Programme: BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Course Title: HRMN4005 PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND REWARDS
First Semester 2022-23
Number of units: 3 units
Prerequisite: BUS12005 Organisational Behaviour
Level: IV
Duration: 40 hours
Course Description and Objectives:
Performance and Reward Management represents two pivotal and closely related
facets of human resource management. Being equipped with an awareness of the
current issues and trends of performance management and reward practices for local
and multinational organisations in Hong Kong, they form the prerequisites of the
formation of a well integrated, effective, and highly motivated and satisfied
workforce.
This course examines the major principles, concepts, and techniques of performance
appraisal and reward practices. These practices include understanding key elements
of performance management, designing an effective appraisal system, conducting
appraisal interview, and developing and managing an equitable and competitive
reward system.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the course, the students are expected to:
1. Understand the philosophies, principles and theories underlying performance and
reward management.
2. Recognise the role that performance and reward practices play in supporting a
company’s competitive advantage.
3. Learn how organisation design, implement, and manage effective performance
appraisal and reward system.
4. Acquire interviewing and coaching skills essential to appraisal.
5. Gain knowledge and competencies about making compensation decisions.
6. Become acquainted with the context of performance and reward management
and the contemporary challenges that HR professionals face.
Teaching Methods:
A combination of teaching methods, including lectures, case studies, team-based
projects & presentations, role-play, group discussion and so forth, will be used.
Lectures provide the conceptual framework of performance and reward
management, drawing from relevant literature and best practices. Case studies and
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other exercises provide opportunities for students to discuss key issues and apply
concepts to practical situations. Role-play and presentations enhance participation
and active interaction among students.
Course Requirements and Assessment:
Assessment is a combination of one individually based written assignment (10%), a
group project (30%), a mid-term test (10%), and an examination of two hours
completed at the end of the course (40%). All students are expected to actively
participate in the class discussion as well as their participation in an annual pay level
survey results announcement activities on 20th October 2022 via face-to-face (or
online if face-to-face setting is not possible as instructed by the University due to
COVID-19 Outbreaks). (Rubric 1) (10%).
Individual Written Assignment (10%)
An individually based assignment requires each student to critically review appraisal
forms currently used by a local/multinational company of their own choice and make
recommendation for further enhancement of form design basing on what they have
learnt from the Course. The report should include analysis of weaknesses and
limitations of existing design, highlighting the areas of improvement with justification
and understanding of the existing appraisal process. The report should be no more
than 1,000 words, and students do not need to enclose with the revised form in the
report. This individual report should need to be submitted by Week 8, i.e. 27th
October 2022. Please refer to Rubric 2 in the Appendix for details
Group Project (30%)
To enhance understanding of the applicability and importance of theory and concepts
to practical situations - ‘the real world’ - students are required to complete a group
project. Students should form Only Six (6) Teams, with at least six (6) students per
team, by Week 4, i.e. 29th September, 2022.
Groups should select a company of own choice. Target companies can be
International/Local, Profit-Making or Non-Governmental/Non-Profit Making
Organisations and Social Enterprises, but they must have operations in Hong Kong.
The targeted company may be of any size; however, it is recommended that it
employs at least 100 full-time or equivalent employees.
Acting as HR consultants, groups are required to describe, analyze & evaluate the
company’s current performance appraisal and reward systems/policies/practices and
their integration to Corporate HR Strategy as well as overall business strategy of the
Corporation, with recommendations and measures of success of the
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recommendations for the improvement in leadership, management and governance
of the target companies in helping them to reward and motivate their human
resources in more effective ways. In addition to incorporating theory, concepts, and
other insights gained from lectures, relevant readings and other coursework, students
are required to include both primary (e.g., interviewing human resources staff, or
operational staff in person or through different electronic means, which deemed
appropriate, for collecting company documentation and policies, and etc.) and
secondary (e.g., newspapers, journal articles, surveys, statistics, related websites or
social media etc.) sources of information.
The report should be no more than 2,500 words, excluding references and
appendices, 12-point font, typed and double-spaced. Groups are also required to
present their project analyses and findings to the class during the last two sessions.
Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes followed by a short question and answer
(Q&A) session, with a total of 30 minutes allocated per team. It is the group’s
responsibility to lead, stimulate, and get the classmates involved in the discussion.
Please also refer to Rubric 3 in the Appendix for details. Peer evaluation is required
and please refer to the form provided in this Course Outlines for details. Students
with lower participation/involvement in the project work would result in lower score
of this project. There will be a five percent deduction in grade for each day for late
submission of group report.
Examination (50%)
a. Mid-Term Test (10%)
It will be all multiple choice questions and is to be held in class on Week 8, i.e.
27th October 2022.
b. Final Examination (40%)
A normal 2-hour close book face-to-face examination would be given at the
end of the semester and it will be a comprehensive examination that covers all
the materials in text or classes (e.g., discussions, lectures, case analyses,
exercises, anything….). The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate students’
apprehension of HRM concepts and theories as well as their applications to
solving HRM-related issues. If the Face-to-Face Mode of teaching is impossible
to be arranged eventually to the end of this semester due to COVID-19
Outbreaks, this assessment may be changed to individual take home case
studies or similar means. You will be notified once a final decision is made by
the last day of the class of the Course.
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Overall Assessment:
Class Participation, In-Class Discussion 10%
Assignments
Individual Written Assignment 10%
Group Project and Presentation 30%
Examination
Mid –Term Test 10%
Final Examination 40% 50%
Total: 100%
Recommended Textbooks & References:
Recommended Textbook:
Newman, J.M. & Gerhart, B. (2020). Compensation (13th Ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill.
Aguins. H. (2018). Performance Management (4th Ed.). Chicago Business Press.
References:
Armstrong, M. (2017). Armstrong’s Handbook of Performance Management (6th Ed.).
London: Kogan Page.
Hutchison, S. Ed. (2013). Performance Management: Theory and Practice. London:
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Nair, J.E. (2004). Essentials of Balanced Scorecard. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Neal, J.E. (2014). Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals: A Guide to Successful
Evaluations (13th ed.). Ohio: Neal Publications Inc.
Rock, D., Davis, J., & Jones, B. (2014). Kill Your Performance Ratings.
Strategy+business Magazine, Issue 76, 3-11.
Shields, J., Rooney, J., Brown, M., & Kaine, S. (2020). Managing Employee
Performance and Reward: Systems, Practices & Prospects. Cambridge University
Press.
Waters, S.D., Streets, V., McFarlanc, L. & Johnson-Murray, R. (2018). The Practical
Guide to HR analytics: Using Data to Inform, Transform, and Empower HR Decisions.
Society for HRM.
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Lecture Schedule:
Section Weekday Time Venue
1 Thursday 8:30am – 11:20am WLB103
2 Thursday 12:30pm – 3:20pm AAB505
Lecture Topic Remark
Performance Appraisal and Management
1 8 Sept.
th
Overview & Introduction of Performance Management
2 15th Sept. Definition of Performance & Performance Management
Process
3 22nd Sept. Performance Appraisal Methods, Distortions &
Techniques
4 29th Sept. Employee Development, and Deadline for submission of
Performance Appraisal Interviewing project team grouping list
Reward Management
5 6th Oct. Reward Philosophies, and
Pay Strategy & Model
6 13th Oct. Internal Relativity & Job Pricing
7 20th Oct. 2022 Annual Pay level Survey Press Conference and Both students of Section 1
Venue & Seminar and 2 are expected to attend
Time: it.
TBA
8 27th Oct. Mid-Term Test Confirmation of Project
Internal Relativity & Job Pricing (Cont.) presentation sequence
Date due for individual report
9 3rd Nov. External Competitiveness & Market Positioning
10 10th Nov. Designing Pay Systems & Structures
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11 17th Nov. Performance-related pay
12 24th Nov. Benefit Planning & Administration Date due for submission of the
Project Presentation (Two Teams) team report by the presenting
teams
13 1st Dec. Project Presentation (Four Teams) Date due for submission of
& Course Review the team report by the
presenting teams
Note:
1. An annual pay level survey press conference and seminar jointly organised by
the Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development, HKBU and Hong
Kong People Management Association has been scheduled on 20th October
and all students of both Section 1 and 2 are expected to attend either the
press conference in the morning or seminar in the afternoon via in person as
helper.
2. Adjustments may be made based on the progress of the course.
Instructor: Dr. Felix Yip
Office: WLB602B
Contact: Tel: 3411 5514
Email: felixyip@hkbu.edu.hk
Consultation ONLY by Appointment:
All Thursdays: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
All Fridays: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
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HRMN4005 Performance Appraisal and Rewards
PEER EVALUATION FOR GROUP PROJECT
Instructions:
Assess your team members for the contribution to the Group Project
Assignment using the rating scales.
Team Process: To what extent do you agree that the person is
cooperative and engaging in the team process?
1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neither agree nor disagree, 4 =
agree, 5 = strongly agree
Quality of Output: To what extent are you satisfied with the quality of
output the person submit to the team?
1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,
4 = satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Name of Team: Team Quality of Overall
Process Output Rating
(1-5) (1-5)
Team Leader:
Team Member:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Overall Rating = 50% of Score of Team Process + 50% of Score of Quality
of Output.
Submit this form individually to the Instructor on the date of group
project presentation.
Name of Student:_______________________
Student No._____________
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ASSESSMENT RUBRICS
Rubric 1: Class Participation (10%)
Criterion Emerging Developing Accomplished Exemplary
1 2 3 4
Interaction Student has virtually Student has Student makes a Student actively
with peers no interaction with limited interaction sincere and on- supports and
(30%) peers with peers going effort to listens to peers
interact with peers
Level of Student rarely Student has Student Student plays an
participation participates in inconsistent level participates active role in
in discussions and of participation in constructively in discussions.
discussions demonstrates discussions. When discussions and Comments
(70 %) noticeable lack of prepared, student makes relevant occasionally
interest. Comments participates comments based advance the level
are generally vague constructively in on the assigned and depth of
or drawn from discussions and material. dialogue.
outside material. makes relevant
comments based
on the assigned
material.
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Rubric 2: Individual Written Assignment (10%)
Criterion Emerging Developing Accomplished Exemplary
1 2 3 4
Content Student recalls Student recalls Student Student
(70%) basic knowledge, basic knowledge demonstrates an demonstrates full
but with no with minimal understanding understanding with
evidence of evidence of and ability to elaboration in
understanding or understanding or apply the problem solving.
application of application of knowledge.
knowledge. knowledge. Student can apply
Student can concepts in solving
Student addresses Student addresses address relatively business problems.
a minimum only rudimentary complex questions
number of basic questions. with some
questions. elaboration.
Organization Organization and Structure of the Structure is mostly Structure of the
(20%) structure detract paper is not easy clear and easy to paper is clear and
from the message. to follow. follow. easy to follow.
Writing is Transitions need Transitions are Transitions are
disjointed and improvement. present. logical and maintain
lacks transition of the flow of thought
thoughts. Conclusion is Conclusion is throughout the
missing, or if logical. paper.
provided, does
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Criterion Emerging Developing Accomplished Exemplary
1 2 3 4
not flow from the Conclusion is logical
body of the paper. and flows from the
body of the paper.
Grammar There is a There are a large There are sporadic There are hardly any
(10 %) distracting number of errors errors in errors in grammar,
amount of errors in grammar, grammar, spelling, spelling, sentence
in grammar, spelling, sentence sentence structure,
spelling, sentence structure, structure, punctuation and/or
structure, punctuation punctuation capitalization. The
punctuation and/or and/or overall product
and/or capitalization. But capitalization. shows
capitalization, the overall The overall professionalism,
thus obstructing product is not product is not accuracy and
the reader from obstructive to obstructive to seriousness towards
understanding the understanding its understanding its its making.
content. meaning. meaning.
Rubric 3: Group Project Report (30%)
Criterion Emerging Developing Accomplished Exemplary
1 2 3 4
Content Student recalls basic knowledge, Student recalls Student Student demonstrates full
(40%) but with no evidence of basic knowledge demonstrates an understanding with
understanding or application of with minimal understanding elaboration in problem
knowledge. evidence of and ability to solving.
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Criterion Emerging Developing Accomplished Exemplary
1 2 3 4
understanding or apply the
Student addresses a minimum application of knowledge. Student can apply
number of basic questions. knowledge. concepts in solving
Student can business problems.
Student addresses address relatively
only rudimentary complex
questions. questions with
some elaboration.
Actions Student proposes no action or Student proposes Student proposes Student proposes multiple
(20%) proposes infeasible action(s). one reasonable multiple actions which seem to
action. reasonable deal with the most
actions. important issues.
Organization Organization and structure Structure of the Structure is Structure of the paper is
(10%) detract from the message. paper is not easy mostly clear and clear and easy to follow.
to follow. easy to follow.
Writing is disjointed and lacks Transitions are logical and
transition of thoughts. Transitions need Transitions are maintain the flow of
improvement. present. thought throughout the
paper.
Conclusion is Conclusion is
missing, or if logical. Conclusion is logical and
provided, does not flows from the body of the
flow from the paper.
body of the paper.
Grammar There is a distracting amount of There are a large There are There are hardly any
(10%) errors in grammar, spelling, number of errors sporadic errors in errors in grammar,
sentence structure, punctuation in grammar, grammar, spelling, sentence
and/or capitalization, thus spelling, sentence spelling, sentence structure, punctuation
obstructing the reader from structure, structure, and/or capitalization. The
understanding the content. punctuation punctuation overall product shows
and/or and/or professionalism, accuracy
capitalization. But capitalization. and seriousness towards
the overall The overall its making.
product is not product is not
obstructive to obstructive to
understanding its understanding its
meaning. meaning.
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Criterion Emerging Developing Accomplished Exemplary
1 2 3 4
Audience Student avoids connecting with Student makes Student is able to Student is able to focus on
Awareness the audience, as demonstrated limited eye- make conscious the audience 90% of the
(10%) by uncomfortable or sporadic contact but voice eye-contact but time with effective eye-
eye-contact and very weak voice quality is only out of contact that reaches out
quality. adequate. formality or to the audience. Voice
professor’s quality is usually good
Reference to the script is Reference to the expectation. with enough projection
frequent and reading from the script and reading and good pauses.
screen is obvious from the screen is Student maybe
frequent. referring to the Student may refer to the
script and the script at times, but is
screen longer conscious not to lose
than required and audience awareness.
loses audience
awareness from
time to time.
Team work The group do not work well The group The group works The group works well with
(10%) together. There are obvious communicates well with each each other and the
miscommunications. Little relatively well with other and workload is shared equally
collaboration occurred. few lapses in the communicate amongst the group
presentation; well. Some members.
some students members
dominate and participate
other do not slightly more than
participate much. others.
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