HRM is an evolving organisational function which should anticipate and respond appropriately to internal and external

HRM is an evolving organisational function which should anticipate and respond appropriately to internal and external changes.
Critically review and evaluate the current state of HRM in Australia, highlighting trends and challenges, and analyse how this will impact on the future role of the HR manager.
In answering this question you will need to:
• Identify the key roles and functions of HR managers
• Identify the current trends and challenges for HRM (ie. aging workforce, diversity, mobility and retention of staff, talent shortages, competition, technology, push for strategic involvement, devolving of HR responsibilities to line management, outsourcing/off shoring, etc).
• Analyse how these impact upon, and affect the roles and perceptions of HRM in the workplace.
The following references will help you get started, but you are also expected to do some additional research/reading for this assignment.
Kramar, R (2012) Trends in Australian human resource management: what next? Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources. 50. pp. 133-150.
https://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7941.2011.00009.x
Sheehan, C., De Cieri, H., Cooper, B & Brooks, R (2014) Exploring the power dimensions of the human resource function, Human Resource Management Journal, 24(2)pp. 193-210.
https://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12027
Rationale
This assignment is designed to:
familiarise students with the changing nature of the HRM and the different perspectives from which it is viewed;
encourage students to explore various HRM perspectives;
develop the ability to identify the importance of the HR function in the effective management of people;
familiarise students with the gap which may exist between the academic theories and the real world practice of HRM;
encourage students to develop a critical understanding of the extent to which organisations adhere to espoused HRM policies;
encourage students to explore the various HR challenges such as environmental, organisational, individual and in the performance of their day-to-day responsibilities; complicated relationship among top management, line managers, HR managers and employees and its effect on HR policies and practices;
encourage students to develop sound analytical skills based on in-depth literature research, learnt theories, case studies and work practices.

Presentation
Essays are a learning tool. They require you to gather and assess a range of information in relation to a particular question. To do this you need to distinguish between information that is relevant and not relevant, evaluate what people have said, and arrive at your own ideas on the topic based upon the different perspectives and viewpoints you have examined. Your ideas then need to be presented in such a way that the reader can clearly understand your view, the debate surrounding the topic and how you have arrived at your position. This means your ideas must be clearly articulated, logically presented and well supported.