MG4C2      Half Unit
Organisational Behaviour

This information is for the 2016/17 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Tara Reich NAB4.15

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Human Resource Management/CIPD) and MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Organisational Behaviour). This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, IMEX Exchange, MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPhil/ PhD in Management, MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management), MSc in Management, MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), MSc in Management (MiM Exchange), MSc in Management Science (Decision Sciences), MSc in Management Science (Operational Research), MSc in Management, Organisations and Governance, MSc in Public Management and Governance and MiM Exchange. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course is available in the Michaelmas Term only.

Course content

This course seeks to understand individual attitudes and behaviour in an organisational context. Specifically, we aim to demonstrate the contribution of a psychological perspective to understanding human behaviour at work by reviewing psychological theories as they apply to organisations and critically evaluating the associated empirical evidence.

Key topics include: personality and individual differences, work motivation, decision-making, rewards systems, psychological contracts, organisational justice, organisational citizenship and retaliatory behaviour, leadership, groups and group processes, design of work, and organisational culture.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour and 30 minutes of seminars in the ST.

The teaching is highly participative and includes lectures and seminars. The course is demanding of students and its success depends partly upon student commitment and willingness to participate fully.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the MT.

Indicative reading

The course relies heavily on journal articles (from, for example, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior). An extensive reading list is provided at the start of the course. No suitable textbook exists but students may wish to consult one of the following:

Kolb, D. A., Osland, J. S., & Rubin, I. M. (2007). The Organizational Behavior Reader (8th ed.). Pearson

Porter, L. W., Bigley, G. A., & Steers, R. M. (2002). Motivation and work behavior (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Staw, B. M (2004). Psychological dimensions of organizational behavior (3rd ed.), Prentice-Hall.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: Management

Total students 2015/16: 114

Average class size 2015/16: 19

Controlled access 2015/16: Yes

Lecture capture used 2015/16: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Team working
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 41%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.8

Materials (Q2.3)

1.8

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.6

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.5

Integration (Q2.6)

1.6

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.9

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

88%

Maybe

10%

No

2%