School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management

VERIFICATION DOCUMENT

2013-2014

  1. Please complete or tick the following boxes as appropriate.

Module Title / Organizational Behaviour
Module Code / B3137 / Credit Points / 20
Module Co-ordinator / Dr Peter Falconer
Assessment Sem1 / √ / Sem2 / Resit
Mode of Assessment / Essay / √ / Presentation / √
Anonymous Marking / Yes / √ / No / No
Internal Verifier
External Examiner

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Documentation Check List

/ Internal Verifier (/X)
1st Diet assessment with outline/indicative answer/marking schedule / √
2nd Diet assessment with outline/indicative answer/marking schedule / √
Outline Teaching Pack / √
Hand in Date/s (please insert) / Friday,
13th December 2013
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  1. Academic Director

Signature………………………………………………………. Date……………………

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School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management

Module Descriptor

Title /

Organisational Behaviour

/ Code
B3137
SHE Level / 3 / Semester &
Mode of Study / 1
FT/PT / Credit Rating
SCQF 20
ECTS 10
SCQF Level / 9
Module Co-ordinator / Dr Peter Falconer
Module Team / Ms Violetta Fejszes
Pre-requisites / None
Co-requisites / None
Prohibited Combinations / None
Aims
To provide students with a critical understanding of the essentials of organisational behaviour
To enable students to engage critically with issues of organisational behaviour across different organisational contexts
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module the student will be able to: / Assessed in this module / A / B / C / D
L1 / Demonstrate a critical understanding of the important theories and issues surrounding the study of organisational behaviour / Yes / X / X / X
L2 / Analyse critically a range of problems and challenges facing contemporary organisations in relation to organisational behaviour / Yes / X / X / X
L3 / Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of structure and culture to organisational behaviour / Yes / X / X / X / X
L4 / Demonstrate a critical understanding of the roles of individuals, groups and teams within organisations. / Yes / X / X / X / X

A – Knowledge and Understanding, B – Intellectual Skills, C – Practical Skills

D – Transferable Skills

Learning Experiences
The module will engage the student in the following types of learning experiences:
  • Formal lecture contact (10 hours)
  • Formal tutorial contact (20 hours)
  • Directed study (40 hours)
  • Independent learning (130 hours)
  • Individual and group-based discussion in tutorials
  • Working in groups
  • Academic presentations
  • Formal academic writing

Assessment Pattern
Academic essay 70% (2500 words)
Group presentation 30%
The academic essay will require students to engage with an academic question on the theory and practice of organisational behaviour. The group presentation will require students to work in small groups to prepare a presentation which engages with the difficulties and challenges of working in groups and teams.
Can this Module be Anonymously marked? Yes/No
The academic essay can be assessed anonymously, but the nature of the presentation does not lend itself to anonymous assessment.
Content
The module syllabus will offer students the opportunity to engage with three main subject areas in the study of organisational behaviour:
  • The individual and the organisation
  • Personality traits
  • Perception and organisational behaviour
  • Motivation
  • Groups and trams within the organisation
  • Groups and teams
  • Communication
  • Leadership, power and politics
  • Conflict and negotiation
  • Organisational characteristics
  • Organisational structure
  • Organisational culture
  • Organisational change

Main Texts
The core text for the module is:
Robbins, S P and Judge, T. A. 2013. Organisational Behaviour. 15th ed. Pearson
Supplementary reading:
Brooks, I. 2006. Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups and Organisation. 3rd ed. FT/Prentice Hall.
Buelens, M., Sinding, K. and Waldstrom, C 2011. Organisational Behaviour. 4th ed. McGraw Hill.
Greenberg, J. 2011. Behaviour in Organisations. 10th ed. Pearson.
Huczynski, A. and Buchanan, D. 2009. Organisational Behaviour. FT/Prentice Hall.
Mullins, L. 2011. Essentials of Organisational Behaviour. 3rd ed. FT Press.
Robbins, S P and Judge, T. A. 2012. Essentials of Organisational Behaviour. 11th ed. Pearson
Warren, N. 2012. Organisational Design. FT Press.
These texts will be further supplemented through the recommendation of academic journal articles published in appropriate academic journals, together with relevant articles published in such periodicals as the Harvard Business Review and the Economist.
Other relevant details
Completed by
Dr Peter Falconer / Date
August 2012

SESSION 2013/14

MODULE ASSESSMENT

The module assessment consists of two components:

  • An academic essay of 2,500 words (see comment on word limits below), accounting for 70% of the final module mark
  • A group presentation, accounting for 30% of the final module mark

The module assessment is designed to:

  • Ensure that the stated learning outcomes for the module are strongly reflected in the assessment
  • Enable students to engage academically with the subject on an individual basis and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of important themes and debates which inform the study of organizational behaviour.
  • Enable students to demonstrate a critical engagement with academic literature on the subject
  • Enable students to demonstrate an ability to work in a group situation and to contribute to a formal group presentation appropriate to this level of study

The learning outcomes assessed in this assignment include the student’s ability to:

  • Analyze critically a range of problems and challenges facing contemporary organizations in relation to organizational behavior
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of structure and culture to organizational behavior
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of theories of individuals, groups and teams within organizations
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding or the important theories and issues surrounding the study of organizational behavior
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding or the important theories and issues surrounding the study of organizational behavior

The first three learning outcomes are assessed summatively through the first assessment instrument – the academic essay. The fourth is assessed summatively through the second assessment instrument – the group presentation. All four learning outcomes will be addressed in formative assessment within the tutorial and directed study activities conducted throughout the course of the module.

Module Assessment

Diet 1

Assessment:Academic Essay

Word limit:2,500 words

Format:The essay will conform, in presentation style and

structure, to the essay writing guidelines contained within the University’s Effective Learning Service’s

guide to Essay Writing (available from the Effective

Learning Service (

Weighting:70% of module assessment

Anonymous Marking: Yes

Submission Date:Friday, 13th December 2013

One electronic and one hard copy of the essay must be submitted. The hard copy should be stapled with a School cover sheet

The Assessment Exercise:

Students are required to write their academic essay on one of the following questions:

  • Critically discuss those factors which shape the behavior of individuals within organizations
  • Critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages associated with working in groups and teams within organizations
  • Critically evaluate the importance of organizational culture as a determinant of the structure of contemporary organizations

Indicative Answers:

Question 1

Critically discuss those factors which shape the behaviour of individuals within organizations

An answer to this question should demonstrate the following:

  • A clear understanding of the role and importance of individuals within organizations
  • A clear understanding of those factors which shape and influence individual behavior. Examples with which students might engage include attitudes, emotions, values, personality, perception and motivation
  • An ability to support arguments through the use of appropriate organizational examples
  • A critical engagement with an appropriate body of academic literature
  • An ability to present a coherent, well written and properly formatted essay in answer to the question, appropriate to the level of study

Question 2

Critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages associated with working in groups and teams within organizations

An answer to this question should demonstrate the following:

  • A clear understanding of the nature and importance of group working and team working in contemporary organizations
  • A clear understanding of the main advantages and disadvantages associated with group working and team working
  • A clear understanding of the main differences between groups and teams, in terms of their nature, scope and operation within organizations
  • An ability to support arguments through the use of appropriate organizational examples
  • A critical engagement with an appropriate body of academic literature
  • An ability to present a coherent, well written and properly formatted essay in answer to the question, appropriate to the level of study

Question 3

Critically evaluate the importance of organizational culture as a determinant of the structure of contemporary organizations

An answer to this question should demonstrate the following:

  • A clear understanding of the nature and scope of organizational culture
  • A clear understanding of the main defining elements of organizational culture
  • An ability to discuss critically models and frameworks on organizational culture discussed within the academic literature. Examples with which students might engage include the Cultural Web,
  • An ability to discuss critically the way in which organizational culture serves to shape organizational structure
  • An ability to support arguments through the use of appropriate organizational examples
  • A critical engagement with an appropriate body of academic literature
  • An ability to present a coherent, well written and properly formatted essay in answer to the question, appropriate to the level of study

Module Assessment

Diet 1

Assessment:Group Presentation

Format:PowerPoint Presentation

Weighting:30% of module assessment

Anonymous Marking: No

Date of Presentation:These will take place during tutorial time in the

week commencing Monday, 2nd December 2013

The Assessment Exercise:

For the purposes of this assessment, students will be divided into small groups in the course of the tutorial programme. The assessment will consist of a group presentation of around 10 - 15 minutes in length on the following question:

  • Outline the evolution of Organizational Behaviour as a subject of academic inquiry, and critically evaluate its importance in relation to the study of management

The presentation should be organized around the use of approximately 10 PowerPoint slides:

  • One title slide, configured as follows:
  • Around 7 substantive slides
  • One Summary slide, which provides the main conclusions of the presentation
  • One slide containing a list of references employed in the production and presentation of the work

Module Assessment

Diet 2

Assessment:Academic Essay

Word limit:2,500 words

Format:The essay will conform, in presentation style and

structure, to the essay writing guidelines contained

within the University’s Effective Learning Service’s

guide to Essay Writing (available from the Effective

Learning Service (

Weighting:70% of module assessment

Anonymous Marking: Yes

Submission Date:August 2013 (specific dateTo be arranged)

The Assessment Exercise:

At second diet, Students are required to write their academic essay on the following question:

  • Critically evaluate the importance of one of the following within contemporary organizations:
  • Individual motivation
  • Leadership
  • Managing change

Indicative Answer:

An answer to this question should demonstrate the following:

  • A clear understanding of the nature and academic dimensions of the chosen topic
  • A clear understanding of the importance of the chosen topic to contemporary organizations
  • An ability to support arguments through the use of appropriate organizational examples
  • A critical engagement with an appropriate body of academic literature
  • An ability to present a coherent, well written and properly formatted essay in answer to the question, appropriate to the level of study

Module Assessment

Diet 2

Assessment:Individual Presentation

Format:PowerPoint Presentation

Weighting:30% of module assessment

Anonymous Marking: No

Date of Presentation:August 2013 (specific date to be arranged)

The Assessment Exercise:

At second diet, the presentation element of the module assessment will be an individual presentation. This should be a PowerPoint presentation, consisting of around 10 slides:

  • One title slides, configured as follows:
  • Around seven substantive slides
  • One Summary slide, which provides the main conclusions of the presentation
  • One slide containing a list of references employed in the production and presentation of the work

The presentation should make use of the Notes Facility in PowerPoint to provide the commentary associated with each slide. These notes will replace the normal verbal presentation. The commentary in total should be around 1,000 words in length.

ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK PRO-FORMA

ACADEMIC ESSAY

Matriculation Number
Module Title / Organizational Behaviour
Module Code / B3137
Assignment Weighting / 70% of final module mark
Submission Date / Friday, 13th December 2013
Assessment Criteria / Excellent / Very Good / Good / Fair / Poor
Does the essay explicitly address the question?
Evidence of subject knowledge and understanding
Evidence of academic reading
Evidence of critical engagement with academic literature
Essay structure and presentation
Quality of writing
Comments and Action Points:
First Marker: / Date:
Second Marker / Date:
Mark awarded

Students are reminded that the grade indicated is PROVISIONAL only. It must be confirmed by the External Examiner and ratified by the Board of Examiners. Please contact the internal examiner if you wish to discuss your feedback.

ASESSMENT FEEDBACK PRO-FORMA

GROUP PRESENTATION

(Diet 1)

Name and Matriculation Number
Module Title / Organizational Behaviour
Module Code / B3137
Assignment Weighting / 30% of final module mark
Date of Presentation / Week commencing 2nd December 2013
Assessment Criteria / Comments/Feedback / Possible
Mark / Mark
Awarded
Structure and academic content of presentation / 40
Evidence of engagement with academic literature / 20
Style of presentation; quality of, and reference to, the slides used; and engagement with the audience / 25
Response to questions / 15
Overall comments and action points:
First Marker: / Date:
Second Marker / Date:
Mark awarded

Students are reminded that the grade indicated is PROVISIONAL only. It must be confirmed by the External Examiner and ratified by the Board of Examiners. Please contact the internal examiner if you wish to discuss your feedback.

ASESSMENT FEEDBACK PRO-FORMA

INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION

(Diet 2)

Name and Matriculation Number
Module Title / Organizational Behaviour
Module Code / B3137
Assignment Weighting / 70% of final module mark
Submission Date / August 2013 (to be confirmed)
Assessment Criteria / Comments/Feedback / Possible
Mark / Mark
Awarded
Structure and academic content of presentation / 40
Evidence of engagement with academic literature / 20
Quality of PowerPoint presentation / 20
Presentation of supporting commentary / 20
Overall comments and action points:
First Marker: / Date:
Second Marker / Date:
Mark awarded

Students are reminded that the grade indicated is PROVISIONAL only. It must be confirmed by the External Examiner and ratified by the Board of Examiners. Please contact the internal examiner if you wish to discuss your feedback.

NOTES WHICH APPLY TO DIETS 1 AND 2:

Plagiarism and the use of ‘Turnitin’

Plagiarism occurs when someone copies or reproduces another person’s words or ideas and presents them as their own with no proper acknowledgement via citation and referencing. In various universities students have been heavily penalised where plagiarism has been found. To ensure that you are not at risk of being accused of plagiarism you must always declare all the sources from which you have obtained material or ideas. Students should consult their student handbook for details of the manner in which plagiarism cases are dealt with at QMU. The appropriate section is to be found inthe student handbook in Regulations, Section 24.

Further information on referring to published materialis available at:

QMU provides ‘Turnitin’ as an academic resource to allow students to consider how they use secondary literature – this includes material from the internet, journals magazines, books and any other form of printed material. This enables you to check your own work to see if it isfaulty. Students are advised that it is their responsibilityto engage with Turnitin.Students must make a final Turnitin report via that module’s Hub site. Reference will be made to this report if staff marking your work suspect there is plagiarism. In addition, students should be aware that where staff suspect plagiarism or the purchase of assignments,Turnitin and a wide variety of other resources will be used to check work.

Attendance Policy

Undergraduate students in the School of Business, Enterprise and Management must attend a minimum of 75% of interactive classes (i.e. all classes except lectures)

Extensions

Extensions are only granted for extenuating circumstances that are beyond a student’s control. In general, though not exclusively, extenuating circumstances will be of a medical or personal nature affecting the student for a period of time and/or during assessment. Examples include, but are not limited to, a serious illness, accident or bereavement. Independent documented evidence is required in advance of the exam/submission date. Students who consider they have suffered from circumstances beyond their control; who wish to apply for an extension on the grounds of extenuating circumstances should refer to the Extenuating Circumstances Guidelines available on the internet at or from the School Office.

Word limits

The word limit for an assignment is part of the assessment criteria. There is a tolerance of 10% in excess of the word limit (e.g. 4000 word limit = + or - 400 words). Under QMU regulations, any excess over the word limit beyond the 10% will result in a maximum mark of 40%. You should state the number of words on the front of your assessment.

Late submission of assignment

If assignments are submitted after the due date but within one calendar week (i.e. up to 6days after the submission date) a maximum mark of 40% can be achieved. If submitted after one calendar week (i.e. 7 days or more) a mark of 0% will be awarded.

UNDERGRADUATE GRADE MARKING CRITERIA

Grade A: 80% and above

Outstanding performance, exceptionally able

Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of the question or problem and presents evidence of extensive reading of appropriate texts reflected in illuminating references in work. Shows exceptional originality in problem solving, analysis and evaluation, and presents arguments in a fluent and convincing manner. Displays the ability to synthesise concepts, knowledge and theory, with exceptional insight and critical thinking.

Grade A: 70-79.9%

Outstanding performance

Shows clear understanding and interpretation of the question set. Includes all of the most relevant information/issues raised by the question. Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate reading through references to texts and journal material. Shows thorough understanding of theoretical/conceptual issues. Demonstrates ability to present answers in a balanced and coherent way. Shows awareness of value judgements/assumptions embodied in the question. Demonstrates ability to analyse issues raised and evaluate evidence presented.