Achieving High-Performance Work Practices

Implement high-performance work practices in unionized settings. Minimize resistance and gain support of the workforce; manage labor relations issues in global settings.

Description

In a constantly changing and competitive global business environment, it is necessary for organizations to continually increase efficiency, productivity, and profitability through the introduction of high-performance work practices (HPWP). This type of change is often met with resistance and controversy.

In this course, participants learn how to design and implement a successful strategy for introducing HPWP into unionized and non-unionized settings that minimizes resistance and gains support of the workforce. Beginning with a detailed analysis of a real-world case study, participants learn why it makes sense to introduce high-performance work practices systematically into the workplace and why it is essential to involve workers and union officials in the process of redesign as part of a successful collective bargaining process.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is essential for managers at any level and in any industry who wish to create a receptive environment for implementing high-performance work systems. It is also ideal for human resources and labor leaders, as well as legal staff.

Course Format

All eCornell courses are delivered online and are self-paced. An eCornell instructor leads the online discussions, grades any course projects, and is available to answer specific questions about the course content.

This course contains the following modules:

• Implementing High-Performance Work Practices: Where to Begin and How to Involve Workers and Union Officials
  • Options regarding scope of change and collaboration with workers and union leaders that are available to managers who are developing a plan to institute high-performance work practices, and the factors managers should consider when evaluating these options
  • Analyzing how the various options interact with each other and with the collective bargaining process
• Industrial Relation Issues in Structuring High-Performance Work Practices
  • The job design, compensation, and other work-practice options available to managers who are implementing high-performance work practices, and the factors managers should consider in deciding which options to pursue
  • Identifying the sources of worker and union resistance to change and implementing strategies to minimize this resistance

Benefits to the Learner

Participants who complete this course will be able to:

• Identify the most advantageous scope of change for their organization
• Anticipate controversial elements in their plan and minimize resistance
• Implement highly effective plans for team organization
• Design a compensation plan that ties pay to performance
• Develop a HPWP plan appropriate for their company

Authoring Faculty

Harry C. Katz, Ph.D., Dean

Sponsoring School

Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Total Learning Time

Approximately five to six hours over a period of two weeks.

Certificate Information

This course can be applied toward the following certificate:

• Business Leadership Skills

HRCI Recertification

This course been approved for six (6) Strategic Management recertification credit hours toward SPHR and GPHR recertification and six (6) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute. Please contact the Human Resource Certificate Institute (HRCI) for further information about certification or recertification.