Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module BUSI1141: People, Management and Organisations

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI1141: People, Management and Organisations

Type Open Level 1 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2011/12 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide a fundamental foundation for the understanding of people, management and organisations within contemporary society. To introduce students to the concepts that underlie explanations of individual and group behaviour and the structure and functioning of organisations. Students will be encouraged to apply these concepts to a range of issues including their own experience through learning from lectures, seminars and investigative projects.
  • To address collaborative and action mindsets

Content

  • Conceptual foundations for explaining behaviour, management and organisation: e.g. introduction to psychology of individual difference, social psychology, organisational behaviour and organisation theory
  • Different perspectives on people, management and organization: e.g. perception, culture, nature of management and roles of managers, managing motivation and performance, systems and control of variety, contingency approaches to structure and strategy
  • Using basic research methods from positivist, interpretist and phenomenological backgrounds to examine issues relevant to people, management and organizations: e.g. survey, interview, case study
  • Contemporary themes and issues relevant to the management of people and organisations: e.g. corporate social responsibility, new forms of organization

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • At the end of the module students should be able to:
  • Understand the conceptual foundations for explaining behaviour, management and organisation
  • Review different perspectives on people, management and organisation.
  • Appreciate and apply theories, models, frameworks and basic research methods to examine issues relevant to people, management and organisations
  • Gain further knowledge and understanding of contemporary themes and issues relevant to the management of people and organisations (e.g. corporate social responsibility).
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Apply appropriate skills of enquiry and explanation.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication
  • Computer Literacy
  • Self-management

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminar classes and assessments and through private study. Seminar preparation and activity will require students to refer to relevant academic and other sources, to conduct basic enquiries with managers, employees and others and to apply concepts to a variety of cases, questions and situations. Formative assessment is by means of a group presentation and a group report which will involve an enquiry into real world illustrations of concepts relevant to the module content. Summative assessment is by means of a written examination, and an individual assignment requiring investigation of relevant literature and its application to specific business situations. Together these will test knowledge, understanding, application of enquiry and other skills and appreciation of key concepts and issues.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 20 1 per week 1 hour 20
Seminars 8 Fortnightly 1 hour 8
Preparation and reading 172
Total 172

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written examination 2 hours 100%
Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written assignment 2000 words max 100%

Formative Assessment:

One group presentation and one group report.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University