MANA 4358Compensation Systems


 

COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Room:128 Melcher Hall 

Course:Section#11116, Fall 2001.

Time:10:00am-11:30am, Monday and Wednesday.

Professor:Dr. Steve Werner

Office:315 G Melcher Hall

Phone:(713) 743-4672

Fax:(713) 743-4652

Email:swerner@uh.edu

Website:www.cba.uh.edu/~werner

Office Hours:3:00-6:00pm Wednesday, or by appointment.


 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The focus of this course is to consider the applied issues in the direct compensation of employees.The course is intended to develop skills in making compensation decisions and examine current issues in compensation administration.The skill building portion of the course will simulate activities typically performed by senior compensation analysts employed by large complex organizations.During this course students will learn how to develop a compensation plan for an organization.The goals of the plan will be to control labor costs while maintaining the organization's ability to attract, retain, motivate and develop a competent work force.


 

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Center for Students with Disabilities provides a wide variety of academic support services to all currently-enrolled UH students who have any type of mental or physical disability of either a temporary or permanent nature. These services include assistance with course accommodations, adaptive equipment, individualized exam administration, taped textbooks,

wheelchair repair, library needs, registration, handicapped parking, accessible housing and transportation, as well as many other needs. If you feel that you may need assistance of this nature, you may wish to call the Center at 3-5400. In addition, you should let me know about any special needs as soon as possible.


 

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

The CBA is proud of the high quality of our students and our academic programs.We recognize the importance of academic honesty in maintaining our high standards.In the rare situation where there may be a breach of academic honesty, we would appreciate your assistance in bringing the situation to our attention. We will, of course, take appropriate action in all cases.If you have questions about the Academic Honesty Policy, it is included in the 2001-2002 Student Handbook.The staff of the Dean of Students Office is also available to answer questions.


 

COURSE EVALUATIONS

The CBA has a policy that requires all of its instructors to be evaluated by their students. The results of these evaluations are important to provide feedback to instructors on how their performance can be improved. In addition, these evaluations are carefully considered in promotion, salary adjustment, and other important decisions. We openly encourage students to provide feedback to the instructors and to the CBA through the evaluation process.


 

REQUIRED TEXTS

Henderson, Richard I. 2000. Compensation Management in a Knowledge-based World, 8th Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Henderson, Richard I. 2000.Exercise Book: Compensation Management in a Knowledge-based World, 8th Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.


 

DETERMINANTS OF THE TERM GRADE

Best two of three mid-term exams =50%

Contribution=10%

In-class Exercises=10%

Take Home Excercises

Exercise #4 =5%

Exercise #5=5% 

Exercise #8=5%

Exercise #12=5%

Exercise #13=5%

Exercise #25=5%

__________________________________________________________

Total= 100%


 

POINTS

Point values are as follows:

Each Mid-term .………..................50 points

Contribution………........………....20 points

In-class Exercises…………………20 points

Each Take Home Exercise....……. .10 points

_____________________________________

Total...……….......…………...........200 points


 

GRADES


 
Grades will be based on the following point totals:
A ..........................186.0 - 200.0 points

A-..........................180.0 - 185.9 points

B+.........................174.0 - 179.9 points

B ...............….......166.0 - 173.9 points

B-..........................160.0 - 165.9 points

C+.........................154.0 - 159.9 points

C .....................….146.0 - 153.9 points

C-..........................140.0 - 145.9 points

D+.........................134.0 - 139.9 points

D ..........................126.0 - 133.9 points

D-..........................120.0 - 125.9 points

F .....................…..000.0 - 119.9 points


 

MIDTERM EXAMS

Three midterms will be given (September 12th, October 24th , and November 28th ).Exams will consist of 50 multiple choice questions worth 1 point each.A missed exam will count as zero.Students arriving after someone has already finished and turned in the exam will not be allowed to take the exam.There will be no make-up exams, because students drop the lowest of the three exam scores. Those happy with their grades on the first two exams need not take the third exam. No one should enroll who cannot take the exams as scheduled.Half of the test questions will come directly from the text, with the remaining 50% coming from the lectures.


 

CONTRIBUTION

Classroom lectures, discussions, and group activities are a vital part of this course. A minimum requirement for each class meeting is to have read the assigned material from the text.Excessive tardiness or absenteeism will negatively affect the contribution score.Disrupting the class (for example, talking to other students during lectures, ringing cell phones, beeping pagers, etc.) will seriously reduce your contribution score.The contribution score is worth 20 points.


 

IN-CLASS EXERCISES

Group in-class exercises will be assigned throughout the course and are an important part of the course’s skill-building portion.Groups will be comprised of four to five students.At the end of classes with in-class exercises students should turn in the written portion of the exercise with the names of all group members.Students are allowed to miss one in-class exercise without penalty.In-class exercises are worth 20 points or 10% of the total grade.Students will be graded on quality of the output of the exercise as well as exercise participation.


 

TAKE HOME EXERCISES

There are six take home exercises taken from the assigned exercise book.Each take home exercise is due at the beginning of the class period.Each exercise is worth 10 points or 5% of the total grade.Students may turn in exercises late with a 1-point penalty for each day late.Take home exercises may be done individually or in self-determined groups of two or three.You are not required to remain in the same groups throughout the semester.The assigned exercises are as follows:

1.Exercise #4 – Due September 19th.Follow the instructions on page 27 and complete assignments 4.1-4.5.Turn in the three printouts described on page 31, the completed exhibit 4-2, the completed exhibit 4-3, and clarifications worksheet on page 46.

2.Exercise #5 – Due September 26th.Follow the instructions on page 47 and write a job description based on exercise #4.Turn in a job description following the format of exhibit 5.1.

3.Exercise #8 – Due October 3rd.Follow the instructions on pages 89 and 92 and market price the 15 jobs listed on pages 89-92.Turn in a printout of each job as described on page 92and the completed salary range table on page 94.

4.Exercise #12 -Due October 17th .Follow the instructions on pages 111-112 to gather pay survey data on the 21 benchmark jobs on pages 113-117.Turn in a printout of the gathering pay survey data spreadsheet described on page 112.

5.Exercise #13 – Due October 29th.Follow the instructions on pages 172-173 to create a pay structure based on your results from exercise #12.Turn in the printouts of the table and graph described in points 4 & 6 on page 172, and a final printout of the table and graph after following point 8 on page 173.

6.Exercise #25 – Due November 30th.Follow the instructions on page 212 to develop a spending matrix.Turn in a copy of the completed spending matrix.

Exercises will be graded on quality as well as completeness.If you cannot make it to class to turn in the required exercise, you should fax it to me before class at (713) 743-4672.If you are working in groups, only one copy of the exercise should be turned in with all group member names on it.


 
 

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

DateTopic:Readings;Pages

Aug.22 Introduction to course------------


 

Aug.27 Introduction to Compensation:Henderson, chapts 1-3;3-44

Aug. 29 Strategic Perspectives:Henderson, chapts 3-4;44-91
 

Sept.. 3 No Class -Labor Day

Sept.Legal Issues [In-class Exercise #1]:Henderson, chapt 5;92-126


 

Sept. 10 Assessing Work [In-class Exercise #2]:Henderson, chapt 6;129-167

Sept. 12 MIDTERM #1
 

Sept. 17 Take Home Exercise #4 Group Work Day

Sept. 19 Job descriptions [In-class Exercise #3]:Henderson, chapt 7;168-204 

TAKE HOME EXERCISE #4 DUE


 

Sept. 24 Take Home Exercise #5 Group Work Day 

Sept. 26 Job Evaluation: Henderson, chapt 8;205-255

TAKE HOME EXERCISE #5 DUE


 

Oct.Take Home Exercise #8 Group Work Day

Oct. 3 Job Evaluation Methods [In-class Exercise #6]:Henderson, chapt 9;256-302

TAKE HOME EXERCISE #8 DUE


 

Oct. 8 Pay Surveys[In-class Exercise #10]:Henderson, chapt 10;304-343 

Oct. 10 Pay Structures [In-class Exercise #11]:Henderson, chapt 11;344-378


 

Oct. 15 Take Home Exercise #12 Group Work Day

Oct.17 Team and Skill Based Pay [In-class Exercise #15]:Henderson, chapt 12;382-404

TAKE HOME EXERCISE #12 DUE


 

Oct.22 Take Home Exercise #13 Group Work Day

Oct.24 MIDTERM #2


 

Oct.29 Performance and Motivation[In-class Exer. #17]:Henderson, chapt 13;407-445

TAKE HOME EXERCISE #13 DUE

Oct. 31 Short- term Incentives [In class Exercise #19]:Henderson, chapt 14;446-482


 

Nov.Long-term Incentives:Henderson, chapt 15;483-502

Nov.Executive and International Pay [In-class #21]:Henderson, chapt 16;503-540


 

Nov.12 Benefits[In-class Exercise #22]:Henderson, chapt 17;541-595

Nov.14 Pay Administration[In-class Exercise #24]:Henderson, chapt 18;597-638


 

Nov.19 Take Home Exercise #25 Group Work Day

Nov.21 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS


 

Nov.28 MIDTERM #3

Nov.30 New Topics in Compensation

TAKE HOME EXERCISE #25 DUE
 

Dec. 3 Last Day of Class – Topic TBA


 

The schedule is tentative and may change due to situational factors.