What will I learn on this module?
Successive global and national crises and organisational failures have demonstrated that conventional approaches to understanding and managing organisations and their people are less than effective.
Transforming Self and Organisations will support you in developing alternative approaches to analysing organisations, people and work practices. Building upon the multiple perspectives that you have been introduced to in the second year of your programme and upon your understanding from the module “People, Management and Organisations”, a research-rich curriculum will enable you to develop your appreciation and application of Critical Management tools and perspectives which challenge conventional approaches to understanding organisations. Drawing upon tools from, for example, identity, aesthetics, power and culture, you will develop your capabilities for questioning the neoliberal status-quo and the politics of managerialist and performance-driven agendas. You will examine the practices of large corporates through to SMEs, NFPs and social enterprises, interrogating, challenging, questioning what is typically taken-for-granted, seen as usual and appropriate, to recognise the inherent power and control that exists, to propose far-reaching change within organisations and society that prioritises fairness, justice, equality, diversity and sustainability. Your learning will place you in good stead to bring about future transformation within organisations. In adopting these alternative Critical perspectives on organisations so this may also challenge your own assumptions, values and beliefs transforming yourself. This learning will be invaluable to your future employment, enterprise/entrepreneurial activity.
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 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:
• Obtain in-depth knowledge of past and contemporary developments in Organisation Theory [MLO 1]
• Understand and critically analyse contemporary organisations and professional practices [MLO 2]
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Challenge your knowledge of organisation theory and critically reflect on your beliefs and attitudes towards managing people [MLO 3]
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Develop critical enquiry of organisations in order to identify key issues related to responsible management [MLO 4]
• Conduct an original research investigation that analyses an organisation from a critical perspective [MLO 5]
How will I be assessed?
Summative assessment components:
There will be two summative assessment components:
1. Online Quiz(s) – 25% (MLO1-MLO2)
2. Individual Assignment (comprising critical analysis and personal reflection) (3000 words) – 75% (MLO1-MLO5)
Feedback
You will receive written summative feedback on both assessment components which evaluates your performance on submitted work and indicates areas for improvement.
You will receive formative feedback from your seminar tutor; this will involve face-to-face feedback and will take place during the seminars on the programme, where you will also be able to share ideas and assignment plans with fellow learners.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
Successive crises and organisational failures demonstrate that the conventional management of organisations and their people are not wholly effective. Transforming Self and Organisations will support you to develop alternative approaches through a research-rich curriculum that will develop your understanding and application of critical management tools and perspectives. Exploring identity, aesthetics, power and culture, you’ll develop your capabilities for questioning the neoliberal status-quo and the politics of managerialist and performance-driven agendas. You’ll interrogate and challenge typically taken-for-granted assumptions within organisations to recognise the inherent power and control that exists, and then propose change within these organisations to prioritise fairness, justice, equality, diversity and sustainability. Your learning will place you in good stead to bring about future organisational transformation. These critical perspectives on organisations may also cause you to challenge your own assumptions, values and beliefs.
Course info
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
Start Level 5: March, September Level 6: June, December
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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