Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module BUSI50815: MANAGERIAL PSYCHOLOGY (ONLINE)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI50815: MANAGERIAL PSYCHOLOGY (ONLINE)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2013/14 Module Cap
Tied to N1KS17
Tied to N1KR17
Tied to N1N317
Tied to N1N417

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • In today’s business environment, where projects are increasingly done in teams and almost all business is cooperative, psychology has become an important management tool. This Elective explores managerial psychology, an area of applied psychology that engages in the systematic study of management behaviour in organisational settings. Adopting a broadly evolutionary perspective, the nature of the management role is examined in depth, together with all those individual, interpersonal and environmental factors that may enhance or impede individual performance, efficiency and job satisfaction. Whilst one outcome of the elective is that participants will come to better understand themselves in the roles of both manager and ‘managed’, the primary goal is to illustrate how a grounded understanding of human behaviour can contribute to the development of a more effective managerial style.

Content

  • Psychology and Management
  • Motivating People
  • Attitudes and Job Satisfaction
  • Personality and its Measurement
  • Learning
  • Leaders and Leadership
  • The Psychology of Careers
  • The Psychology of Stress

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Understand individual behaviour in management situations and the role of applied psychology as a managerial tool.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Be able to analyse and interpret a range of managerial styles, together with individual and group responses to those managerial styles.
  • Have acquired the skills needed to design and implement managerial psychology research projects.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

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

  • The module is delivered via online learning, divided up into study weeks with specially produced resources within each week. Resources vary according to the learning outcomes but normally include: video content, directed reading, reflection through activities, opportunities for self-assessment and peer-to-peer learning within a tutor-facilitated discussion board. Tutors provide feedback on formative work and facilitate discussion board communication as well as being available for individual consultation as necessary (usually by email and Skype). 
  • The summative assessment of the module is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Video content, directed reading, self-assessed assignments and guidance for further reading 150
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Assignment 4,000 words maximum 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

A written assignment of 1,500 words, or its multimedia equivalent, which may involve some group work.


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