feedback and marks will be released to students along with the certification of grades process
Your portfolio will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
- Data Analysis (20%) – Accurate completion of the required statistical analyses and appropriate presentation of analytical outputs. Statistical analyses should be included in the appendix and submitted with the Excel file.
- Interpretation of Results (20%) – Accurate interpretation of statistical findings, identification of key issues, and explanation of the significance of the results.
- Research and Evidence (14%) – Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic through the use of relevant, contemporary academic literature and supporting evidence.
- Application of Literature and HR Implications (30%) – Effectively integrates relevant literature into the discussion of findings and develops evidence-based implications for human resource management practice.
- Recommendations (6%) – Provides practical, evidence-based recommendations that are clearly linked to the findings and HR implications.
- Communication and Structure (6%) – Presents a well-structured, professional portfolio with clear, concise, and appropriate written communication.
- Referencing (4%) – Demonstrates accurate and consistent application of APA 7th edition referencing conventions.
Late Submission: A penalty of 5% per day applies without prior approval.
Plagiarism: Any detected plagiarism will be reported to the Academic Services Centre and may result in a “zero” mark.
- Develop an understanding of people analytics, its opportunities and risks in relation to HRM.
- Analyse and interpret organisation's data to make evidence-based HRM decisions.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
