Managing diversity and work-life balance
You need to keep a reflective journal, which you will later use to inform a written assignment. You may be asked to include comment on lectures, performances and the pre-reading and classroom experience. You are required to submit TWO (2) learning journals on the following chapters:
1. Chapters 1, 2:
Human resource management in Australia
Strategic human resource management
o The Legal context for human resource management
2. Chapters 8, 9:
Recruitment and selection
Managing diversity and work-life balance
The content of the reflection is up to you, although it should be based on the ideas and discussions from class and the relevant assigned readings. As well, a number of activities and reflection questions will be suggested in each class. Reflective Journal entries must demonstrate application of course materials to personal experience and observations and include an evaluation of those experiences and also lessons learned/
KEY ELEMENTS OF REFLECTION
Reflection is a type of thinking associated with deep thought, aimed at achieving better understanding. Effective leaders consciously develop their ability to reflect on their experiences and expand their worldview. They are able to critically observe their own behaviour and consider new/alternative ideas for potential learning. They learn to learn. It contains a mixture of elements:
1. Making sense of experience
We don’t always learn from experiences. Reflection is where we analyse experience, actively attempting to ‘make sense’ or find the meaning in it.
2. ‘Standing back’
It can be hard to reflect when we are caught up in an activity. ‘Standing back’ gives a better view or perspective on an experience, issue or action.
3. Repetition
Reflection involves ‘going over’ something, often several times, in order to get a broad view and check nothing is missed
4. Deeper honesty
Reflection is associated with ‘striving after truth’. Through reflection, we can acknowledge things that we find difficult to admit in the normal course of events.
5. ‘Weighing up’
Reflection involves being even-handed, or balanced in judgement. This means taking everything into account, not just the most obvious.
6. Clarity
Reflection can bring greater clarity, like seeing events reflected in a mirror. This can help at any stage of planning, carrying out and reviewing activities.
7. Understanding
Reflection is about learning and understanding on a deeper level. This includes gaining valuable insights that cannot be just ‘taught’.
8. Making judgements
Reflection involves an element of drawing conclusions in order to move on, change or develop an approach, strategy or activity.
WRITING FRAMEWORK
Your two separate reflection journals will focus on the topics covered in:
1. Chapters 1, 2:
Human resource management in Australia
Strategic human resource management
o The Legal context for human resource management
2. Chapters 8, 9:
Recruitment and selection
Managing diversity and work-life balance
HOW TO WRITE:
Reflective writing requires that you think deeply and write about a learning experience. During writing consider how the ideas we discussed in class and that you have gathered from the readings relate to you and your previous work or personal experiences. Do these concepts explain your experiences? If not, why? Personal experiences may be drawn from your current work or study environment or previous work experience. This involves writing about:
What happened (positive and negative).
Why it happened, what it means, how successful it was.
What you (personally) learned from the experience.
Examples
Describe
It took a lot of time at each meeting to decide what we needed to do that day and what we needed to do for the next meeting.
Analyse
It is possible that the different approaches reflect the different experience and backgrounds of team members.
Evaluate
The major benefit of working in a team for me was that it facilitated learning and enhanced my understanding of the project.
Self-awareness
Reflecting on the team experience has helped me to develop a better understanding my own strengths and weaknesses in a team.
Integration of theory
Khan (2011) describes conflict resolution as an integral part of the team experience.
Assessment Submission:
Presentations will be organised on a pre-arranged time between week 4 and 11. Early birds will be marked more leniently than the students coming late to book a presentation. You will not receive any marks if you are absent in your scheduled presentation time. However, consideration may be offered only under medical ground or other extenuating circumstances. You must provide appropriate supporting paper for consideration.
Presentation slides, project summary, and supporting materials must be submitted online in Moodle. All materials MUST be submitted electronically in Microsoft Office format. Other formats may not be readable by markers. Please be aware that any assessments submitted in other formats will be considered LATE and will lose marks until it is presented in Microsoft Office format.
No paper based or hardcopy submission will be accepted.
