Managing Human Resources

Curriculum Context

Stage: Stage 6
Course: Year 11 Business Studies (Preliminary Course)
Strand: Nature of Business and Business Management
Topic Focus: Human Resources
Duration: 30 minutes (25-minute lesson content + 5-minute consolidation)
Class Size: 3 students

This lesson aligns specifically with the Business Management strand of the Year 11 Preliminary Business Studies Syllabus (NSW Education Standards Authority — NESA), focusing on the role and influence of Human Resource Management (HRM) and its impact on business success, efficiency, and employee satisfaction.

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Lesson Objective

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Describe the Human Resource Management lifecycle (HRM lifecycle): acquisition, development, maintenance, and separation
• Identify strategies businesses use within each stage of the HR process
• Apply examples to typical business scenarios in an Australian context

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Lesson Overview (30 Minutes Total)

Time	Activity	Purpose
0:00–0:03	Welcome & Hook	Engage curiosity with real-life HR scenarios
0:03–0:20	Main Content - HRM Lifecycle	Explore acquisition, development, maintenance & separation
0:20–0:25	Mini Case Study - Interactive	Apply learning to a fictional Australian SME
0:25–0:30	Wrap-Up & Reflection	Revisit key terms, questions, prepare for next lesson

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Teaching Strategies Used:

• Active discussion (ideal for small group)
• Role-play/scenario-based learning
• Visual organiser mapping
• Think-pair-share method
• Direct instruction with scaffolded questioning

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Resources Required

• A3 Chart paper (for HR lifecycle diagram)
• Markers or pens
• Printed scenario handout (mini case study: Koala & Co café)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Sticky notes for reflection

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HRM Lifecycle Activities Breakdown

🔹 0:03–0:07 — Stage 1: Acquisition

Key Idea: Finding and hiring the right people to meet business needs.

Discussion Prompt:
“What does Koala & Co café need if it's expanding to a new location?”

✔️ Recruiting methods: online job sites (e.g. Seek), internal advertisements
✔️ Legal responsibilities: EEO, anti-discrimination, Fair Work Act
✔️ Selection process: resumes, interviews, reference checks

Interactive Element:
Students brainstorm qualities best suited for a barista, then sketch a quick job advertisement.

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🔹 0:07–0:11 — Stage 2: Development

Key Idea: Training and improving employee performance.

Content Focus:
✔️ Induction training
✔️ On-the-job vs off-the-job training
✔️ Developing leadership pipelines

📌 Student Activity: They role-play a short induction process for a new employee at Koala & Co café. One student acts as the “trainer,” another as the “new hire.”

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🔹 0:11–0:15 — Stage 3: Maintenance

Key Idea: Keeping employees motivated and satisfied.

Content Focus:
✔️ Awards and agreements (Modern Awards, Enterprise Agreements)
✔️ Entitlements: Leave, superannuation, WHS
✔️ Workplace culture & staff wellbeing
✔️ Monetary & non-monetary rewards

Group Task: Create a quick list of motivational perks Koala & Co can offer — beyond salary.

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🔹 0:15–0:20 — Stage 4: Separation

Key Idea: End of employment — either voluntary or involuntary.

Explain types:

• Voluntary (resignation, retirement)
• Involuntary (redundancy, dismissal)

Scenario Discussion:
“The café’s chef has decided to retire. What happens next?”
Discuss offboarding, final pays, knowledge transfer.

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Interactive Case Study (0:20–0:25)

Mini-Scenario: Koala & Co café is expanding into a tourist hotspot in Byron Bay. They estimate a need for 5 new casual employees. The owner wants a strong team with good customer service ethics.

Task: Students, working together, map out the full HRM lifecycle actions Koala & Co should take — from hiring to exit strategy.

✔️ Use HR lifecycle sketch template (visual organiser)
✔️ 2-minute share-back with bullet points on whiteboard

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Wrap-Up & Student Reflection (0:25–0:30)

Revision Carousel
Each student gets 3 sticky notes:

1. Name one HR concept they’ve learnt
2. Write one question they’re left with
3. Suggest one way Koala & Co can be a better employer

Teacher consolidates responses aloud — quick verbal feedback on sticky notes, identifying any content gaps for next lesson.

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Extension Opportunities

✅ Students can research the HR practices of a real-life Australian business (e.g. Qantas, Woolworths) and identify where each stage of the HRM lifecycle is visible.

✅ Alternatively, they can create their own business and present an HR plan to the class in a future lesson.

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Assessment for Learning (AFL)

• Verbal contributions during think-pair-share and case tasks
• Written content on lifecycle diagram
• Question responses during wrap-up for formative feedback

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Differentiation Notes

• Small group (3 students) allows for high teacher-student interaction
• Visual learners benefit from lifecycle diagramming
• Role-play and discussion tasks cater for kinaesthetic and oral/auditory learners
• Simplified language and real-world scenarios improve accessibility

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Teacher’s Takeaway

This lesson provides high engagement through relatable examples, encourages high-level thinking using case-based discussion, and builds rich vocabulary aligned to the Australian Business Studies course. The small group size is leveraged to create a dynamic, personable learning atmosphere where each learner is accountable and involved.

Let them lead the conversation — you’ll be surprised how much depth three engaged Year 11s can uncover when given the space to think like business managers!