Course Description

Course Name

Business and Management 1A: People at Work

Session: VGSS3122

Hours & Credits

20 SCQF Credits

Prerequisites & Language Level

Taught In English

  • There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

Overview

Course description

Business and Management 1A aims to provide an introduction to the study of organizational behaviour for students with little or no previous social science knowledge.

Aims

Students can expect to consider organizational behaviour from the perspectives of research and practice in psychology, sociology, management and business. Individual and group behaviours and their influence on organizational performance and success will be the key area of consideration. As such, key topics for examination and analysis will be the effects and impacts of learning, personality, communication, perception and motivation on individual and group behaviours in the organizational setting. The course offers students the opportunity to develop skills in interpersonal communication, written communication, presentations, problem-solving and use of information technology.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

argue the purpose of, and need for studying organizations in contemporary society
explain the relationship between an organization's environment and the behaviour of the individuals and groups within it
demonstrate how individuals affect performance and behaviour of organizations through learning, personality, perception, communication, motivation or their behaviour within a group
explain how groups form and develop over time to achieve either a high or a low performance and assess the interactions between group processes, structure and performance.
Learning and teaching methods

3 lectures per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday), 4.00-5.00 pm and 5 1-hour tutorials.

Please note the following: the lectures will also be taught at 3pm on the same days. The lectures are a repeat of each other and are due to space constraints. The 3pm lecture is also arranged on the basis that the level of attendance at the lectures require it.

Course texts

Huczynski, A.A. and Buchanan, D.A. (2013), Organizational Behaviour, 8th edition, Prentice Hall Financial Times, Harrow, Essex (?OB8?)

Assessment

An essay of 2500 words (40%)
2 1-hour in-course exams (40%)
A 1-hour degree exam (December) (20%)

*Course content subject to change