Discuss why human resource management (HRM) is essential to strategic thinking, and identify several key aspects of strategic HRM.

1. Essay 15% Due: Week 4 [Individual]
Indicative Length: 1500 words
Please choose one of the two topics, and develop an academic essay.
Topic1: Discuss why human resource management (HRM) is essential to strategic thinking, and identify several key aspects of strategic HRM.
Compulsory Readings:
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Taylor, S., Beechler, S., & Napier, N. 1996. Toward an integrative model of strategic international human resource management. Academy of Management Review, 21(4): 959-985.
Hambrick, D. C. & Fredrickson, J. W. 2001. Are you sure you have a strategy? The Academy of Management Executive, 15(4): 51-62.

Your assignment should include:
· Follow an essay format
· 5 academic journal articles (two of them have been provided as compulsory readings for each topic).
· Include relevant books, websites in addition to the journal articles.
· Summarize, synthesize, or critique your sources by discussing a common theme or issue.
· You should evaluate your sources.
· Provide subheadings and other background information, such as definitions and/or a history.
· Orientate your work towards the group assignment.
Look for other literature reviews in your area of interest and then to get a sense of the types of themes you might want to look for in your own research or ways to organize your final review.
Criteria for Grading Written Work:
a. Planning (30%) “ selecting and weighing relevant and reliable evidence, and structuring valid arguments based on that evidence showing discrimination in selecting key points and summarising the issues; a coherent, logical flow of arguments from one point to the next; no point discussed in excess of its relevance to the main question.
b. Content “ Understanding (30%) “ demonstrating a broad and deep knowledge of the substantive subject-matter, including but not limited to the set textbooks and readings, particularly those most relevant to the question: covering all major viewpoints relating to the set question or your own selected topic.
c. Content “ Analysis (30%) “ demonstrating your own independent and critical thinking in reaching conclusions (e.g., not merely parroting arguments, or making untested assumptions, on matters open to dispute).
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d. Referencing – (10%) Accurate citation of references using the Harvard system