Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title UNDERSTANDING ORGANISATIONS AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
Code CKIT551
Coordinator Dr F Grasso
Computer Science
Floriana@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 7 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Aims
  1. To enable students to assess the roles of individuals and teams within organisations so that they can become proficient information technology leaders and managers.
  2. To provide students with an understanding of the skills, experience and managerial techniques that lead to the purposeful implementation and utilisation of information technology for the benefit of organisations and their employees.

Learning Outcomes
A critical understanding of organisational structures and the roles of individuals and teams in an organisation, as well as the roles of their managers.
A critical understanding of the role of technology in contemporary organisations.

A critical understanding of organisational behaviour in terms of a complex process of adaptation to "never-ending" changes in society.

 

An understanding of what motivates individuals and an ability to relate this to the operation of contemporary organistations.

An understanding of the characteristics of effective IT teams and methods of keeping teams active and dynamic.

 
An understanding of the challenge of communication in IT environments.

 

An understanding of the role of leadership in contemporary technology organisations.

 
An understanding of concepts such as the “knowledge organisations” and the “customer-responsive culture”.

Syllabus
1 

Week 1:  Introduction to Organisation Behaviour Studies, Basic Notions

The importance of studying Organisational Behaviour (OB) and the methods and methodologies used in its study. Overview of the main components of OB studies. 

 

Week 2:  Individual Behaviour; Values, Attitudes, Job Satisfaction, Personality and Emotions

The role of individuals in organisations. Characterisation of individual needs and values and methods for increasing job satisfaction.

 

Week 3:  Perceptions and Decision Making, Motivation

The way that people see and interpret the same thing differently and how such perspectives may affect their decision-making. Life-long learning as a method of personal development.

 

Week 4:  Foundations of Group Behaviour: Teams and Communication

The difference between formal and informal groups, and the characterisation of their effect on their members’ behaviour and decision-making. Methods of keeping teams active and dynamic. Communication within teams and the role of IT.

 

Week 5:  Leadership, Power and Politics: Conflicts and Negotiations

Basic approaches to leadership and their application. How virtual leadership differs from face-to-face leadership. Methods of selec ting effective leaders. Reasons for conflict, and methods of conflict-handling and negotiation.

 

Week 6:  Foundations of Organisational Structure: Organisation System, Organisational Culture

Characterisation of organisation structure and the implications of its different designs. Common characteristics of organisational culture and their relationship with the formal structure of organisations. 

 

Week 7:  Human Resource Policies and Practices

Designing organisational structures. Knowledge and boundaryless organisations. Customer-responsive culture and the role of IT. Benefits and drawbacks of telecommuting from the employee’s point of view.

 

Week 8:  Organisational Dynamics. Change and Stress Management

Forces and influencers that act as stimulants for change with emphasis on those derived by IT. Knowledge management in the context of organisations. IT-rich environments and the importance of both change and stress management as appropriate.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Online Learning - Weekly seminar supported by asynchronous discussion in a virtual classroom environment facilitated by an online instructor.

Number of hours per week that students are expected to attend the virtual classroom so as to participate in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 8.75.

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours           70
Weekly seminar supported by asynchronous discussion in a virtual classroom environment facilitated by an online instructor.
70
Timetable (if known)           Number of hours per week that students are expected to attend the virtual classroom so as to participate in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 8.75.
  		 
Private Study 80
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  Weekly Discussion Qu  Whole Session  40  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Eight discussion questions There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One Week, 750-1000 w  Week 1  6  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay on methods and methodologies of organisational behaviour There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week, 750-1000 w  Week 2  6  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay on roles of individuals in an IT-rich contemporary organisation There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  one week, group repo  Week 3  10  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Group project: Planning an exemplar IT-rich organisation (Part 1) There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week, 750-1000 w  Week 4  6  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay on Team behaviour and the role of IT in an IT-rich organisation There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week, group repo  Week 5  10  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Group project: Planning an exemplar IT-rich organisation (Part 2) There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week, 750-1000 w  Week 6  6  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay on organisational structure & cultural strength in an IT-rich organisation There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week, group repo  Week 7  10  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Group project: Planning an exemplar IT-rich organisation (Part 3) There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week, 750-1000 w  Week 8  6  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay on knowledge and change management in IT-rich organisation There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. Notes (applying to all assessments) 1) Due to nature of the on-line mode of instruction this work is not marked anonymously. 2) Students who fail the module have the opportunity to repeat the entire module. 3) The "Standard UoL Penalty" for late submission that applies is the "Standard UoL Penalty" agreed with respect to online programmes offered in collaboration with Laureate Online Education. 4) For group work assessments groups typically comprise 3 to 4 students. Both group and individual contributions are assessed and integrated to produce a final mark for each student. 

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

The online programmes offered by the department of Computer Science in Collaboration with Laureate Online Education use online materials wherever possible including the online resources available within the University of Liverpool’s libraries. This module does not require a specific text book.