Managing the Future of Work

Overview

What?	How?
Cycle	Irregular
Course type	Managing the Future of Work (Lecture)
Examination	Course paper as group work (max. 10,000 words, 100%) Group presentation during the course
Credits	6 C
Recommended prerequisites	No formal requirements, though basic understanding of human resource management as well as very good English language skills are recommended
Entrance requirements	None
Language	English
Maximum number of students	30
Workload	2 SWS
Literature	Recommended literature will be shared in the first session
Recommended semester	1–3
Term	1 semester

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Description

Organizations face key challenges caused by technological, environmental
and societal disruptions. Digitalization, a changing workforce, and
environmental complexities necessitate a future-oriented human resource
management (HRM) that can adapt to the changing requirements of the
working world. “Managing the Future of Work” is an
interdisciplinary course, which aims to provide students with the
managerial and methodological skills for future-oriented HRM strategies
and practices. After taking this course, students will be familiar with
and have acquired several key competencies and methods needed to identify
and develop the HRM-practices of the future. They will be aware of
challenges and opportunities facing the workforce of the future and will
be able to adapt more easily and quickly to a changing working
environment.

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Course Objectives

1. 
   Provide an understanding of what organizations and workers need to know
   about changes in work due to technological advancements,
   (de)globalization, and demographic changes
   


2. 
   Offer guidelines on how to design the future of work
   


3. 
   Offer strategies for students/professionals to succeed in such an
   environment
   

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Format

The course combines lectures, discussions, and case studies. Preparation,
active participation in discussions, and working on the case studies are
essential to realize optimal learning outcomes. The course is organized
as an intensive course to be completed in two weekends. Teaching format
will vary during the day to allow different forms of learning and enable
students to learn effectively. A reading list will be provided and
uploaded on StudIP.

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Course Evaluation

The course will be evaluated with a course paper as a groupwork (max.
10,000 words) at the end of the course (100%). The group has to give a
presentation during the course. Every student needs to register for the
course paper individually via FlexNow.

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Time Slots

The course will be held as a four-day (two plus two) block course on
January 23–24 and 30–31, 2026.

• Friday, 23 January 2026, 10:00–17:00 – VG2.101


• Saturday, 24 January 2026, 10:00–17:00 – VG2.101


• Friday, 30 January 2026, 10:00–17:00 – ZHG005


• Saturday, 31 January 2026, 10:00–17:00 – ZHG005

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Exam Requirements

• 
  Demonstration of knowledge of the various characteristics, methods and
  problems of HRM practices regarding the “Future of Work”.
  


• 
  Ability to reproduce and reflect on strategies used by organizations and
  managers to implement future-oriented HRM practices and to deal with, and
  respond to challenges and opportunities.