Course information
Learning outcomes
- To understand the critical significance of people and people management in the strategic and sustainable management of organizations.
- To understand and critically evaluate key processes and practices utilized in strategic and sustainable people management.
- To understand and critically evaluate key concepts and theories of people behaviors and dynamics within organizations.
- To apply the principles and theories of people management to real-life business issues and cases.
Content
The course focuses on how to manage the most valuable asset a company possesses: its people. The course highlights the strategic nature of people management and covers key people management practices: workforce planning, recruitment and selection, performance and reward management, human resource development, as well as diversity and inclusion. The course supports the development of useful knowledge and skills relevant for people working, or aspiring to work, in HR function or other roles that involve working with, managing or leading people in organizations.
Teacher
Saija Katila
Study material
This course does not have a required textbook but supplementary learning materials will be provided.
Workload
There is mandatory attendance on the first lecture of the course and during group work presentation days. Attending the first lecture is the only way to secure your place in the course. Lecture attendance is highly recommended.
During the course, you are expected to invest around 127 hours in the independent study:
- Preparation for lectures
- Individual and group assignments
- Exam preparation
Prerequisites
This course does not have specific prerequisites but a basic understanding of management in general will be desirable.
Evaluation
Throughout the course, you are required to complete various individual and group activities and assignments, which will be part of your assessment.
The exam will comprise 40% of your total score. Detailed information regarding the exam will be provided during the course.
Teaching time and location
The teaching time and the location of the course can be found at Sisu information system
The link leads to Completion methods tab of the course page
- From the top of the page (Version drop-down menu), check that academic year 2025-2026 is selected
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From the blue bar, click Lecture and open the Groups and teaching times tab to see the teaching time and the location of the course. Exam times can be seen by clicking Exam.
Exam instructions at the Open University
The teacher has four (4) weeks to grade the exam submissions starting from the exam date.
Further information
Equivalences to other courses: Human Resource Management (21C00350), Henkilöstöjohtaminen (A21C00300)
Online learning environment for the course
MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching.
Digital workspace of the course:
MyCourses
More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.
Registration and course fee
Registration for Open University courses is done via the link below:
Course registration
Registration for this course starts on 8.12.2025 at 9.00
Registration for this course ends on 29.12.2025 at 23.59
It is not possible to register before the registration period has started or after it has ended.
The number of participants is limited to 10.
This course is organized by the Aalto University School of Business.
The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rules
Activating Aalto ID and Multifactor Authentication
You can activate your Aalto User ID the day after the registration and you should activate it no later than the day before the start of the course.
Instructions for activating your Aalto user ID
Once you have activated your Aalto user ID, also enable multifactor authentication. Some of Aalto University's services require multifactor authentication.
Instructions for using Multifactor Authentication
