Module 1: What is Organisational Psychology?
This module provides an introduction to the evolution of Organisational Psychology from the Ancient Greeks to the modern day. It also examines definitions of Organisational Psychology and explores the training and kinds of work undertaken by practitioners of the discipline. The module forms a basis for remaining modules that examine the physical and psychological aspects of the working environment.
Module 2: Personality and Individual Differences
Psychology has been involved in the selection of personnel for many years. Various approaches of selecting personnel have been developed. Even in the time of the Ancient Greeks, it has been apparent that attempts have been made to sort people by their personality and general temperament, and in the modern day, this technique is also used in Business Psychology. Various psychometric measures have been used and several of these will be examined in this module. Conclusions are considered regarding their effectiveness in predicting job success. The module also considers alternative ways of examining job success nowadays.
Module 3: Work motivation and satisfaction
This module focuses on theories of motivation. Motivation is a key aspect of behavioural psychology because it provides insight into why people choose to work, why certain people work harder than others and how employers can increase motivation in the workforce. In this module, several theories of motivation are examined, all of which aim to explain motivational behaviour in the workplace The complexity of explaining motivation – or indeed lack of motivation – is discussed, and assumptions are challenged.
Module 4: Stress at work
It is well known that stress is a feature of modern life and the causes of stress are diverse. The sources of stress most commonly found in the workplace are explored, together with approaches to stress control and prevention. Stress is recognised globally as a condition that can affect all categories of workers, in all types of jobs living in all types of social environments. A certain level of stress can be motivating, as it helps people motivate themselves to complete a job well, but stress is also recognised as a major contributor to behaviour change, psychological dysfunction and serious health problems. Stress, therefore, can have a major impact both on people’s lives and the lives of people around them. The module examines the impact of modern stressors that include job impermanency, short-term contracts and technological advances.
Module 5: Organisations and conflict
It is acknowledged that staff members need to feel safe and valued. It may be challenging to accomplish positive working relationships; persistence has been shown to pay dividends in terms of staff morale and turnover. While competition is a necessary part of some jobs, there are situations where competition can lead to breakdowns in communication between individuals and within groups. The module examines ways in which managers can eliminate or reduce difficulties and increase co-operation in the workplace. In doing this, motivation and satisfaction of the workforce are enhanced.
Module 6: Group behaviour
Most people work as part of teams. Theoretical approaches to understanding group behaviour are evaluated in this module. Relationships with others can be a source of pleasure – or a source of tension and conflict; this module examines group behaviour and also suggests useful strategies that managers may use to assist people in improving social interaction in workplace settings. Reported incidences of bullying and violence in the workplace are on the increase and Organisational Psychology addresses such issues. This module will examine strategies of how to reduce tension and conflict in the work place by providing guidelines to successful team working.
Module 7: Leadership
This module reviews and evaluates major theories of leadership and summarises findings from relevant research. Since leadership involves the exercise of influence by one person over others, the quality of leadership exhibited by supervisors is a critical determinant of organisational success. The historical evolution of leadership research is explained so that students can be more familiar with past and present models of leadership. The particular qualities associated with successful leadership are examined.
Module 8: Managing change in organisations
Over recent years, the world of work has changed beyond recognition because of wide-ranging social and economic challenges. This has meant that increasingly, organisations with stable markets in the past may be facing economic competition from new and different sources. This module examines the reasons why organisations must continue to change and adapt to meet future challenges if they are to survive and thrive. The impact of change on the workforce is explored and insight provided into resistance to change and the challenges for management when changes are considered.
Module 9: Research methods and ethics
The rules of scientific research inform the definition and search for knowledge in the field of applied organisational behaviour. In this module, students gain a basic knowledge of research methodology in order that they can understand the importance of critical evaluation of both the research process and also the theories presented in the course. Additionally, students are introduced to ethical issues involved in carrying out research in the workplace setting. The differences between academic and applied research are explained.
Module 10: Future of work
This module considers the future of work. Changes and challenges that face both employees and employers nowadays and in the future are examined. It is stressed that organisations operate within a changing economic, social and political framework. Working life now and in the future is very different from previous times, and ability to adapt as needs arise is key to success. Students also gain understanding of the impact of globalisation and insight into the importance of management and employee development in this context.
(Please click on the curriculum tab above to see a detailed view of each module)
