Teaching HRM and Managerial Skills with the 'Living Case'

The purpose of this paper is to describe and evaluate an innovative approachto teaching human resource management. The approach involves studentsworking in small groups on a semester-long project in the form of an ongoingcase-study (hereafter called the 'living case). After setting up a simulatedorganization complete with identification of strategies, structure and culture,students are required to make and defend a series of HR decisions in whichthey apply theory and classroom learning about HRM to their 'real' organization. The approach emphasizes the context of HRM decisions and helps todevelop a range of both HR specific and more general management competencies. The living case develops managerial skills which have recently beenidentified as critical to future success in Australian organizations.