MHR 733 Training & Development

Fall 2015 Section 011

LECTURER INFORMATION
Lecturer:
E-mail:
Office:
Office Hours:

Louis Pike, Ph.D.

L1pike@ryerson.ca
TRS 2-133
Tuesdays, 3-5, Wednesdays, 2-3 PM or by appointment.

COURSE INFORMATION
Prerequisites and/or Exclusions: MHR 523 or HTH 503 (Human Resources Management)
Accessibility: The University and I welcome feedback on accessibility issues. Let me know in person, by phone
or by email any concerns you have and I will direct them to the appropriate person(s).
Course Drop Information:
Please see http://ryerson.ca/currentstudents/calendars/significant-dates.html for information on withdrawal dates
and penalties.
Posting of Grades and Feedback on Work: Grades on assignments and tests will be posted on the BRIGHTSPACE
D2L site for the course. Students who do not want their course grades posted must inform the Lecturer in writing
before the second session. Students will receive the results of their term work before the final deadline for dropping
courses without academic penalty. All assignments submitted for grading will be handed back within three weeks,
except for the final assignment which will be available after official final grades are available.
E-mail usage and Limits:
E-mail Communication: Students must use the e-mail address listed above to communicate with the Lecturer. Emails and BRIGHTSPACE D2L bulletin board postings sent Monday to Friday will be answered within 48 hours.
Students are required to activate and maintain a Ryerson Matrix e-mail account. This shall be the official means by
which you will receive university communications. Faculty will not respond to student enquiries from any other email address. See Policy #157 found at http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol157.pdf for further information on
this issue. All communication about the course or material related to the course will be posted on the
BRIGHTSPACE D2L course site. In addition, all student study resources can be accessed through BRIGHTSPACE
D2L. Students are expected to check the site regularly for updates.

Maintaining a Professional Learning Environment:

Laptop computers, cell phones, or other devices may not be used in the classroom since they are distracting to
students, speakers and to your Lecturer. If a student wishes to use a laptop computer to take notes, or because of a
disability, he/she must negotiate this directly with the professor in the first or second class. If a student continues to
use the above electronic equipment after one warning, they will be asked to leave the classroom.

Students are required to conduct themselves respectfully in class this means no chatting with friends while the
Lecturer or others are speaking, reading newspapers, working on assignments for other classes. Desktops should be
clear of all materials not required for the lecture.

Students are expected to remain in their seats and not come and go during class lectures, discussions, simulations, as
this is disruptive and disrespectful.

Course Calendar Description:

This course examines the theory and practice of the training and development function of human resources management
in work organizations. Students will learn how to assess training needs, set learning objectives, design learning activities,
and evaluate program effectiveness through hands-on experience. Related topics included are learning theory, alternatives
to training, staffing and societal issues, and training.
Course Overview:
Employees need to continuously update their knowledge and skills because new knowledge is always being created and the
external environment is constantly changing. Consequently, the ability to educate and train employees is crucial to success
in all sectors, including business, industry, government, education or non- profit. We are all educators whether our
professional role is trainer, coach, mentor, manager or colleague. Therefore, this course is designed to help students
understand the theory and practice of training and development.
This course will explore the various aspects of training and development providing the learner with the essentials
to understand and design their own training and development program.
The importance of adult learning principles of interactive and experiential learning is highlighted throughout the course and
will be expected of all learners in their learning engagement as well as, their training components. Hence, many of the
learning activities you will be engaged in will be interactive and experiential in nature.
Just as employees must be responsible for their own learning, students in this course will be expected to take
responsibility for their own learning. The Lecturers role is more facilitative than directive.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The course has been designed to include the needs of those students who are preparing to write the national knowledge exam
leading to the designation as a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) by the Canadian Council of Human Resources
Associations (CCHRA).
On completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
1. Develop an understanding of the issues in managing the training and development function of organizations and its
relation to organizational performance.
2. Design and develop training programs (at an introductory level) using principles of learning and considering training
needs and objectives.
3. Develop an understanding of the various training methods.
4. Ability to conduct a training needs analysis (job, person, and organization analysis) and aligning the analysis with
appropriate training plan and methods.

5. Document specific and measurable training objectives (person and organization).

6. Develop an awareness of a variety of training methods including their advantages and limitations and develop the ability
to select the appropriate method to achieve training objectives.
7. Develop an in-depth knowledge of a training method/topic selected by the student groups (including design and delivery.
8. Be aware of several ways to evaluate the impact of training.
TEACHING METHODS:
This course will incorporate some of the following teaching/learning methods: lecture, discussion, experiential exercises,
videos, group work/self-managed teams, debates, fishbowl exercises, simulations, problem-solving exercises & applied
assignments. You will learn to integrate theory & practice in order to positively influence behaviour in the workplace.

TEXTBOOK:
Saks, A. and R. Haccoun (2013). Managing Performance through Training and Development, Sixth Edition. Toronto, ON:
Thomson Nelson.

EVALUATION:
Individual Research Paper
Needs Analysis Assignment
Midterm exam
Training Session, including a
Training Foundation Document
Participation
Final exam

15%
10% (10% group)
15% individual
30% (20% group; 10% individual)
5% (students must attend all student training presentations in order to get
participation points1)
25% individual

Students must pass both the midterm exam and the final exam in order to pass the course.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS:
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER
The individual research-based paper will address recent trends in the field of training and development. The broad scope
will allow students to pursue a line of research that is of interest to them and also relevant to the course objectives. Research
will be based on a combination of scholarly, professional and lay literature. 3-5 page, double-spaced. See Assignment
Guideline document on D2L for important details.
Your Individual Research Paper cannot be on the same topic as your groups training module.
NEEDS ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT
The goal of this assignment is to develop awareness of the benefits and limitations of various training needs analysis
techniques. The assignment involves in-class and external data-gathering activities. Your group will submit a report
describing your findings and recommendations. See Assignment Guideline document on D2L for important details.
1

Unless supported by a Ryerson Medical Form.

TRAINING SESSION AND FOUNDATIONS DOCUMENT:

Training Session: Your team will design a training session and deliver it to your classmates-as-trainees. Your training
design should use the theories you have learned in the course. It will be evaluated, in large part, based on how well you use
those theories. You are also expected to incorporate scholarly and lay research into your training session material. Provide
me with hardcopy of your presentation slides on the day you deliver your session. See Assignment Guideline document on
D2L for important details.
Training Foundations Document: This 3-5 page, double-spaced document accompanies the hardcopy of the training
session slides you give me on the day your conduct your training session and explains which theories your team used to
design your training session. See Assignment Guideline document on D2L for important details.
All group members must contribute equally to the design and delivery of the training session and to the preparation of
the Training Foundations Document.
MIDTERM TEST:
The test will cover all material assigned from the beginning of the course through the date of the midterm exam,
including all readings and class activities. If you are ill for the midterm, please let me know BEFORE the test begins
and provide a doctors certificate on the Ryerson form to substantiate illness within 3 weekdays of the exam. The
midterm test will be closed-book; that is, no aids will be allowed.
FINAL EXAM:
The exam is cumulative: it may incorporate the entire course readings, class exercises & activities, including student
training presentations. The final exam will be a closed-book exam; that is, no aids will be allowed.
PARTICIPATION:
Attendance & participation in activities is expected at every class. Please note the way in which you participated in each
class on your name card. Attendance is mandatory for the student presentations 2. Missing any of those classes (in whole or
part) will result in a loss of your entire 10% participation grade.
WRITTEN ENGLISH STANDARD
Students are expected to use an acceptable standard of business communication for all assignments and tests. Technical
errors (spelling, punctuation, proofing, grammar, format, and citations) and/or inappropriate levels of language or
composition may result in marks being deducted. You are encouraged to obtain assistance from the Writing Centre
(www.ryerson.ca/writingcentre) for help with your written communication as needed.

Course Management
Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be necessary during the term at the
discretion of the Lecturer. If so, students will be advised, and alterations will be discussed prior to implementation.
Students will be informed of any alterations through email and/or announcements on BRIGHTSPACE D2L.
Academic Consideration
Students must submit assignments on time. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 25% per day
including weekends.
There will be no penalty for work missed for a JUSTIFIABLE REASON. Students need to inform the
Lecturer of any situation that arises during the semester that may have an adverse affect on their
2

Unless supported by a Ryerson Medical Form.

academic performance, and request any necessary considerations according to the policies and well in advance.
Failure to do so will jeopardize any academic appeals.
o Medical certificates If a student is going to miss a deadline for an assignment, a test or an examination
because of illness, he/she must submit a medical certificate (see www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf
for the certificate) to the Lecturer within 3 days of the missed assignment deadline, test or examination.
o Religious observance If a student needs accommodation because of religious observance, he/she must
submit a formal request to the Lecturer within the first two weeks of the class or for a final examination
within 5 days of the posting of the examination schedule.
o Students with disabilities - In order to facilitate the academic success and access of students with disabilities,
these students should register with the Access Centre www.ryerson.ca/accesscentre/. Before the first graded
work is due, students should also inform their Lecturer through an
Accommodation Form for Professors that they are registered with the Access Centre and what
accommodations are required.
o Regrading or recalculation These requests must be made to the Lecturer within 10 working days of the
return of the graded assignment to the class. These are not grounds for appeal, but are matters for discussion
between the student and the Lecturer.
Other valid reasons must be approved by the Lecturer in advance. If you do not have a justifiable reason
for an absence, you will not be given credit or marks for the work missed during that absence.
For more detailed information on these issues, please refer to Policy #134 at
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/ (Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals) and Policy #150
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/ (Accommodation of Student Religious Observance Obligations.
Academic Integrity
Students are required to adhere to all relevant University policies, such as the Student Code of Academic
Conduct. University regulations concerning unacceptable academic conduct (cheating, plagiarism,
impersonation, etc.) will be followed. See the Ryerson University calendar or online versions at
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf and http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf and
http://www.ryerson.ca/studentguide/ for more explanation. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and penalties
range from zero in an assignment all the way to expulsion from the university. In any academic exercise, plagiarism
occurs when one offers as ones own work the words, data, ideas, arguments, calculations, designs or productions of
another without appropriate attribution or when one allows ones work to be copied. (See the Ryerson Library for
APA style guide references: http://www.ryerson.ca/library/subjects/style/index.html).
It is assumed that all examinations and work submitted for evaluation and course credit will be the product
of individual effort, except in the case of team projects arranged for and approved by the course Lecturer.
Submitting the same work to more than one course, without Lecturers approval, is also considered plagiarism.

NOTE: Students may not drop a course when they have been notified of the suspicion of academic

misconduct. If a student attempts to drop the course, the Registrars office will re-register the student in
that course until a decision is reached.
When an Lecturer has reason to suspect that an individual piece of work has been plagiarized, the
Lecturer shall be permitted to submit that work to any plagiarism detection service.
For more detailed information on these issues, please refer to the Student Code of Academic Conduct (see
Policy #60 at www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/ and the Academic Integrity Website
(www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity).
Examinations
During examinations, students must display their Ryerson photo ID cards, valid drivers license or other
verifiable institutional form of identification. All electronic devices, such as cell phones and mp3 players are
prohibited. Students are also not permitted to wear hats or to have food or drink (unless it is in a clear container with
no label).
For more detailed information on examination policies, please refer to Policy# 135 at
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/.
5

Course Repeats:
Ryerson Senate GPA policy prevents students from taking a course more than three times. (i.e., registered initially,
repeated once, repeated twice = 3 registrations) If you fail a required course for the third time, you will be assigned an
academic standing of Withdrawn, and will be ineligible to continue in your program. For complete GPA Policy see
policy No. 46 at www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/
Academic Grading Policy
Evaluation of student performance will follow established academic grading policy outlined in the Ryerson
GPA Policy (See Policy #46 at www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/. The grading system is summarized below:
Definition

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Marginal

Unsatisfactory

Letter Grade

Grade Point

Conversion Range

A+

4.33

90-100

4.00

85-89

A-

3.67

80-84

B+

3.33

77-79

3.00

73-76

B-

2.67

70-72

C+

2.33

67-69

2.00

63-66

C-

1.67

60-62

D+

1.33

57-59

1.00

53-56

D-

0.67

50-52

0.00

0-49

GUIDELINES/PROCEDURES FOR MISSED TERM TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS, or FINAL EXAMS:

You must inform your Lecturer immediately of any situation which arises during the semester which has an adverse
effect on your academic performance and you must request any necessary considerations or accommodations from your
Lecturer.
For missed term work, you must do the following:
Inform your Lecturer by e-mail prior to the test.
Present the completed official Ryerson medical certificate to your Lecturer within three days. See
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf for the required Ryerson medical form.
o Provide religious Observance requests to your Lecturer within the first two weeks of class. See
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf

If you cannot attend the final exam you must do the

following:

Inform your Lecturer prior to the exam.

6

Present the completed official Ryerson medical certificate to your Lecturer within three days. See
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf for the required Ryerson medical form.
If the medical documentation is approved and the Lecturer assigns an Incomplete (INC), it is the students
responsibility to arrange with the Lecturer to write a makeup exam at the first available opportunity.
o INC Incomplete course work or a missed final examination due to documented medical or
compassionate grounds. An INC can be awarded only when the completion of the outstanding work or an
alternate final examination may result in a passing grade. The outstanding work or alternate
examination must be completed by a specified date within three months of the submission of the INC.
The INC will be replaced by an official course grade when the work is completed. If the work is not
completed by the deadline, the INC will become a grade of F. The designation INC is not included in
calculating the GPA nor is it counted as a course credit or failed course.

Ryerson University & Chang School Services

For all questions regarding TRSM - Business Management courses/programmes, academic issues,
accommodation questions or any concerns that you are not sure where to get help, contact the Business
Management School by going to the main office at TRS 1-004 or go to
http://www.ryerson.ca/tedrogersschool/bm/index.html or email the staff at
asktrsbm@ryerson.ca or call 416-979-5121
Any student taking any TRSM course can go to Student Services in TRSM which is located in Room
TRS 2-168 or email student.trsm@ryerson.ca or go to www.ryerson.ca/student.trsm for information about
any services available across campus
Learning Success Centre: www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/learningsuccess/
For Makeup Tests go to http://www.ryerson.ca/makeup/ & follow the booking procedures
For assistance if you have any kind of disability (e.g., learning, mobility, visual, etc.), call the Access
Centre 416-979-5000 ext. 5290 or go to http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/accesscentre/
For Financial Aid, go to http://www.ryerson.ca/currentstudents/financialaid/
For Health Care/Services, go to http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/medicalcentre/
There are many services (including personal counselling, learning success, housing and so on) at Student
Services: www.ryerson.ca/studentservices
For help with job search, resume preparation, contact the Career Centre at ext. 5177 or go to
www.ryerson.ca/career
For internship and job opportunities for TRSM students, go to
http://www.ryerson.ca/businesscareers/index.html
For security, go to www.ryerson.ca/security or to request an escort, call 416-979-5040 or by pressing the
yellow button on any campus payphone or dial ext.5040 on any internal phone
Aboriginal students, please check out Aboriginal Student Services at www.ryerson.ca/aboriginal or call
(416) 979-5000, ext. 7699
Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services Office www.ryerson.ca/equity or email
dhps@ryerson.ca or call 416-979-5000 ext. 5349
The Writing Centre (tutoring, handouts, etc.): http://www.ryerson.ca/writingcentre/
For the Exchange Programme in the Ted Rogers School of Business Management, go to
http://www.ryerson.ca/tedrogersschool/students/studentlife/international-exchange.html
For International students go to http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/internationalservices/

For the Chang School, go to http://ce-online.ryerson.ca/ce/

For the Mature Student site, go to http://atwood.ryerson.ca/~mature/forum/

For CESAR, go to http://www.mycesar.ca/

The Human Resources / Organizational Behaviour Department (HRM/OB) and Continuing

Education (CE) Contacts

The Human Resources Student Association (HRSA): http://hrsa.ca/ or

https://www.facebook.com/HRSA.Ryerson/app_167969729896883
o email is hrsa@ryerson.ca
o office location is TRSM 1-14
o ext. 2438

The Chairperson for Human Resources Management & Organizational Behaviour department: Dr.
Patricia Sniderman, psnider@ryerson.ca or (416) 979-5000 ext. 6751

The Administrative Assistant to the Chair and the department: Maria Dorsey, mdorsey@ryerson.ca or
ext. 4069

Continuing Education (CE) Director for Business: Dr. Linda Koechli

lkoechli@ryerson.ca or ext. 6665

Academic (CE) Coordinator for HROB: Genevieve Farrell, gfarrell@ryerson.ca or ext. 7812

Programme Coordinator for CE: Rose Reid, rosereid@ryerson.ca or ext. 5310

HR Professional Organizations

Resources Professionals Association: http:// www.hrpa.ca

The Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD): http://www.cstd.ca/

Society for Human Resources Management (USA): www.shrm.org

TOPICS SEQUENCE & SCHEDULE: (Tentative)

DATE

WEEK

TOPICS

READINGS

Tuesday,
Sept. 8

Course Overview & Introduction to Training &

Development

Ch. 1, pp. 5-11, 16-23

Sept. 15

Ch. 4

Sept. 22

Form Project Teams

Needs Analysis
Learning and Motivation

Sept. 29

Ch. 5

Oct. 6

Training Design
Submit proposed topic for Individual Research
Paper Methods
Off-the-job Training
Technology-Based Training Methods

October
12-16

Ch. 3

Ch. 6
Ch. 8

FALL STUDY WEEK

Oct. 20

Submit Needs Analysis Assignment

MIDTERM EXAM

Oct. 27

Submit Individual Research Paper

On-the-job Training Methods

Ch. 7

Nov. 3

Training Delivery

Ch. 9

Transfer of Training
Training Evaluation

Ch. 10
Ch. 11

9
Nov. 10

Nov. 17

10

Nov. 24

11

Dec. 1

12

Submit hardcopy of slides and Training

Foundations Document
Training Sessions: Groups: A, B,C
Submit hardcopy of slides and Training
Foundations Document
Training Sessions: Groups: D, E, F
Submit hardcopy of slides and Training
Foundations Document
Training Sessions: Groups G, H, I
Course Review (time permitting)

The last day to drop the course without academic penalty is November 20, 2015