Organisational Behaviour and HRM Module - Online MBA

Introduction and module objectives

The OB & HRM module has two components: the first, and shorter component will explore the way that people behave and interact in organisations. This section of the module aims to critically develop student knowledge in the fundamental theoretical and practical issues to do with the management of organisations. The student will understand how organisations are structured, how they function and how people behave in organisations. This introductory material will provide the behavioural aspects underpinning HRM, which constitutes the second and larger section of the module.

The aim of the HRM component is to provide an introduction to the main HR functions and to place them in the context of important new HR developments - academic and professional - that have occurred in the last decade. The coverage is mainly concerned with large national and multinational firms and will include the analysis of both the strategic and operational problems of delivering successful HRM policies in an International context.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify the key questions which those responsible for designing organisation structures need to answer.
• Explain the critical significance for contemporary organisations of the classical school, bureaucracy, scientific management and the human relations school.
• Explain how organisational culture, power and politics impact on the behaviour of people in organisations.
• Critically evaluate the research comparing group and individual performance.
• Understand the main approaches to the management of change.
• Explain how personality influences behaviour and describe the various methods available for personality assessment.
• Compare and contrast alternative approaches to and theories of leadership.
• Compare and contrast the services offered by HR departments, and external HR companies and consultancies.
• Explain the relationship between the overall strategy of the organisation and the basic approaches to HR strategy.
• Appreciate the range of selection techniques for differing groups of employees and different occupations.
• Understand the principles involved in the retention of key employees.
• Understand the fundamental principles of appraisal processes.
• Appreciate the ways in which various types of Reward Systems can influence levels of employee motivation and engagement.

Skills

The principal challenge in the OB and HR module is to provide students with the up-to-date information that will then enable them to access and utilise the HR services and processes that are available in their own companies.

To do this, the course will examine the impact of the provision of on-line HR services, the growth of international mergers and joint-ventures and the new priorities that have emerged under the 'banners' of Talent Management and Employer Branding.