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IB907-10 Organisational Behaviour

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Jose Bento da Silva
Credit value
10
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
20% coursework, 80% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

The module provides students with an understanding of the antecedents and consequences of behaviour in organisations, with particular emphasis on the management process.

Module web page

Module aims

The module has both intellectual and practical aims. Intellectually, the module takes a broad view of organisational behaviour and explores the links between psychology, organisational psychology, organisational sociology and management science as an aid to an understanding of people’s behaviour and experience of work in organisations.

At a practical level, the module examines current organisational practices such as selection, motivation, team working, and change. This reflects the fact that the vast majority of students taking the module are pursuing careers in management and/or in public agencies concerned with work and employment. It is in these very organisations where familiarity with, and expertise in, these areas are of key importance.

Issues of leadership and the understanding of the interaction between people and the organisations in which they work are key to the development of the analytical, problem-solving, and management skills which are the key focus of the Warwick MBA degree.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The Individual:
Attributes of Individuals.
Motivation at Work.
Managing Work Motivation and Commitment.

The Group:
Attributes of Groups.
Group Decision Making.
Group and Team Performance.

The Organisation;
Attributes of Organisations.
Institutions and Structure.
Power and Resistance in the Political Context of Organisations.
Organisations and their Culture(s).

Organisations and Strategy:
Organisational Decision Making.
Leadership, Management, or Command.

Learning outcomes

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

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the different research methods used in the study of organisational behaviour and their practical implications for management.
  • Demonstrate cognitive skills relating to the multidisciplinary study of organisational behaviour in its broader sociopolitical context.

Indicative reading list

King, D. and Lawley, S., 2016. Organizational behaviour. Oxford: Oxford University.
Bolman, L.G. and Deal, T.E., 2013. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. John Wiley & Sons.
Knights, D. and Willmott, H. (eds) 2007) Introducing Organizational Behaviour and Management. London: Thomson Learning.

Subject specific skills

Demonstrate critical familiarity with the literature, both theoretical and practical, located within its historical and methodological context.
Demonstrate the ability to apply the theories learnt to specific organisational contexts and to think through the implications of a chosen policy for a particular organisation and to anticipate possible
outcomes and how these might be dealt with by management.

Transferable skills

Written communication.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 10 sessions of 3 hours (52%)
Private study 28 hours (48%)
Total 58 hours

Private study description

Private Study to include preparation for lectures.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Group Presentation 20% 8 hours No

Duration is 15-20 minutes.

Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Written Examination - Local 80% 34 hours No
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Assessments are graded using standard University Postgraduate Marking Criteria and written feedback is provided. Feedback for
individual essays includes comments on a marksheet.

Past exam papers for IB907

Post-requisite modules

If you pass this module, you can take:

  • IB9QE-10 Leading and Managing Change
  • IB9LY-10 Management of Change
  • IB9S3-10 Leading and Managing Change
  • IB822-10 Leading and Managing Change

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of TIBS-N1P2 Postgraduate Taught Business Administration