2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses

Human Resource Management

Academic unit or major: Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s): Masayuki Masuda
Class Format: Lecture (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): Intensive
Class: -
Course Code: LAH.A422
Number of credits: 100
Course offered: 2026
Offered quarter: 2Q
Syllabus updated: Mar 5, 2026
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

The theme of this course is “Human Resource Management.”

This course offers opportunities to:
(1)Understand the concept and system of human resource management theory.
(2)Understand the classics of human resource management, which is the basis of the current human resource management theory and the new aspects of human resource management theory .
(3)Understand organizational behavior and organizational theory, which are the basis of various systems in human resource management theory.

Companies seek to acquire human resources, develop their capabilities, and retain them to increase their competitiveness.
The aim of this course is to learn how the various theories of human resource management have developed historically and to acquire basic knowledge of human resource management.

Course description and aims

By completing this course and engaging in preparatory study using the course materials, taking notes for each class session, and reviewing the lectures after class, students will acquire the following competencies:

(1) Explain the characteristics of human resource management theory.
(2) Describe the development from labor management to human resource management.
(3) Explain how leadership is assumed and exercised within organizations.
(4) Explain job consciousness in Japan and, based on this understanding, describe how organizations are designed as well as identify their challenges and significance.
(5) Explain the characteristics and limitations of employment management in Japan and describe approaches to individual career development in future society.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

The course worked as a team leader and manager in both domestic and international organizations.
In this class, I will share with participants practical human resource and organizational management techniques that I have developed to increase labor productivity by considering the individuality, motivation, and skill development of workers.

Keywords

Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development, Organizational Development

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Each class will be primarily conducted in a lecture. Depending on class size, group work and group discussions may be incorporated.
After each class, the students submit a short summary of what you have learned in the class.

In addition, this course will be conducted as an intensive face-to-face class on the following dates.
Class days and periods:
Aug.31（Mon）: Periods 1–4 (8:50–12:25)
Sep. 1（Tue） : Periods 1–4 (8:50–12:25)
Sep. 2（Wed）: Periods 1–6 (8:50–12:25 / 13:30–15:10)

The course will be offered at the Ookayama campus. The class room will be announced in the syllabus and other means as soon as it is decided.

This is the intensive course. If acquiring credits for this course is related to your own graduation, please keep the following two points in mind and fully understand the risks before taking this course.
- Intensive courses are held in a short period of time, and since there are many classes per day, as a general rule, it is not possible to take excused absences.
- Grades can not be reported in time for graduation decisions.If you plan to graduate in September 2026 and the credits for this course are related to your graduation, please take other courses.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Guidance; Self-Introduction; Description of Human Resource Management Theory.	Explain the development of human resource management theory. Describe the key characteristics of the employment relationship contract. Describe the main functions of human resource management.
Class 2	Generation of Human Resource Management Theory / Business Management and Human Resource Management	Describe the development from labor management to human resource management. Describe the role of human resource management in business management.
Class 3	Motivation to Work / Leadership to Motivate Staff	Explain the significance of work from the perspective of organizational behavior. Explain what kinds of individuals exercise leadership in organizations and how they do so.
Class 4	Job Design	Explain what a job is and describe the characteristics of job design that influence employee satisfaction and productivity.
Class 5	Organizational Design	Understand the fundamentals of organizational design and describe its challenges and significance.
Class 6	Employment Management and Career Development	Describe the characteristics and limitations of employment management in Japan. Explain approaches to individual career development in relation to organizations.
Class 7	Personnel Rating System and Professional System	Explain what the performance appraisal system in the skill-based qualification system is. Describe the effects and challenges of the professional career system.

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to course materials.

Textbook(s)

None specified.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

The Course materials will be provided via Science Tokyo LMS and other means.

Reference book (in Japanese):
“Human Resource Management,” ２nd edition (Chuo-keizaisha, 2025, ISBN-13: 978-4502532412)

Evaluation methods and criteria

After each class, students will submit a brief memo summarizing what you learned in that day's class. Each memo will count for 10% of the final grade (7 courses / 70% total).

Additionally, students will submit a final report (approximately 2,000 characters) after completing all intensive classes.
This report will count for 30% of the final grade, for a total of 100%.

Related courses

LAH.S406 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences6:Business System Design

Prerequisites

-The final class of this intensive course will be held September 2.
-As the final class date is after the Quarter2 grade submission deadline, grades cannot be submitted in time for 　　
completion procedures.
-If you plan to complete your degree in September 2026 and need this course credit for completion, please take another 　
course instead.
-An interest in Human Resources working in organizations is desirable.

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

masayuki.masuda.66[at]gmail.com

When inquiring by emails, include the course title "Human Resource Management" in the subject, and your student ID and name in the body of the email.

Office hours

Cotacts by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.

Other

This is an intensive course. If earning credits for this course is related to your graduation, please keep the following two points in mind and fully understand the risks before registering.
- This intensive course is conducted over a short period, with multiple classes per day. As such, authorized absences are generally not accepted.
- There is a possibility that grades may not be reported in time for decisions on graduation.