Throughout the Jeopardy-style matches, students answered questions on different human resource areas such as strategic management, total rewards, employee and labor relations, selection, leadership and risk management.
The second place WMU team members are Justin Szostek of Allen Park, Mich., Jenna Breen of Allendale, Mich. and Alison Fettig of Battle Creek, Mich. An Eastern Michigan University team took first place overall.From left are Risé Landeros, HR Games judge, Satish Desphande, WMU team advisor, and WMU second-place team members Jenna Breen, Justin Szostek, and Alison Fettig.
“Student leaders from the WMU Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter planned the event,” says Dr. Satish Deshpande, professor of management. “This is the first time for the competition to be held at WMU, and what a great way to showcase our campus. There were nine teams in all participating from Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University and WMU, who were accompanied by family members and friends. There were over twenty community HR professionals, including many WMU alumni, who spent their Saturday as volunteers serving as speakers, scorekeepers, judges, etc. We could not have run the event without their help.”
“The competition prepares the students for the upcoming Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification exam,” says Deshpande. “It also provides them with the opportunity to network with HR professionals serving as volunteers.”
The Michigan HR Games were developed by the SHRM and open to all schools in Michigan. In addition to the Michigan Council of SHRM and the Haworth College of Business, the following sponsors provided supported for the event: Domino’s Pizza, Kalamazoo Human Resources Management Association, Kellogg’s, Target, Walker Parking Consultants and Walmart.
