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Module Handbook
Module Title:
Organisation Design and Management
Module Code:
HR5053QA
Module Leader:
Olumide Ologan
Session: July 2022
Teaching period:
Pre-requisites: NA
Weblearn URL: https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/weblearn/
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Welcome to Organisation Design and Management
Session July 2022
Module Booklet Contents
1. Teaching team………………………………………………………………………………………………3
2. Module Summary and Description …………………………………………………………………3
Module Learning Outcomes……………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Module Syllabus/Content……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
3. Indicative weekly teaching programme ………………..Error! Bookmark not defined.
4. Attendance and Absence ……………………………………..Error! Bookmark not defined.
5. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism………………………. Error! Bookmark not defined.
6. Assessment. ……………………………………………………………………………10
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1. Teaching team
2. Module Summary and Description
The module aims to introduce and explore a range of key topics related to organisation
studies. It will enable students to explore and critically analyse a wide range of key
issues that impact upon the design, management and operations of contemporary
organisations including those related to Organisation Structure, Culture, Power &
Surveillance, Management of Change, Business Ethics and Corporate Social
Responsibility. A critical approach will be developed towards the use and application
of organisation theories to analyse the key issues.
Module Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, you will be able to:
1. Understand and analyse the key issues related to the design, management and
operations of contemporary organisations.
2. Apply a wide range of organisation theories to support and develop the analysis of
organisational issues.
3. Understand issues related to working and managing effectively within contemporary
organisations.
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Module Syllabus/Content
Week 1: Introduction to the module (w/c 25th July)
Lecture details
This week, we will run through an overview of the module including the content,
assessments and workbook expectations (including weekly reading).
Seminar details
We will ask ‘What is an organisation?’ and discuss the different ways we can see OB
theory and concepts in our own working lives. We will also examine how organisations
seek to control behaviour.
Suggested reading
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour ch.1
Week 2: Perspectives on Organisations (w/c 1st August)
Lecture details
We’ll introduce you to some theoretical perspectives on organisational behaviour, or
different ways in which organisations are studied (the different lenses).
Seminar details
We will look at the module assessments. We will look at a case study on the
Hawthorne Experiments and explore how the findings from these vary, and how they
may also reflect different perspectives on the individual workers, the organisation and
the wider context of the environment.
Preparation
I will give you twenty minutes to read the case study by Wickstrom and Bendix (see
Course Material folder) but if you think you will need longer than that, please read it
before the class.
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour Ch.1
• Rollinson (2003) Organisational behaviour and analysis : an integrated
approach Ch 1
• You may also wish to consider: When your boss is an algorithm:
https://www.ft.com/content/88fdc58e-754f-11e6-b60a-de4532d5ea35
Week 3: Understanding Leadership and Management (w/c 8th August)
Lecture details
In this session, we examine the differences between managers and leaders. Are they
different and if so, how are they different? We’ll then focus on leaders explicitly and
what the literature says on what makes a good leader, contingency approaches and
transactional vs transformational leadership.
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Seminar details
This is the first week where you start compiling sections of your (assessment 1)
workbook. We will also use this session to apply some leadership theories to the case
(see below) and to real-world leaders.
Preparation
We will be examining the Hentze case study on leadership this week (see Course
material folder). I will give you 20 minutes in the class to read this but if you think you
will need longer, please read it before the class.
Suggested reading (all online):
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour
• Mullins L (2013) Management & Organisational Behaviour, 10th ed. FT
Prentice Hall, Essex
• Watson and Reissner (2016) Developing Skills for Business Leadership
Week 4: Employee Engagement and the Psychological Contract (w/c 15th Aug.)
Lecture details
This lecture builds on our understanding of the Human Relations view of the
organisation. We will seek to understand, explain and critically evaluate major theories
of motivation. We will relate the contribution of employee motivation to the more recent
concept of employee engagement. We will also explore the nature of the psychological
contract and its role in forging commitment and engagement.
Seminar details
We will look at the Halfords case and consider the significance of job design to
employee engagement.
Suggested reading (online)
• BRIDGER, E. (2018). Employee engagement: a practical introduction.
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour
• TRUSS, C., DELBRIDGE, R., ALFES, K., SHANTZ, A., & SOANE, E.
(2013). Employee engagement in theory and practice
http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1524123.
Also useful:
• https://hbr.org/2018/02/1-in-5-highly-engaged-employees-is-at-risk-of-burnout
Advice on skim reading:
• http://www.uefap.com/reading/efficien/skim/skim.htm
Week 5: Business Ethics and CSR (w/c 22nd August)
Lecture details
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We’ll be examining different ethical perspectives on organisations including
shareholder and stakeholder ethical models of business – arguably the UK focuses
more on the former, and we’ll take the opportunity to reflect on some case studies
showing the implications of that. We’ll then look more into the concept of CSR
including the ways managing people within organisations (HR) can be central to this.
We’ll be looking at some of the critique or limitations of CSR approaches, which
ultimately demonstrates the need for more regulation to ensure protections at
economic, social and environmental levels of analysis.
Seminar details
In today’s session we’ll be reflecting on a case study ‘through the keyhole’ which is an
academics view when attending a conference. The idea is to identify different aspects
of organisational behaviour in the points the author is making about what they see.
We will also be reflecting on advice you’d give to first year students on approaching
case studies and their relative analysis.
Please bring a copy of the ‘find a keyhole’ paper attached to the weblearn folder to
class.
Other Suggested reading
• H&B Ch 2.
Week 6: Organisational Structure (w/c 29th August)
Lecture details
This week you will be attending Rest and Be Well at GSBL. Please let me know if you
did not receive full details via an announcement from your Course Leader. I will make
a recording of the lecture material for the week which will examine some of the different
ways organisations are structured (and why). This will include an overview of ‘tall’
versus ‘flat’ structures, functional, geographic and product/service based, and
consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Seminar details
There will be no seminar, but please read chapter 17 (pp.363-398) of the online core
text (below) and make notes for us to discuss at the start of the session next week.
Please also look at the video (in the Videos folder) on Samuel Whitbread. Try to
identify some of the structures that the firm has adopted and discarded over the course
of its development.
Suggested reading
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour
• Teece, D.J. (2018) Business Models and Dynamic Capabilities. Long Range
Planning, 51, pp. 40-49.
READING WEEK (w/c 5th Sept.)
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Week 7: Organisational Culture (w/c 12th September)
Lecture details
We will identify the main features of organisational culture and its value for managers
and leaders in organisational communications and decision-making.
Seminar details
In today’s seminar we will be looking at Facebook and Gore (www.gore.com) in order
to explore how organisational culture actually works in and for organisations. We will
also look at some of the challenges facing those in the banking sector who have
sought to deliver culture change.
Suggested reading
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour
Week 8: Organisational Change and Resistance to Change (w/c 19th
September)
Lecture details
In today’s lecture we will evaluate some selected change theories and also some of
the better known change management models. We will identify some of the reasons
for resistance to change and consider some of the ideas as to how one can address
resistance
We will also be looking at Kurt Lewin, one of the forefathers of group psychology,
group dynamics and change theory.
Seminar.
In this week’s seminar we’ll be looking at the case study from Senior et al (which you
will find on pp359-60 of her book. I have provided a link to the book (Orgnaizational
Change) in the reading list and below:
https://content.talisaspire.com/londonmet/bundles/60351c449faa8812dd6181a4
You will also find material from the CIPD in the Course material folder called Landing
Transformational Change. I draw your attention in particular to the Appendices of this
resource. Any of these will give you ideal material with which to tackle section 8 of
your Workbook.
Suggested reading
• CIPD (2021) Landing Transformation Change (report) – see Course material
• SENIOR, B., SWAILES, S., & CARNALL, C. (1920). Organizational Change,
6th Edition. Harlow, United Kingdom, Pearson Education
Canada. http://public.eblib.com/choice/PublicFullRecord.aspx?p=6131420.
Week 9: Individual Dimensions of Organisational Power (w/c 26th September)
Lecture details
This week we will be looking at theories and concepts around power at an individual
or political level in organisations. We will also be taking a closer look at Assessment 2
and offering further guidance.
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Seminar details
We will use the seminar to explore how relevant Machiavelli’s ideas are in
contemporary firms.
Please also read and bring a copy of this article to
class: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/09534810610648906
If you have any trouble with the link, you will find the article in the lonmet library
catalogue. Here is the reference.
McGuire, D. and Hutchings, K. (2006) A Machiavellian analysis of organisational
change. Journal of Change Management. Vol 19, 2 pp.192-209.
Other Suggested reading
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour, Ch 22
Week 10: Structural Dimensions of Organisational Power (w/c 03rd October)
Lecture details
This week we remain focussed on power, but now consider how it works at a structural
and/or embedded cultural level within the organisation. We will look at modern
examples of workplaces and illustrations of how power, control and surveillance exist,
albeit in more subtle ways e.g. control from customers and the algorithm.
Seminar details
The seminar today will look at a news article by Parkinson 2017 on the gig economy
and the likes of Uber. Here is the
link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/17/sometimes-you-dont-feelhuman-how-the-gig-economy-chews-up-and-spits-out-millennials
We shall be reflecting on the concept of stakeholder and shareholder approaches,
exploring the extent to which such firms are engaging with their stakeholders.
You may be starting to draft your essays. If so, it is recommended that you revisit the
relevant week for each of the essay topics. You cannot plan an essay without some
idea of the theory you will use! If you would like more input about planning, developing,
and writing up your essay, look at the guidance document by Mitchell (2012) in the
reading list.
Suggested reading
• Huczynski and Buchanan (2019) Organisational Behaviour Chs. 13, 21.
Week 11: International Perspectives (w/c 10th October)
Lecture details
In today’s lecture we’ll be looking at globalisation and the rise of the MNC. We also
explore some socio-cultural contrasts between management practice in different
countries.
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Seminar details
In the seminar we will be looking at the following case study of Toyota:
James, R. and Jones, R. (2014) ‘Transferring the Toyota lean cultural paradigm into
India: implications for human resource management’, International Journal of Human
Resource Management, 25(15), pp. 2174–2191. doi:
10.1080/09585192.2013.862290.
Please use the link in the Course materials folder for access to the case study.
You will be given some time and guidance so that you can read key passages in the
class but do please try to read the article before the class if you have time.
Week 12: Revision session (w/c 17th October)
Lecture details
We will revisit some material relevant to one or other of the three essay options for
Assessment 2
Seminar details
There are no seminar sessions today. Instead, you all have the opportunity to meet
one to one with lecturers to discuss your ideas and plans for, or your drafts the essays
(Assessment 2).
3. Indicative weekly teaching programme
The indicative weekly programme shows the topic likely to be covered in each teaching
week, please note that the precise order can change. Check your Weblearn module for up
to date information.
To view the time, date and location of class see your personal timetable available at
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/timetable
To pass the module you must achieve an overall minimum mark of
40%. If you pass the module on re-assessment, the component you
resit will be capped at a pass mark level of 40%
4. Attendance and Absence
You are required to attend all teaching sessions of this module. If your attendance is
unsatisfactory, the module leader will arrange that you are withdrawn the module.
Before doing this, the hub will email you to inform you of this. If there is a specific
reason why you cannot attend a particular session, you must contact the module
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leader in advance of the lecture. If the reason is accepted, it will be noted on the
register as an authorised absence. You will only be granted authorised absence for
one week; if the absence is longer you must discuss this further with your Student
Liaison Advisor or Academic Tutor.
5. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic integrity requires honesty in your studies. You should not present another
person’s sentences or ideas as your own work. You should clearly identify quotations
through the use of quotation marks and references to the sources. Failure to adhere
to these academic standards may lead to allegations of academic misconduct, which
will be investigated by the Casework Office.
Academic misconduct covers a variety of practices, such as:
• Plagiarism: copying another person’s ideas or words and presenting them as
your own work, without the use of quotation marks and/or references;
• Self-plagiarism: reproducing parts of one of your assignments in another piece
of work;
• Inventing, altering or falsifying the results of experiments or research;
• Commissioning another person to complete an assessment;
• Collaborating with others in the production of a piece of assessed work which
is presented as entirely your own work;
• Cheating in an exam (e.g., by taking revision notes into the exam room).
For full details of academic misconduct and how allegations are investigated, see the
relevant section of the University’s academic regulations:
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/your-studies/student-administration/rules-andregulations/academic-misconduct/.
6. Assessment
All assessments are designed to support your learning and help you develop a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in your module.
• Formative assessments provide an opportunity to learn and do not contribute
to your grade.
• Summative assessment contribute to your overall mark and grades.
Module Assessments (Summative)
Assessment
Method
Description of Item
weighting %
Week Due
If not pass on
aggregate, explain
what is required to
pass the module
11
Individual
Student
Workbook
Two questions per
week based on seminar
discussions from weeks
3-11
30
14
Monday,
7th
November
by 3:00pm
NA
Individual
Essay
Essay on a choice of
questions
70
Week 14
Monday,
7th
November
by 3:00pm
NA
Workbook and essay submission deadline: 07/11/2022 via Turnitin by 3pm
