ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR:PSYCHOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE - 2021/2

Module code: MANM024

Module Overview

This module integrates the study of forms, structures and processes of organisations with the human aspects of psychology at work. The module provides an insight into the fundamentals on which organisations are built and provides a set of analytical processes for understanding behaviour at work and managerial processes.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

HELIOT YingFei (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 106

Lecture Hours: 11

Seminar Hours: 11

Guided Learning: 11

Captured Content: 11

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:


  • Introduction and module overview

  • Identity and commitment

  • Management in Organizations

  • Corporate Social Responsibility/Ethics

  • Organisation Structure and Design

  • Organisational Change

  • Motivation

  • Attitude and Behaviour

  • Groups and Teams at Work

  • Revision and Exam Preparation


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Examination ONLINE OPEN-BOOK EXAM WITHIN 24H PERIOD 100

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the theories and the concepts of organisational behaviour and your ability to critically evaluate the theories and concepts of organisational behaviour.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • Closed book examination (2 hours)



Your answer in the exam is built around an action plan to resolve the conflict in case by using using leadership skills, outlining their approach and the rationale.  It needs to be supported by relevant theoretical models, key assumptions, and central debates which contribute to the insightful understanding of the theory or concept. The examination assesses your ability to apply your theoretical understanding both in terms of breadth and depth by requiring you to answer a scenario based question. These involve critical evaluation of a theory or concept of organisational behaviour.  

Formative assessment and feedback

An inquiry-based learning approach is used as the principal strategy for marking and feedback on this module. This means you will be provided with resources to support your progression process and allow you to analyse your own strengths and weaknesses and therefore improve your academic performance. These include:


  • Option to write an essay.  This will not be marked.  The aim is to offer you an opportunity to practice on an essay writing and focus on your learning. 

  • A published marking scheme. You will be able to access the detailed marking scheme on SurreyLearn prior to the commencement of the module. This marking scheme will also feature in the module handbook which will be made available to both you and staff.

  • Individual feedback. You will need to produce action plans then have a one to one meeting with the module convenor. The purpose of the individual feedback provided is to give more individual feedback which explains what you did well, what you did less well, and what you need to do to improve. 


Module aims

  • provide an overview of the main explanatory theories of how people behave at work;  
  • develop critical understanding to ways of analysing management tasks;  
  • enable students to critically examine organisations and the behaviour of organisations;  
  • enable students to appreciate the relationship between organisational behaviour theories and its behavioural implications;  
  • encourage a critical evaluation of the theories of organisational behaviour in a range of organisational contexts.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Understand the nature of the management process and managerial work CT
2 Understand the fundamental building blocks of organisations KCT
3 Understand the relationship between management rationality and organisational form KC
4 Understand the socio-psychological processes of the individual and group levels KC

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

The ethos of this module is that one learns best when there is an appropriate motivational context, a well-structured knowledge base, formative feedback, reflective practice and self-monitoring, and relevant learner activities. This is reflected in all elements of the module design. For example:


  • You will be given an opportunity at the beginning of the module to reflect and discuss why you should care about your learning and why this module is important to you. From the outset, this will help to highlight what motivates you in the context of your learning on this module.




  • You will be encouraged to participate in lectures by using your own prior experiences. This will allow you to better connect the taught theory with your existing experience and knowledge.  It will also give you confidence and increased interest in the module.

  • You will be directed to relevant learner activities which include preparing for lectures, group discussions and SurreyLearn discussions, and reading widely by going beyond lecture notes and the given readings.

  • You will be expected to engage in the feedback process. You are strongly encouraged to take on board the feedback received and make progression plans for the improvement of your academic performance.  This allows you to reflect and self-monitor your own progress and better understand your strengths and weaknesses.



The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Lectures 3 hour lecture per week x 11 weeks:  Class discussions, electronic voting and group work will be incorporated into the three hour lecture time where appropriate.


  • Lab 1.5 hour at week 4


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM024

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
International Hotel Management MSc 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Occupational and Organizational Psychology MSc 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.