Title: Module 1 Introduction: (CU1 M1) The Nature of Managing Human Capital
Course: SkillsCom BA 224 15.1 > Section: Credit Unit 1 Module 1

People are a firm’s most valuable resource, and many of the most successful firms proudly profess this fact in recruitment materials, press events, and statements of their corporate values. Human Resource Management has been a focus in corporate strategy for the last half-century, especially in light of the emergence of a service-based economy (whereby most firms today provide services as opposed to the products produced by firms in the past). In this unit, you will learn about the role that Human Capital Management plays within any organization. You will also review a variety of major topics pertaining to human capital, including the nature of HR management, strategies for HR management and planning, the legal framework for equal employment as it applies to managing diversity, and the application of affirmative action. Some of these subjects are so complex and diverse that they deserve their own courses. For example, the field of Managing Equal Employment and Diversity is so broad that the US federal government has created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to ensure that individuals receive equal treatment in employment-related activities. These topics will be touched upon in this unit to so that you can focus on the core of human capital management in the remaining unit.

Module Outcomes:

- Explain why managing human capital is relevant for all managers in any organization.
- Identify current trends and challenges in managing human capital today.
- Explain why strategic resource planning is necessary to attract, recruit, and retain valuable human capital.
- Identify key laws and legislation that shape how human capital decisions should be made.
- Identify the key elements and contexts of affirmative action, and use the insight to support making informed decisions regarding diversity when managing human capital.