Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module BUSS3171: WORK AND ORGANISATION

Department: Business School (Business) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BUSS3171: WORK AND ORGANISATION

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2011/12 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N200

Prerequisites

  • Introduction to Management AND Organisational Behaviour

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • This module builds on material contained within the Level 2 module, Organisational Behaviour.
  • The module facilitates students' critical awareness of issues and debates relating to contemporary workplaces.
  • The module develops students understanding of pre-dominantly sociological approaches to understanding the nature of work and organisations.

Content

  • Work in an historical context
  • Entering work
  • Experiencing discrimination
  • Time at work
  • Emotions at work
  • The employment relationship
  • The psychological contract
  • Organisational misbehaviour
  • Bullying at work
  • New technology in the workplace
  • The rise of the call centre
  • Monitoring and electronic surveillance
  • Discursive perspectives on work
  • The rhetoric of organisation
  • Trends and developments in work and organisation

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Understand the changes to how the nature work has been perceived in different historical periods;
  • Develop a critical appreciation of the experience which people have at work today;
  • Understand the nature of conflict and control in the employment relationship;
  • Develop an in-depth knowledge of the impact of technology in the modern workplace;
  • Appreciation of the discursive approach to understanding contemporary workplaces.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Critically assess a range of contemporary workplace practices;
  • Demonstrate independent thinking and the ability to work both individually and in a group;
  • Critically reflect on the issues discussed in the module.
Key Skills:
  • Written and oral communication: through formative and summative assessment
  • Computer literacy: word-processing, interrogation of electronic and web-based academic databases

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

  • Teaching is by lectures and seminars.
  • Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminars, and private study.
  • Formative assessment is by means of a group presentation and short written report.
  • Summative assessment is by means of a written essay and a written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 22 1 per week 1 hour 22
Seminars 8 4 in term one, 4 in term 2 1 hour 8
Preparation and Reading 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written examination 1 hour 30 minutes 100%
Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written assignment 1500 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

One group presentation and short written 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