Module Assessment 1- Part 1:

Assessment: Academic Essay

Word limit: 2,500 words.

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 1- Part 2:

Assessment: Group Presentation

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