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Module

Organisational Behaviour

Module description

This module builds student’s knowledge of organisations, and their ability to analyse organisational life.  It explores organisational behaviour theory combined with practical research skills, in order to develop student’s ability to appraise the functioning of organisations.  It will therefore develop a critical mindset, built from a strong understanding of organisational theory to enable students to operate as effective future organisational leaders.  This module builds from and extends the content delivered within the first-year module, BEM1023 Discovering Management.

Full module specification

Module title:Organisational Behaviour
Module code:BEM2047
Module level:2
Academic year:2023/4
Module lecturers:
  • Dr Christine Parkin Hughes - Convenor
Module credit:30
ECTS value:

15

Pre-requisites:

None

Co-requisites:

None

Duration of module: Duration (weeks) - term 1:

12

Duration (weeks) - term 2:

11

Module aims

The aim of this module is to develop students’ knowledge of organisational theory, their awareness of the complexity of managerial and organisational problems, and to equip them with the skills needed to analyse how and why organisations behave as they do. Students can develop their knowledge and skills through discussion and exploration of real-world organisational issues.

Employability 

This module equips students with the ability to understand and unpick organisational ‘problems’, providing clear, managerially relevant solutions.  Students will develop their abilities to produce management reports, critically discussing and appraising differing views on phenomena.

Internationalisation

The module draws from the international experience of our faculty, and uses global examples to illustrate concepts, and differing approaches to structuring organisations and their management.

ILO: Module-specific skills

  • 1. Explain key theories and perspectives within the field of organisational behaviour
  • 2. Apply the concepts and perspectives introduced to organisational case studies.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

  • 3. Critically evaluate differing perspectives of organisational theory, arriving at reasoned conclusions

ILO: Personal and key skills

  • 4. Work independently and be self-motivated
  • 5. Produce reports which analyse discrete aspects of an organisation, providing managerially relevant advice and/or recommendations as appropriate

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
482520

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Teaching and learning activities23Whole cohort lectures
Scheduled Teaching and learning activities20Seminars
Scheduled Teaching and learning activities5Assessment surgeries
Guided Independent Study142Assessment preparation
Guided Independent Study110Pre-session and post-session reading and revision

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Submission of one-page overview of report1 x a4 page1-5Verbal feedback from tutor team
Examination guidanceIn class1-4In class tutor verbal feedback
MCQ guidanceIn class1-4In class tutor verbal feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
60400

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
2 x MCQ tests2020 questions per test1-4Generic co-hort feedback through ELE; individual marks delivered to students
Individual report402000 words1-5Feedback through ELE/Grademark
Examination402 hours1-4Generic co-hort feedback through ELE; individual marks delivered to students
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
MCQ testsMCQ tests (20%)1-4August reassessment period
Individual reportIndividual report (40%)1-5August reassessment period
Examination Examination (40%)1-4August reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

Reassessment of module elements will take the same form as the original assessment, although MCQ tests will be completed on ELE rather than in-class.

Syllabus plan

ndicative content for this module includes: 

 

  • Individuals at work; 

  • Identity, personality and perception; 

  • Motivation and engagement; 

  • Organisational culture, power and politics; 

  • Groups and teams; 

  • Sustainability- employee happiness and wellbeing; 

  • Organisational change; 

  • Leadership and management; 

  • Series of guest speakers exploring very current and emerging themes and research. For example (but not restricted to): 

  • Automating Management– the promises and perils; 

  • Diversity, Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality (DICE); 

  • Psychometric testing; 

  • Gossip; 

  • Wellbeing. 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Buchanan, DA and Huczynski, A (2019) Organizational Behaviour, 10th ed., Harlow: Pearson. 

Grey, C. (2017) A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Studying Organizations, 4th edition, London: Sage.

King, D. and Lawley, S. (2019) Organizational Behaviour, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Knights, D. and Willmott, H. (eds) (2012) Introducing Organizational Behaviour and Management, London: Thompson.

Mullins, L.J. (2016) Management and Organisational Behaviour, 11th ed., Harlow: Pearson.

Robbins S.P. and Judge, T.A. (2017) Essentials of Organizational Behaviour, 14th ed., Harlow: Pearson

Wilson, F. (2018) Organizational Behaviour and Work: A Critical Introduction, 5th ed., Oxford: OUP

Relevant Academic Journals:

  • Harvard Business Review
  • British Journal of Management
  • Academy of Management Journal

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

  • Students will have access to an ELE page which will provide extensive material to support the lecture programme including lecture notes, and short explanatory videos.

Origin date

01/07/2019

Last revision date

24/02/2023