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Instructor - Prof. B.B.Mohanty

Programme - One Year Executive MBA

Term - IV ,

Academic Year - 2014-15

COURSE DESCRIPTION :–

Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the interaction of employees, employers and the Government in the workplace relationship. The social and economic outcome of this tripartite relationship is of great importance in the context of the need of industrial peace and harmony for the growth and development of the country. The course presents the conceptual basis of industrial relations and the dynamics of workplace relationship along with the means of management of such relationship.

The course objective is to provide a broader outlook of industrial relation function and a framework for analysis of industrial relation problems.

STUDENTS LEARNING -

Succeeding in this course, : the students will gain the insight into the prevailing nature of industrial relations in India more commonly known as employment relationship.

The course will enable the students: –

1. To differentiate the various philosophies, principles and structure of industrial relations. This would also provide a broad overview of several related factors that should be considered for an understanding of the industrial relations situation at the enterprise level.

2. To identify the relevant contemporary issues and problems at workplace and the method of managing such problems.

3. To focus on managerial perspective – a perspective that is essential to understand the industrial relations issues, and generate alternatives for decision making to achieve a harmonious and productive work environment.

4. To get an insight into the changing scenario of employment relationship after the liberalization of economy.

COURSE METHOD :–

The teaching method is combination of lectures , discussion, case studies and analysis and simulation. Relevant chapters from text book, articles from professional journals and from various research articles are assigned as required readings for the course specified in the session plan. The hard copy of articles and cases will be provided to the students.

Text Book –“ Dynamics of Industrial Relations” by Mamoria, Mamoria & Ganker,

Himalaya Publishing House, India.

Reference Book – “Industrial Relations” authored by C.S.Venkataratnam,

Published by Oxford University Press, India.

. POTENTIAL SOURCE OF ARTICLES & CASES :-

· Harvard Business Review
· Personnel Today
· Human Resource Management
· Personnel Management
· The ICFAI Journal of Employment Law
SESSION PLAN

Session No	Topic	Reading / Case analysis/ Activities
Session – 1	Overview of Industrial Relations Approaches of IR	Text Book – Part-III Case Study Discussion- Honda motorcycles and Scooters Ltd.
Session – 2	Globalization & Industrial Relation	Case Discussion – Work-life Balance: A strategic approach for employees. Article – The Changing Labour Market & its Impact on work and Employment Relations
Session -- 3	Technology Change & I.R.	Reading-“Technology Change and Industrial Relations”, C.S.Venkat Ratnam Industrial Relations Oxford University Press. Page-613-626 Case Discussion – DURGA STEEL LTD. Case- Make Adjustment to Change Easier
Session – 4	Trade Union & Management of T.U. Trade Union in India	Reading-Text Book – Part-III Case Discussion – Inter and Inter Union Rivalry Article – Trade Union Movement: Experiences from the past & looking to the future.
Session – 5	Contract of employment & workplace Environment , Industrial Actions (Strikes & Lockouts)	Reading-Text Book – Part-VI Case – It is time to go. Article – To be decided
Session – 6	Management of work force Redundancy & Early Retired Scheme (VRS)	Reading-Text Book – Part- VI Read – ID Act 1947 Lay off & Retrenchment Case – Involuntary VRS Article – To be decided
Session – 7	Industrial conflict , Dispute Resolution & Industrial Harmony Role of Government.	Reading-Text Book – Part- III & V Read- ID Act 1947 authorities under the act Case discussion :– a. Orissa Extrusion Ltd. (OEL) b.Power Sector Reforms Leaves Employee in the Lurch
Session – 8	Grievance & Discipline Management	Reading- Text Book-Part-III Cases- It is not easy to punish the Tardiness Insubordination & Indecent Behaviour
Session – 9	Domestic enquiry Principles & Sequences of Enquiry	Case- a. Should Subash be fired ? b. Suspension of a conductor
Session – 10 & 11	Collective Bargaining Structure and Nature of agreements	Text Book – Part- IV Case – Raj ( India) Ltd. & Improve Productivity Article – Changing Collective Bargaining Structure-Macro & Micro Level evidence Activity – Negotiation in Bargaining
Session – 12& 13	Workers Participation in Management Employee Empowerment & Work autonomy	Text Book – Part- IV Case- Smart Beginning Article- Union-Management Co-operation to meet changes inTechnology(casestudy)
Session – 14	Integrated Approach to IR and class presentation	Reading--Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations, page,655-668 Industrial Relations by C.S. Venkat Ratnam Article – a) Changing Character of Industrial Relations b) A holistic look at Mentoring

Session plan may be modified if required as we proceed along the course.

EVALUATION :

1. QUIZ 20% (Average score of three quizzes)

2. MID TERM 15%

3. END TERM 30%

4. ASSIGNMENT 25%

5. CLASS PARTICIPATON 10%

Assignment – a .This includes presentation for 20 minutes followed by Q&A.

b. Hard copies of the assignment should be submitted on the date specified by the instructor.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY : –

Students engaged in academic dishonesty will receive ZERO grade in the component in which such is observed. Academic dishonesty can be of various forms. For this course by academic dishonesty means – talking during in-class, examinations, during submission of projects or assignments, submission of work that is not your own, submission of assignment or project prepared or used for another course. Please do refrain from all these activities.

1. Course Description

Understanding “Employment Relations” (ER) in the dynamics of individual-organizational and institutional relationships is important for executives to regulate the employment relationship. ER as a discipline deals with understanding the nature of employment contract, the rights and obligations of employer and employee, the laws and regulations and provides insights into understanding the employment relationship in a liberalizing, deregulated, and global environment.

2. Student Learning Outcomes

· Be able to approach issues related to employment contract in a multi-dimensional way using economic, legal, relational, functional, social and ethical perspectives
· Be able to approach transactions in employment relations in a multi-dimensional way by using the principles of observation, verification, enforcement and compensation for breach etc., and provide solutions from both regulation and governance perspectives
· Be able to compare the approaches used in regulating the issues related to Intellectual Property Rights and Restrictive Covenants in India and other Countries such as US, Europe and China by highlighting the advantages and limitations of the approaches in the context of globalization

3. Required Text Books and Reading Material

The “Employment Relations” Reading Material provided by the instructor.

4. Tentative Session Plan

Session Number	Topics/Activities	Reading/case list etc.
01	Introduction to Employment Relations	Regulating the Employment Relationship: An Analytical Framework
02	Intent of Offer and Acceptance of Offer	At IIT Mumbai, Job Letters Turn into Pink Slips A Position Statement on Rescinded and Deferred Employment Offers
02	Rescinded / Deferred Job Offers / Detrimental Reliance	The Functions of Profit
03	Employment at Will / Notice Period / Cause for Exit	No Cause, No Notice When Employers Should and Should Not Use Employment Contract
03	Employment Bond / Training Bond / Overseas Assignment Bond	Training Bond Story of Jet Airways and Jan Peter
04	Training as a Trade Secret	Sanctity of Contract and Public Interest – A Case on Regulating Employment Relations in Indian Airline Industry
05	Breach of Contract and Remedies	Nature of Exchange and Regulating Exchange
05	Regulating Employment Relations	Internal, External and Mixed Regulation of Employment Relations
06	Copyright, Patents, Work for Hire Contract and Promissory Estoppel	Open Source Development and Ownership issues
06	Assignability / Transfer of IPR	UpaidVs Satyam
07	Ownership, Authorship, Moral Rights Regulation	New Copyright Bill
07	Employment Contract, Intellectual Property Rights and Trade Related aspects of IPR (TRIIPS)	Trouble in E-Topia: Knowledge as Intellectual Property
08	Trade Secrets as IPR and Protection of Trade Secrets through Non-Disclosure Agreement	Trade Secret: A Secret to Unveil
09	Introduction to Restrictive Covenants	Hypercompetition: Pepsi Vs Coke
10	Freedom of Occupation Approach	Article 19 (G) Constitution of India and Indian Contract Act Sec (27)
11	Covenant per se in Invalid Approach / Presumption Against Enforcement Approach / Bad Faith Approach	The Enforceability of Restrictive Covenants in Involuntary Discharge Cases
12	Balancing Equities Approach and Freedom of Contract Approach	The Enforceability of Restrictive Covenants in Involuntary Discharge Cases
13	Non Solicitation Restrictive Covenant and Non Disclosure Restrictive Covenant	Who is a Customer and Whose Customer? The Story of American Express Bank Ltd.
13	Exclusivity Agreement and Non Solicitation Agreement	Partners for Life: The Story of Wipro Biomed and Beckman Coulter
14	Employee Non-Solicitation Agreements	The Story of Apple, Google, ABN Amro, SKS Microfinance

5. Evaluation

1. ER Activity and Course Involvement (10 Marks)

Each student would be pre-assigned stories to be narrated in the class together with one or two of his/her classmates. The storytelling exercise would be evaluated based on quality of preparation, creativity, coordination and ability to illustrate the core issues by highlighting the morals of the story. Students are expected to update the details related to ER activity within 3 to 4 days through the form provided in the course web for the above purpose.

The measures of course involvement would be based on quality of preparation and performance in class exercises such asstorytelling exercises, role plays, debates, punctuality, class attendance and any other initiative to enrich the course design, content, process and outcome.

2. Quiz (30 Marks)

There will be two online quizzes conducted during the term. It will have multiple choice / true or false, objective type questions which are drawn from the readings, instructor’s presentation, and any other relevant material provided through email and course web.

2. ER Assignment (10 Marks)

The purpose of ER Assignment is to promote “Collective Learning” and a team of two to three members, depending on the nature of assignment, will be formed for this purpose. The guidelines for ER Assignment will be given through email / course web.

3. End-Term Examination (20 Marks)

The End-Term will be a closed book exam evaluating the understanding of concepts and theories learned in the ER course.

6. Academic Integrity

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines given for ER Activities, Quizzes, Assignment, and End-Term. All evaluation components are closed book unless it is explicitly specified by the instructor. Bringing Reading materials, Power Point Presentations, any electronic gadget including laptop and mobile phone to the exam hall would disqualify the students from appearing for the component. Copying in ER Assignment, Quiz, and End-Term would invite “F” in the whole component or even in the entire course depending on circumstances. This would be applicable for those who aid copying as well as for those who copied the ideas from others.