MG114: HRM and The Future of Work: Adapting to Change

In today’s rapidly evolving labour markets, Human Resources is central to an organisation’s competitive advantage.  This course explores how modern people practices drive organisational value in times of workforce transformation, AI-enabled workflows, and hybrid collaboration. You will learn strategic HR management by designing fair, data-driven systems for resourcing, performance, reward, and employee voice in digital and hybrid workplaces, showing how these systems foster inclusion, well-being, and skills development.

A core theme of the course is HR’s role in enabling responsible change. We examine how HR shapes policies, capabilities, and governance for ethical technology use and credible sustainability practices across organisations and supply chains. You will explore how HR practitioners diagnose problems, address resistance, and engage stakeholders so that people, processes, and purpose align in smooth, sustainable transitions.

Our approach is practical and applied. Working with cases and short exercises, you will connect theory to realistic organisational challenges, practice light analytics, and evaluate digital HR strategies and human capital management choices against evidence and future workplace trends. By the end, you will be equipped to discuss with clarity and rigour, how HR can steward technology and sustainability initiatives while strengthening organisational performance.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.

Level: 100 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: Class participation (10%), mid-session coursework assignment (30%), and a final examination (60%). 

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course is ideal if you want a practical, academically grounded introduction to Human Resources and the Future of Work. If you are interested in people systems, AI in organisations, sustainability, workforce transformation, digital HR strategies, and future workplace trends, you should consider this course.

Relevant career pathways include HR analyst, people operations, talent acquisition, consulting, and organisational development roles across industries. It is also valuable preparation for postgraduate study, such as the MSc Human Resources and Organisations or related management programmes.

• Describe and explain key HR practices and their alignment with organisational goals in the context of the future of work.
• Apply introductory people analytics and evidence-based management to propose improvements to HR processes.
• Discuss the role of HR as a catalyst and facilitator in organisational change, including how HR supports the adoption of wellbeing, AI and sustainability initiatives while engaging stakeholders.
• Communicate a concise, well-structured justification for a recommended HR action, drawing on relevant theory and contemporary examples.

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.