ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR:PSYCHOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE - 2025/6

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Identity


• Organisational Culture


• Leadership


• Managing Performance


• Group Processes


• Individual Difference


• Psychological Contract


• Job Design


• Motivation

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their 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:

• Online Open book Exam

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 OB theory but also emotional intelligence and how to apply theory to a very practical scenario.  

Formative assessment

You will have the 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. An inquiry-based learning approach is used as an approach to learning that emphasizes you, the student’s role in the learning process. You are encouraged to explore the material, ask questions and share ideas. After you have submitted your formative assessment (i.e. essay) you will need to analyse your own strength and weaknesses prior to arrange a meeting with the module convenor or teaching assistant to discuss your performance and agree on an action plan.

Feedback

• A published marking scheme. You will be able to access the detailed marking scheme on SurreyLearn prior to the commencement of the module.


• 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. 


• In class feedback. You will be provided with in class feedback through in class discussions and activities.

Module aims

• provide an overview of the main explanatory theories of how people behave at work;  
• 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

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:

• Students 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.

• Students 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.


• Students 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.


• Students 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.

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

Other information

This module incorporates the following University Pillars:

• Global & Cultural Capabilities

This module enables students’ development to become mo knowledgeable of current research and practices in managing and understanding global and culture environment and hence capable to identify solutions to real-life organizational problems

• Employability

This module enables students’ development to become more employable through skills such as critical evaluation and application of theories they have developed in the module

• Resourcefulness and Resilience

This module enables students’ development to become independent critical thinkers, knowledgeable of current research and practices in wellbeing and performance management, and capable to identify solutions to real-life organizational problems

Programmes this module appears in

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 2025/6 academic year.