Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module BUSS1141: PEOPLE, MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATIONS

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

BUSS1141: PEOPLE, MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATIONS

Type Tied Level 1 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2013/14 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N201
Tied to N202
Tied to N501
Tied to N502
Tied to NN12
Tied to N500
Tied to NN42
Tied to NN24
Tied to N401
Tied to NN34
Tied to N420
Tied to N300
Tied to N402
Tied to NN43

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:
  • 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 to test knowledge, understanding, application of enquiry and other skills and appreciation of key concepts and issues. The summative assignment will require further investigation of relevant literature and its application to specific situations.

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 200

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