This module aims to provide students with the concepts and theories relevant to the cognitive and emotional aspects of decision-making at the individual, group and organizational levels. Particular attention is paid to the problems and potential pitfalls of making decisions amidst uncertainty and conflict including potential pressure to act in an ethically questionable manner. The module will also consider the role of AI and machine learning in decision making and the potential benefits and risks of this to organisational decision making. The module also considers negotiated decisions and cognitive techniques for stimulating creativity, innovation and problem-solving.

(LO1) Students will be able to identify and discuss the main terms used within the psychology of decision-making

(LO2) Students will be able to critically evaluate and discuss the major cognitive, social and emotional processes that influence the nature of individual, group and organizational decision-making

(LO3) Students will be able to demonstrate ability to deal with conflicting evidence and 'data' within decision-making contexts and to recognise the limitations of 'evidence' used with the decision

(LO4) Students will be able to critically evaluate and discuss the manner in which social and environmental factors can inform and shape the process of decision-making through team-work and group discussion

(LO5) Students will be able to work with others in problem-solving and negotiating teams and to reflect upon the major psycho-social processes involved in that activity

(LO6) Students will be able to critically evaluate and discuss the role of AI and machine-based decision making, including the potential benefits and limitations thereof

(S1) Adaptability

(S2) Problem-solving skills

(S3) Numeracy

(S4) Commercial awareness

(S5) Teamwork

(S6) Organisational skills

(S7) Communication skills

(S8) IT skills

(S9) International awareness

(S10) Lifelong learning skills

(S11) Ethical awareness

Teaching Method: Lecture
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 24
Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching Method: Seminar
Description: Seminars supported by case examples are mainly used to apply insights gleaned in lectures to real problems emanating from business and public sector organizations. Another important role of seminars is to facilitate the development of transferable skills by encouraging students to develop skills in conceptualizing problems, applying problems skills and applying theory to practice.
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 6
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 120
Description: There are 36 total contact hours including seminars. In addition you students are expected to devote 120 hours to private study. Private study includes preparation for lectures and seminars plus follow-up reading. Students are also expected to attend all lectures and seminars. Handouts are not provided. Students are advised to bring a copy of the Module Handbook and copies of slides to each lecture and seminar. VLE is used to post the Module Handbook, lecture slides, specimen examination paper and generic feedback on assessments. Communication with students as a group or as individuals is by e-mail. Students are asked to check their University e-mail account daily. Please note: the precise order of topics for lectures and tutorials may vary. Wherever possible, changes will be notified in advance by e-mail.

Non-modular Requirements
Either ULMS101 or ULMS151

Skills/Other Attributes Mapping

Skills / attributes: Ethical awareness
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials ; lectures will cover ethical dilemmas related to individual, group, organisational and AI decision making, for example normative models of decision making. This learning is then applied in the tutorials where students will discuss and apply normative models in relation to simulated decision making scenarios.
Mode of ass essment (if applicable): Presentation, exam

Skills / attributes: Lifelong learning skills
How this is developed: In lectures, tutorials and private study; students will develop critical thinking, research skills and argumentation through the lectures where these skills are ‘demonstrated’ by the lecturer but equally students are tasked with problem solving through engagement tasks. Tutorials heavily rely on students critical thinking and argumentation as they work through case problems. Research skills are required so that critical thinking is grounded in theory and evidence.
Mode of assessment (if applicable ): Presentation

Skills / attributes: International awareness
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials; lectures and tutorials cover topics that will require students to have an understanding of how the national context influences decisions making. Tutorials feature business cases that are from varied international contexts.
Mode of assessment (if applicable ): Presentation, exam

Skills / attributes: IT skills
How this is developed: In private study; students will need to draw on their IT skills to develop high quality presentations
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Presentation

Skills / attributes: Communication skills
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials; students are required to engage verbally in both lectures and tutorials, to formulate answers and critically discuss ideas with the lecturer and with their peers
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Presentation, exam

Skills / attributes: Organisational skills
How this is developed: In lectures, tutorials and private study; students will be provided guidance in lectures and tutorials related to effective organisation of their assessment, this will also be developed through private studies wherein students will be tasked with self-managing their presentation group and associated tasks.
Mode of assessm ent (if applicable): Presentation

Skills / attributes: Teamwork
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials; lectures cover content related to group dynamics and effective group decision making which is allied to effective team working. Tutorials require students to work in teams to address a given case/problem.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Presentation

Skills / attributes: Commercial awareness
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials; lectures and tutorials are based on real examples of organisations decision making, failures and adoption of AI allied to decision making processes
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Presentation, exam

Skills / attributes: Numeracy
How this is developed: Private study
Mode of assessment (if applicable); N/A

Skills / attributes: Problem-solving skills
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials; lectures and tutorials pose critical analysis problems to students and tasks them with creatively solving these, lectures focussed on creativity specifically focus on how imagination and creative thinking can be used to solve organisational problems
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Presentation, exam

Skills / attributes: Adaptability
How this is developed: In lectures and tutorials, private study; students are required to adapt to different problems and cases posed in lectures and tutorials. Lectures and seminars are interactive and require students to ‘think on their feet’ to solve a given task/problem.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Presentation, exam

Risk, uncertainty and individual over-confidence;

Cognitive and affective traps;

Unethical decision-making;

Escalation in decision-making;

Real options theory;

Indecision;

Entrapment;

AI and Machine learning in decision making;

Group dynamics;

Organizational influences on decision-making and organizational over-confidence;

Paradox and contradiction in decision-making;

Cognitive techniques for problem-solving, creativity and innovation;

Negotiated decisions.