MM1F11-People and Organisations

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Dr Adeyinka Adewale

Email: adeyinka.adewale@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

People and Organisation is an introduction to Organisational Behaviour in the contemporary workplace. Employing a number of social science disciplines the module invites students to analyse critically the interrelation between individuals, groups and organisations and their influence on one another.

This module is delivered at University of Reading, University of Reading Malaysia and Beijing Institute of Technology

Aims:

People & Organisations introduces students to a range of mainstream and critical theories as well as empirical studies in the wider field of Organisational Behaviour. Drawing particularly on insights from management and social sciences, students are invited to examine the relations between individuals, groups and the wider organisational environment. 

The module introduces students to group psychology and more advanced research on networks and their relation to outcomes at the individual, group and organisational level. We also explore strategic and cultural concerns at the macro-level. The coursework is designed to assess students’ ability to read, relate to, reflect and work with the reading list, conduct their own research, and understand the difference between theory, research, and examples while appreciating the importance of all three in relation to the above aims.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the Module, students should be able to: 

1. Describe and assess key theories in organisational behaviour and understand their relation to contemporary research in the field.

2. Draw on organisational theories and research in order to analyse practical work place concerns.

3. Critically examine the relations between individuals, groups and the organisation in everyday life.

4. Appreciate the role of psychology and sociology in understanding organisations and our entanglement with them as workers, consumers and citizens.

5. Demonstrate an awareness of the role of power in organisations and the ways in which organisational hierarchies maintain and perpetuate inequalities in wider society.

6. Construct coherent and evidence-based arguments drawing on both theory and research on matters concerning the organisational interface

Additional outcomes:

This foundation enables and facilitates students’ learning and systematic analytical thinking that is necessary for modules in Part II and III that incorporate more complex and sophisticated organizational theories, to appreciate current issues and problems in the intersection of business and society, such as Organisational Behaviour in Part 2, business ethics, corporate social responsibility etc.

Outline content:

• Introduction to Module

• Personality

• Motivation and the Meaning of Work

• Organisational Culture 

• Leadership and Power

• Emotions and Affective commitment at work

• Difference at Work

• Groups and teams at work

• Organisational Structure

• Organisational Learning

• Organisational Misbehaviour

Global context:

This module is designed with current globalisation trends in mind. Therefore, examples, case studies and lecture materials draw from different cultural contexts from around the world. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures and class discussions. Students are provided with a list of key readings for each week and are expected to prepare these as well as the relevant chapters of the accompanying textbook in time for lectures and class discussions. Class discussions in tutorials will take place in small groups, which also form the basis for the presentations students are required to prepare as part of the oral component of assessment.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Seminars		7.5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		50
Wider reading (directed)		50
Advance preparation for classes		20
Preparation for presentations		10
Preparation for seminars		20
Completion of formative assessment tasks		2.5
Essay preparation		20
Total hours by term	0	201	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	60
Oral assessment and presentation	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:
No Examination

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

There are two summative assessment components: a 2,000-word essay and a 15-minute group presentation. Students will be given the opportunity to seek formative feedback from the teaching team prior to the submission of their summative assessments. This relates to the group presentation as well as the individual essay.

The essay will be due during week 8 of Spring Term.

The presentations will be held during weeks 10 and 11 of Spring Term

Formative assessment methods:

In order to prepare for their individual essay and final group presentations, preparatory workshops during tutorials are offered. Guidelines on scholarly writing and meeting expectations are provided by the convenor and student’s present mock presentations in groups and individual essay plans for informal formative feedback in advance of their submission. This helps develop individual and group reflective practice.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A minimum of 40%

Reassessment arrangements:
A resubmission (no examination) of an essay with a different title.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: Wilson, F. (2014). Organizational Behaviour and Work. A Critical Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. RRP £39.66

Last updated: 8 April 2019