What will I learn on this module?
This module examines the foundations of organisations, their management and their people through which you will develop understanding of how people and work are organised; principles that underpin all business programmes. Organisational behaviours are interdependent, and this requires us to look at ongoing relationships – of both co-operation and conflict – between organisational functions, whether finance, marketing, HR, as well as the broader context and external environment.
Employers seek out graduates that have the knowledge and skills to transform organisation in the face of continuous, rapid economic, environmental and social change. Therefore, this module will develop your understanding of how organisational sustainability and team performance might be enhanced through your heightened awareness of people’s workplace behaviour, actions and attitudes.
We will examine aspects at the organisation and work level (macro-level) such as:
• Changing nature of work, of employment and of organisations
• Ethics, power and control
And at the team and individual level (micro-level), such as:
• Leading effective teams
• Difference and diversity
• Motivation, commitment and engagement
As we examine these aspects you will be introduced to a range of concepts, theories, models and subject knowledge and will apply these through a problem-solving approach, in a practical discipline-specific context using case studies, reflection upon personal understanding and experience and real organisation examples.
Throughout, you will be encouraged to adopt a critical perspective – to analyse and challenge what you read and hear. You will consider whose interests are served by conventional ways of understanding organisations, to become more aware of your own bias – perhaps causing you to re-think or your preconceived assumptions and beliefs.
How will I learn on this module?
Your learning is supported through tutor-led and learner-led session activities, also through tutor-directed and self-directed independent study.
Tutor-led research-informed sessions will help you to develop your conceptual and theoretical understanding of the topic areas. A collaborative, learner-led, tutor-guided problem-based learning approach will support your application of these concepts and theories. Application will be made to, for example, real-world case-studies and contemporary management issues of multinational corporations, regional/local SMEs through to public and not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises drawn from within your own management sub-discipline area.
Your learning is also supported by appropriate learning technologies that include extensive and carefully curated learning resources from the worlds’ leading HR researchers and practitioners, to enable your self-directed learning.
Your independent self-directed learning will involve you self-identifying learning activities, such as further academic reading, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
The learner-led, tutor-guided activities are organised in groups of around 20-30 learners working in smaller teams. This approach provides a closer, more personal academic support.
Academics will support you through the led sessions and in planning the types of activities you should be engaging in during your independent study time. They are also available upon request to support you outside of formal session time by responding to questions or concerns that you might have either via email or via individually pre-arranged appointments and/or drop-in sessions.
Academic support is also provided through the provision of a range of University learning support services. A wide range of online support materials is also available thought the virtual learning environment. These materials include recordings, webcasts, pre-recorded sessions, key academic skills, also an electronic reading list including RSS feeds that showcase the application of various practices presented in the module.
To support you in your academic progress, you will receive both formative and summative feedback on your work through the course of each academic year. Regular formative feedback on class activities provides you with the necessary guidance to scaffold your knowledge and understanding of the key concept and principles of the subject to enable your success in the final summative assessment. Summative feedback/feed-forward will be provided on your work after it has been assessed and graded. You should use all feedback that you receive to identify areas of strength and areas for future study and improvement.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• To understand how people and work are organised – as principles that underpin all areas of business [MLO1]
• To understand the ongoing relationships – of both co-operation and conflict – that exist between organisational functions as well with as the broader context and external environment [MLO2]
• To utilise your own sub-disciplinary perspectives of management in critically applying organisational theory and concepts to practice [MLO3]
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• To develop capabilities to reflect upon the self as a learner, as a partner-in-learning and as a HR/management professional [MLO4]
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• To cultivate critical awareness of, and sensitivity to, your preconceived assumptions and beliefs that influence how you interpret what you hear, read and observe [MLO5]
How will I be assessed?
Formative assessment:
Throughout the module you should actively participate in scheduled and self-directed activities and should engage in discussions and feedback exercises to challenge your own thinking and that of your peers. Face-to-face sessions will provide you with the opportunity to self-assess your knowledge and understanding through applying the different aspects/topics examined. You will work through small groups activities that will enable you to secure on-going feedback from your peers.
Summative assessment
2,500 word Report developed through engagement with weekly activities (100%) (MLO1,2,3,4,5)
Feedback will be provided by tutors in the form of a grading rubric and narrative comments on papers with an emphasis on formative feed-forward for the subsequent assignment or subsequent modules and levels of study
Pre-requisite(s)
None
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
This module introduces you to the foundational links and relationships between an organisation, its management and its people. Employers seek out
graduates with the knowledge and skills to transform organisation in the face of continuous and rapid economic, environmental and social change. This
module will therefore support you to develop understanding of how a heightened awareness of people’s workplace behaviour, actions and attitudes
enhances organisational sustainability and team performance. Such understanding is fundamental for your successful graduate career.
Taking a research-rich approach, you’ll be introduced to a range of concepts, theories, models and research evidence. You’ll then apply them in a
practical, discipline-specific context using case studies, reflecting on personal understanding and experience plus real organisation examples.
Course info
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time
Department Newcastle Business School
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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