Make That Grade in Human Resource Management

Make That Grade in Human Resource Management, Linda Reidy, Gill & Macmillan, 2007, ISBN: 9780717142040

At a time when many of our readers, possibly as part of their own lifelong learning strategy, are studying for exams in Human Resource, or Human Resource-related subjects, First Train thought it apt to review the latest study guide in the area of HRM.

Make That Grade was first published in 2003 and, in view of the multiplicity of legislation in the last four years, was in need of an update.  Importantly, this edition contains an up-to-date chapter on Employment Law in Ireland.

Linda Reidy, BA Psychology, DBA, MSc who lectures in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) wrote the book. As an aside, it is interesting to note that, as part of its degree programmes, AIT doesn’t offer any HR subjects to its students, after the second year [Higher Certificate level] of the courses. Linda also co-authored, with Marian O’Sullivan, the very readable Managing People in the Workplace [2004]. This popular book is aimed at owners and managers of small and medium-sized companies based in Ireland who do not have a dedicated human resources function.

Make That Grade aims at facilitating the learning and revision process for students studying HR as a component of business programmes at undergraduate level. Throughout, it is written with a clear focus on the learner, and doesn’t pretend to be a book of reference in any shape or form.

The book provides quick access to key concepts and, very usefully, offers a good range of important Irish case studies in the area. It is presented so that each chapter commences with a section on Learning Objectives and one on key Definitions relevant to the chapter.  Equally, each chapter finishes with a useful Summary as well as a list of ‘Important Terms & Concepts’ covered in the chapter.  It is assumed that this list is to be used a revision prompt. Assisting the revision process further, the final swoop of each chapter is a number of revision questions.

The book is divided into four sections: Introduction to HRM, The Employee Resourcing Process, Managing Performance and Employee Relations. The book is pleasingly short and compact and, in that it attempts to provide a complete overview of Human Resource Management, it is very useful for last-minute revision. Sometimes it can be argued that it is too brief. For example, the final part of the Employee Relations section deals with Employment Law in just over 20 pages: perhaps elements of some of the descriptions could be expanded a little, particularly the Employment Equality section.

That said, one person’s wordiness is another’s brevity. This reviewer has met at least one senior HR person who uses the book not as a preparation tool for exams but as a revision tool for themselves, just to ensure that they are up-to-date. Apparently, he keeps the book in the smallest room of his house and runs through the revision questions. There’s commitment.

The book could also be a useful – and short - introduction to the area of HRM for owners and managers of SMEs.

All in all, a useful book that will simplify the revision load of many a student at this time of year, and for years to come.

Guy Flouch