Students

PSYO921 – Applied Psychology in Human Resource Management

2014 – S2 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Monique Crane
monique.crane@mq.edu.au
Contact via monique.crane@mq.edu.au
C3A509
By Appointment
Associate Professor
Colin Wastell
colin.wastell@mq.edu.au
Contact via 02-9850-8600
C3A507
By Appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to DOrgPsych or MOrgPsych or PGDipOrgBeh
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is designed to integrate psychological perspectives with the practical, day-to-day opportunities and challenges faced by organisations. At a macro level, we examine organisational learning and decision making, how organisations respond to diversity and competition, and how they can engender innovation and creativity amongst its workforce. At a micro-level, we consider knowledge management strategies, contracts and negotiation, and expert witness reports. Students completing this unit should be capable of acknowledging and responding to diversity within an organisational setting, improving knowledge management within an organisation, reviewing contracts as appropriate, and providing efficient and appropriate expert witness testimony on request.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Apply knowledge of cognitive processes to identify the limitations of human strategic decision-making.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to use incentives and other strategies to manage human performance.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Knowledge Management Report 40% 25th August 2014
Organisational Contract 30% 8th September 2014
Expert Witness Report 30% 3rd November 2014
Attendance and Participation 0% At time of workshops

Knowledge Management Report

Due: 25th August 2014
Weighting: 40%

This exercise has been designed to assess students’ competence in preparing a report that reviews current knowledge management strategies within an organisation and proposes alternative strategies to improve the capture and retention of corporate knowledge.

An ‘elements of assessment’ document is provided to assist in completing this assessment task.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.

Organisational Contract

Due: 8th September 2014
Weighting: 30%

This exercise has been designed to assess students’ capacity to critique a contract for the delivery of organisational psychological services to an external body. Issues such as intellectual property, copyright, duty of care, and insurance will need to be addressed. 

An ‘elements of assessment’ document is provided to assist in completing this assessment task.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.

Expert Witness Report

Due: 3rd November 2014
Weighting: 30%

This exercise will involve the compilation of a report in response to an inquiry from the plaintiff in civil court case. The details of the case will be provided in class and students will be expected to integrate the outcomes of empirical research to form an opinion.

An ‘elements of assessment’ document is provided to assist in completing this assessment task.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Attendance and Participation

Due: At time of workshops
Weighting: 0%

Students are expected to attend all classes. Learning objectives and assessment activities are based on the requirement of a minimum 80% class attendance.

Requirements: Students who are absent for more than 20% of classes must submit a Request for Special Consideration form (and Professional Authority if reason is medical, clearly stating the reasons for the absence and/or non-submission). The form is available at the Faculty office (lower level C3A) or can be retrieved online. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in automatic failure.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Apply knowledge of cognitive processes to identify the limitations of human strategic decision-making.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to use incentives and other strategies to manage human performance.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Delivery and Resources

This unit consists of:

  • Weekly on-line lectures
  • Fortnightly 2 hour workshops
  • Weekly compulsory readings
  • Three assessment tasks

Unit Schedule

Week & Topic

Estimated date

Week prior to seminar

Seminar every second week (topics covered)

THEME ONE: MANAGING ORGANISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Lecture 1: Overview of HRM from a psychologists perspective &

Knowledge management in organisations

4th August

Reading (two key readings)

Initial 1 hour face-to-face lecture

Lecture 2: Organisational crisis:Learning from and preventing crisis

11th August

On-line lecture

Workshop, see iLearn for more details.

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

THEME TWO: MANAGING CONFLICT AND NEGOTIATION

Lecture 3: Contracts and negotiation

18th August

On-line lecture

 

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

Lecture 4: Unions and collective action

25th August

On-line lecture

Workshop,  see iLearn for more details.

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

THEME THREE: MANAGING ORGANISATIONAL PROCESS & PLANNING

Lecture 5: Decision-making (A/Prof Colin Wastell)

1st September

On-line lecture

 

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

Lecture 6: Strategic cognition

8th September

E-lecture (40 mins) in 20 minute sections.

Workshop, see iLearn for more details.

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

THEME FOUR: MANAGING HUMAN PERFORMANCE

Lecture 7: Creativity in organisations

15th September

On-line lecture

 

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

MID SEMESTER BREAK

Lecture 8: Performance management

6th October (labour day)

On-line lecture

No workshop (Labour Day Holiday)

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

THEME FIVE: MANAGING EMPLOYEE DEVIANCE AND EXPERT WITNESS TEST.

Lecture 9: Anti-organisational deviance and motivating employee reporting

13th October

On-line lecture

 

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

Lecture 10: Expert witness testimony

20th October

On-line lecture

Workshop, see iLearn for more details.

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

THEME SIX: POWER AND INFLUENCE IN ORGANISATIONS

Lecture 11: Power and influence

27th October

On-line lecture

 

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

Lecture 12: Employee empowerment

3rd November

On-line lecture

Workshop, see iLearn for more details.

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

THEME SEVEN: MANAGING DIVERSITY

Lecture 13: Diversity and cross-cultural issues in HRM

10th November

On-line lecture

 

 

 

Reading (two key readings)

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Apply knowledge of cognitive processes to identify the limitations of human strategic decision-making.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to use incentives and other strategies to manage human performance.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment tasks

  • Knowledge Management Report
  • Organisational Contract
  • Expert Witness Report
  • Attendance and Participation

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment tasks

  • Knowledge Management Report
  • Organisational Contract
  • Expert Witness Report
  • Attendance and Participation

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to use incentives and other strategies to manage human performance.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment tasks

  • Knowledge Management Report
  • Organisational Contract
  • Expert Witness Report
  • Attendance and Participation

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment tasks

  • Knowledge Management Report
  • Organisational Contract
  • Expert Witness Report
  • Attendance and Participation

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Apply psychological perspectives on power and influence processes.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment tasks

  • Organisational Contract
  • Expert Witness Report
  • Attendance and Participation

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in organisations and the impact of diversity on organisational functioning.
  • Critique how organisations collect, store and use organisational knowledge.
  • Critique a contract for the provision of psychological services in an organisational setting.
  • Apply knowledge of cognitive processes to identify the limitations of human strategic decision-making.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to use incentives and other strategies to manage human performance.
  • Use and deliver expert witness testimony.

Assessment tasks

  • Organisational Contract
  • Expert Witness Report
  • Attendance and Participation