module specification

This module introduces you to key ideas about how organisations work and how they are managed. You will learn about different ways of thinking about organisations — from traditional views to more modern and critical approaches. The module covers important topics such as leadership, employee engagement, organisational structure, power and control, culture, and how organisations change.

You will explore real-life issues that organisations face today, including global challenges, ethical concerns, and the impact of management decisions on people. By using different organisation theories, you will learn how to understand and analyse what happens inside organisations.

Through discussions, case studies, and personal reflection, you will also build important skills such as communication, research, and problem-solving. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply what you’ve learned to understand how organisations operate and how they can be improved.

• Foundations of Organisation Theory
– Classical, modern, and critical perspectives on how organisations function.
• Organisational Culture and Identity in the Digital Age
– How values, norms, and identities are shaped by remote work, digital communication, and hybrid teams.
• Leadership, Power, and Influence in Contemporary Workplaces
– Inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and shifting power dynamics in flat or agile structures.
• Workplace Surveillance and Algorithmic Management
– Exploring digital monitoring, data-driven performance management, and the ethics of AI in organisations.
• Equity/Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
– Challenges and strategies for building inclusive and fair organisations.
• Employee Engagement and Wellbeing
– Examining mental health, stress management, and the evolving psychological contract.
• Organisational Change, Agility, and Resistance
– How organisations adapt (or fail to) in fast-changing environments. Dealing with crises and obsession with change.
• Sustainability, Ethics, and Corporate Responsibility
– How organisations respond to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expectations.
• Hybrid and Flexible Work Practices
– How technology and shifting employee expectations are reshaping where and how people work. Insight into the Gig economy.
• Global Perspectives and Managing Across Cultures
– Understanding how organisations operate internationally, including issues of globalisation, outsourcing, and cultural intelligence

Learning is organised through a combination of weekly lectures and interactive seminars that encourage critical dialogue, collaboration, and peer learning. Discussions will cover the different themes outlined in the syllabus and also develop the various learning skills through practical exercises performed individually, in pairs and in groups.

The teaching/facilitating process will focus on enhancing and boosting students’ confidence and commitment in their learning experience and collaborative work. Regular sessions will also be scheduled to improve such skills as note-taking, information seeking, critical reading and academic writing among others. Lecturers’ teaching materials will be made accessible to students on WebLearn and activity sheets will be provided to them during seminar sessions for problem-solving activities.

Assessment is based on a 2,000-word essay, where students choose one of three questions aligned with the module’s key themes. Developing their essay enables students to engage deeply with relevant academic literature, strengthening their research, analytical, and writing skills while enhancing their understanding of the chosen topic.

Learning Objectives:

LO1 Explain key theories and ideas (and their critiques) about how organisations are structured and managed.

LO2 Apply these theories to analyse real-world organisational issues, including leadership, culture, power, and change.

LO3: Reflect on own skills and experiences to support personal and professional development, including responsible and ethical use of AI and digital tools for learning, in contrast to their application in real-world organisational settings.

Library Reading List


Core book: 
 
·    Clegg, S. R., Pitsis, T. S., & Kornberger, M. (2022). Managing and organizations: An introduction to theory and practice.
 
Addition reading: 
·      Arvinen-Muondo R & Perkins S (Eds) (2013) Organizational Behaviour: People, Process, Work & Human Resource Management, London: Kogan Page (e resource).
 ·      Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. J. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press, USA. 
 ·      Grey C (2013) A Very Short, Fairly Interesting And Reasonably Cheap Book About Studying Organizations, London: Sage.
 ·      Hatch MJ (2018) Organization Theory: Modern, Symbolic and Postmodern Perspectives, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
 ·      Huczynski A & Buchanan D (2023) Organizational Behaviour, Harlow: Pearson Education (e resource).

·      Mullins LJ (2016) Management and Organisational Behaviour, Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd (e resource).

·      Pugh D (2007) Writers on Organisations, Harmondsworth: Penguin.

·      Sims, D., Fineman, S. and Gabriel, Y (2010) Organizing and Organizations: an Introduction, London, Sage.

·      Thompson P & McHugh D (2009) Work Organisations, London:  Macmillan
•    Wilson F.M. (2010) Organizational Behaviour and Work: a Critical Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Journal: 
·      Human Relations
·      Journal of Management Studies
·      Journal of Organizational Change Management
·      Organization
·      Organization Studies.
·      Social Responsibility Journal
·      Work, Employment and Society