Analysing Organisations

Module title	Analysing Organisations
Module code	BEM2038
Academic year	2021/2
Credits	30
Module staff

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	12	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	350

Module description

This module builds student’s knowledge of organisations, and their ability to analyse organisational life. It combines elements of organisational behaviour theory 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 titled Discovering Management.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to develop students’ knowledge of organisational theory, and to equip them with the practical skills needed to analyse organisations and their contexts. The module will engage students with organisational behaviour theory, combining lectures with practical workshops where 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.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Explain organisational behaviour theory, demonstrating awareness of linkages between core concepts
2. Design a research project to explore an organisationally-relevant issue/problem

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Critically evaluate differing perspectives on organisational theory, arriving at reasoned conclusions
4. Apply various organisational theories and perspectives in a practical context

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Reflect on prior learning, producing plans to guide future personal development activities
6. Produce research reports which analyse discrete aspects of an organisation, providing managerially relevant advice and/or recommendations as appropriate

Syllabus plan

Indicative content for this module includes:

Bureaucracy and Post-bureaucracy
Power, politics and conflict
Resistance and misbehaviour
Individuals differences and communication
Identity
Motivation
Emotion and perception
Group dynamics
Decision-making
Space and technology
Principles of management research
Research designs
Survey design and analysis
Advanced hypothesis testing
Qualitative data collection – interviewing / focus groups / observation
Developing meaning from qualitative data
Mixed methods research designs
Producing a research report

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
48	252	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Lectures	24	Whole cohort lectures
Online video	4	A series of recorded videos will be available through the VLE, covering revision and explanation of key concepts together with links to research skills content
Workshops	20	Small group workshops
Guided independent study	142	Assessment preparation
Guided independent study	110	Pre-session and post-session reading and revision

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Submission of one-page overview of consultancy assignment	1 x A4 page	1-4, 6	Written feedback from tutor team
Portfolio surgery	1 x draft portfolio	1-5	In class tutor verbal feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
2 x MCQ tests	20	20 questions per test	1-4, 6	Generic cohort feedback through ELE; individual marks delivered to students
Individual consultancy report	40	2,000 words	1-4, 6	Feedback through ELE/grademark
Individual reflective portfolio	40	2,000 words	1-5	Feedback through ELE/grademark
	0
	0
	0

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
MCQ tests	MCQ tests (delivered via ELE)	1-4, 6	August reassessment period
Individual consultancy report	Individual consultancy report	1-4, 6	August reassessment period
Individual reflective portfolio	Individual reflective portfolio	1-5	August 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.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bryman, A., Bell, E. and Harley, B. (2018) Business Research Methods. Fifth Edition. Oxford: OUP.
Buchanan, D. A. and Huczynski, A. (2017) Organizational Behaviour. Ninth Edition. Harlow: Pearson.
Gray, D. (2017) Doing Research in the Business World. Sage: London.
King, D. and Lawley, S. (2016) Organizational Behaviour. Second Edition. Oxford: OUP.
Mullins, L. J. (2016) Management and Organisational Behaviour. Eleventh Edition. Harlow: Pearson.
Wilson, F. W. (2018) Organizational Behaviour and Work: A Critical Introduction. Fifth Edition. Oxford: OUP

Relevant Academic Journals:

Harvard Business Review
British Journal of Management
Academy of Management Journal

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.

Key words search

Business, Management, Organisations, Organisational Theory, Management Research

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/07/2019
Last revision date	25/01/2021