HR9405 - Managing People at Work

What will I learn on this module?

This module aims to provide you with an introduction to the foundation theory and practice of management. It encourages you to understand the principal challenges facing managers and will give you an overview of the key themes within organisational behaviour (OB). Through weekly lectures you will be introduced to principles of OB and explore the relationships between theory and practice. In weekly seminars you will apply your understanding of theories and relevant research findings to Human Resources (HR) practice related case studies and draw connections to your own experiences of work. Issues you will discuss in this module may vary in order to reflect contemporary circumstances. Topics include:

• Introduction to OB and links to HR practice
• (Rational) organisation structure and work design
• Managing diverse groups and effective teams
• Sex and gender in management
• Managing culture
• Perception and Personality
• Motivation/ Reward/ Performance
• Ethics/ Leadership/ Followership
• Politics and decision making in organisations
• Managing conflict and change

The module will lead you to develop your own understanding of managerial challenges and skills necessary to tackle them. You will be challenged to reflect on your learning and how OB theories and relevant research findings have impacted on you and your journey in becoming a practicing manager. On completing the module you will understand theoretical foundations of OB and its links to HR practice. You will further critically reflect on your own views of management and HR practice. Such reflection will lead and align with your further personal development studies ‘Employability and Career Planning’ (HR9508) and ‘Human Resource Management’ (HR9510).

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through lectures, seminars, independent learning and group-based learning. The one-hour lectures will provide you with a theoretical underpinning of the module content by covering theories, concepts and reviews of relevant research findings that will enable you to discuss contemporary cases during seminars. Two-hour weekly seminars will give you the opportunity to apply and transfer learned theoretical underpinnings to real life case studies and contemporary management issues.

Additional materials will be provided on the module’s e-Learning Portal (eLP). The eLP will be used permanently ensure that you have access to supporting materials such as lecture and seminar materials, assessment briefing and the reading list to aid and permit you to undertake further studies and expand your knowledge and academic skills. This will encourage your active participation in the learning process through the semester.

Your directed study will support the work you have undertaken in the contact sessions. You will be expected to keep up-to-date with seminar exercises and preparations. In addition you will be set a selection of group and individual follow on tasks from the seminars to deepen and consolidate your learning and knowledge of the subject.
In set aside independent learning time you are expected to self-identify learning activities such as further academic reading to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module and providing the lecture input. A team of academic staff are allocated seminar groups of about 20 students which provides a closer, more personal academic support through their expertise in management both in .theory and practice.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses a variety of electronic support facilities such as lecture and seminar materials, assessment details, videos, recordings of certain lectures and a wide-ranging electronic reading list including RSS feeds that showcase the application of various practices presented in the module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will be expected to demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of management and organisational behaviour (OB), relevant research and its connections to practice.
2. You will develop and challenge your theoretical knowledge and understanding of OB and apply your understanding to business and management contexts.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. You will develop your academic and professional skills by working in multi-cultural teams and demonstrate criticality in your thinking and evaluation of approaches.
4. You will establish reflective practice informing your personal development by reflecting on your understanding of management and your views of theories, concepts and relevant research findings.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. You will build upon your understanding of Ethics and management and reflect on your own values. Further you will develop your awareness of different national and international contexts.

How will I be assessed?

The summative module assessment consists of an essay consisting of 2 sections:
• An essay (100%) identifying a contemporary management issue, how this impacts on organisations and managerial practice (A)
and what your thoughts are on this regarding your own experiences, values and beliefs (B). (2500 words in total)

Formative module assessment:

Throughout the semester you will be expected to actively participate in seminar activities and engage in discussions and feedback exercises to challenge the thinking of yourself and your peers. In seminars you will be discussing HR related cases and relevant research which will enable you to transfer your knowledge and understanding that you will have established through lectures and your individual learning. You will be required to work in small groups on management issues and challenges and present and share your ideas with tutors and peers.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

‘Managing People at Work’ will provide you with an introduction to organisational behaviour (OB) as a key area of management including both theory and practice. It aims to develop your understanding of OB and its links to HR by introducing core elements such as organisational design, leadership, ethics and gender. You will develop the confidence and capabilities to discuss key elements and engage critically with the subject. You will be encouraged to conduct your individual reading and group discussions to present your perspective to your peers and tutor for formative feedback.
You will crystallise your understanding of OB management in an essay and a personal reflective piece that accounts for 80% of your assessment as well as an Multiple Choice Questionnaire (20%). The theoretical underpinning, its transfer to practice and your reflection on the subject will directly impact on your personal development in subsequent modules and ultimately form the basis for your employability as future managers.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 4 years Full Time

Location Qatar

City Qatar

Start September

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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