Human Factors in Organisations

Code: UMOCBK-10-M

Title: Human Factors in Organisations

Version: 1

Level: M

UWE credit rating: 10

ECTS credit rating:

Module type: Project

Owning Faculty: BBS

Field: Organisation Studies

Valid from: 1 September 2002

Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: CPDA Scheme

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Aims

The module aims to:

• provide an introduction to multiple and critical perspectives on organisational analysis, and behaviour.

• develop an awareness of the international and comparative dimensions of organisational inquiry.

• develop introductory knowledge of themes and issues allied to managing complexity, diagnosing and managing change.

• explore how cultural diversity in management influences organisational development, learning, leadership and behaviour.

• enable students to reflect upon their own roles and experiences within organisations, how they relate to others, and to enhance their personal and managerial effectiveness.

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students will be able to:

• Use a variety of different perspectives to diagnose and make sense of problems and situations in complex organisational settings (Assessment component A)

• Comprehend the role of structure, intra and inter organisational relationships in shaping approaches to management and organisation (Assessment component A)

• Recognise the differences between management and leadership, reflect on, and adapt personal styles to accommodate cultural and organisational diversity (Assessment component A)

• Critically understand and recognise organisation culture and its significance, and appreciate its importance in shaping individual and group behaviour (Assessment component A)

• Diagnose power relationships and appreciate the difference between authority, and influence (Assessment component A)

• Critically understand the personal impact of managing change (Assessment component A)

• Judge ethical behaviour in organisations (Assessment component A)

• Recognise organisational learning and its impact (Assessment component A)

Syllabus outline:

The module will include the following:

• Introduction: multi-perspectives and organisational inquiry.

• Critical perspectives and comparative analysis.

• Structures, processes and networks.

• National and organisational cultures.

• Power, politics and emotions within organisations.

• Managing change.

• Organisational and management learning.

• Group and inter-group behaviour

• Individual differences, role and impression management.

• Organisational ethics.

Teaching and learning methods:

The programme will offer a series of classroom based workshops, which will balance taught and experiential components. Students will be expected to undertake set reading each week. Discussion groups will be used in the classroom to apply concepts to case studies or to personal experience. This is an important element of the programme as students need to be reflexive to gain new insight into current and past issues and problems. Guest speakers will also be invited, primarily as practitioners, to share their experiences with the group. The classroom environment will be interactive and challenging to encourage students to question their ‘taken for granted’ views about their experience of organisations. Some aspects of taught delivery could be supported through networked learning, for example, by the provision of links to e-journals, and module documents, appropriate course materials, and past exam papers held in electronic form.

The objective of the assessment is to determine whether students can understand, and use theory, to provide insight into managerial and organisational problems and situations. The module is assessed via a project, based on a chosen organisation, which is relevant to their current or former role or situation. Re-assessment will be a project based upon the content of the original submission.

Reading Strategy

    • All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and information gateways. The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the curriculum to develop their information retrieval and evaluation skills in order to identify such resources effective

    • Essential reading.

    A comprehensive textbook appropriate to postgraduate level students provides the core reading for the module, including both pre- and post-module reading. Students are expected to purchase a copy of current core text:

    Clegg, S.R., Kornberger, M and Pitsis, T (2004). Managing and Organizations. London: Sage.

    This textbook includes an excellent website with a variety of resources including academic journal papers and other resources.

    • Further reading

    Students are also advised to read from other sources including postgraduate level textbooks on the subject and academic journal papers:

    Indicative sources for further reading:

    Buchanan, D & Huczynski, A (2003) (5th edition). Organizational Behaviour. Pearson Education.

    Fineman, S., Gabriel, Y. and Sims, D. (2005) (3rd Edition) Organizing and Organizations. London: Sage

    Jackson, N. & Carter, P., (1999) Rethinking Organisational Behaviour. London Financial Times

    Linstead, S. A., Fulop, L., Lilley, S. and Associates. (2004) Management and Organization : A Critical Text London : Palgrave Macmillan.

    Morgan, G., (1997) Images of Organisation. London, Sage.

    Rosenfeld R. and Wilson D. (1999) (2nd edition.) Managing Organizations. McGraw-Hill

    Students will also be expected to use the journals in the field of organization studies:

    Academy of Management Journal

    Academy of Management Review

    Administrative Science Quarterly

    British Journal of Management

    Harvard Business Review

    Human Relations

    Journal of Management Studies

    Leadership

    Leadership Quarterly

    Management Learning

    Organization Studies

    Organization

    Organizational Dynamics

    • The module handbook will also refer students to electronic databases (e.g. Business Source Premier and Emerald as accessible sources of current articles on public administration and management) and communicate the expectation that postgraduate students will visit these during the module.

Assessment

The post-module assignment is an individual assignment which is designed to encourage critical reflection on the material covered in the course and the application of the body of knowledge to a situation drawn from practice, integrating the major learning outcomes above. Students are required to demonstrate an ability to critically analyse a specific complex issue or situation, applying theories and concepts from the module in order to develop a critical analysis and understanding, drawing implications for theory and practice.

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only)

n/a

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element

    1 Project – maximum 3500 words

Element weighting

1

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Description of each element

    1 Project – maximum 3500 words

Element weighting

1

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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