Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor/Lecturer
Ben Morrison
Lecturer
Mark Wiggins
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MOrgPsych
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
PSYOB8966 Team Factors in the Workplace (also submitted for review).
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides students with an understanding of the factors that influence how people work together, what makes a team effective in the contemporary workplace, and the role of leadership. Lectures explore work behaviour at both the individual and the team level, drawing on theories and research in the literature on groups as well as the more recent multilevel research in organisational psychology. Students are required to engage in team assessment projects to help them develop professional skills and learn how they might function more effectively in group contexts.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
ASSESSMENT 1: Proposal for a team-building exercise
Aim:
The aim of this assessment is to enable students to demonstrate a capacity to design a psychological intervention for an organisation in the form of a team-building exercise. This assessment will also provide students with an opportunity to develop their teamwork skills.
Requirements:
Students will work in teams to develop a written business proposal (1800 words, excluding references), together with a short (recorded) demonstration of a team building exercise, to meet the needs of a particular organisation. Each group will receive a combined mark for their demonstration. Students will nominate a section of the report that they will have written for which they will receive an individual mark. Students will receive a further group mark for their collaborative effort in writing an introduction, and for the overall cohesion of the report. Both individual and group marks will be added to generate the final grade for this assessment.
N.B. Please use the marking rubric (see iLearn) as a guide for how this assessment will be assessed.
Assessment 2: Conflict case study
Aim:
The aims of this assessment are to:
Requirements:
Students are to analyse the problem with Tracey Edgar’s team and suggest some evidence-based solutions that might be applied in managing the situation. The assignment is to be no longer than 1000 words. This will be written as a Business Report for the company’s HR Manager.
N.B. Please use the marking rubric (see iLearn) as a guide for how this assessment will be assessed.
ASSESSMENT 3: Examination
Aim:
The aim of this assessment is to enable students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the unit.
Requirements:
Students will complete an in-class (week 13) closed book examination of the material covered throughout the unit. The examination will comprise 25 short-answer questions, which will be based on the learning outcomes from each topic. Students will have 50 minutes to complete the examination.
A sample of practice exam questions will be provided to students in the weeks prior to the examination.
Submission
All assessments must be submitted as a word document NOT pdf, online via the unit website. In the case of presentations, PowerPoint files should be emailed to the lecturer for uploading onto unit webpage. Assessments submitted via email will not usually be accepted. Students submitting assessments online are also endorsing a declaration relating to originality, appropriate academic conduct, and conformity to assessment requirements. Assessments may be evaluated for originality using the Turnitin database. A copy of the assessment must be kept as proof that the assignment was completed and submitted.
Request for Extensions
Extensions are granted by the unit chair. Ordinarily, no extensions of time for submission of written work will be granted since ample time for preparation will have been given. If an extension is required for medical or other extenuating circumstances, students may request this in writing through ask.mq.edu.au with supporting documentary evidence (such as medical certificate, counsellor note, or similar). All requests for extensions must be made prior to the due date for the assignment.
Assignment submissions will not be accepted after the return of marked assignments.
Plagiarism
As described in the Academic Integrity Policy, plagiarism is a particularly serious case of unprofessional and unethical academic misconduct. All written assignment submissions are evaluated using the Turnitin database system to determine if material has been copied from other students, published academic papers, or other online sources. If evidence of plagiarism is found it will be reported to the appropriate university authorities. Do not take the risk.
Late submissions
Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty including weekends and public holidays. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks.
Word count penalties
5% of the possible mark will be deducted per 100 words over the word limit for the assessment task.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Proposal for a team building exercise. | 30% | No | 11 September |
Conflict Case Study | 35% | No | 2 October |
Examination | 35% | No | 2 November (in class) |
Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11 September
Weighting: 30%
Students work in teams to develop a written business proposal, together with a short demonstration of a team building exercise, to meet the needs of a particular organisation.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 2 October
Weighting: 35%
Case study of a difficult interpersonal situation faced by a team leader. Students are required to analyse the problem and suggest some evidence-based solutions that might be applied in managing the situation.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 2 November (in class)
Weighting: 35%
An examination of the material covered throughout the unit.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
The unit typically consists of 6 x 2-hour on-campus classes and 6 x 2-hour online classes. However, in line with Public Health guidelines, this approach will be revised due to the COVID pandemic, in alignment with University policy. At the time of publishing this unit guide, the first 7 weeks are scheduled to be held online via Zoom. Changes or updates will be communicated via iLearn and/or emails sent to student email accounts. Students should stay up to date with the latest University advice at the following website: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs/information-for-students
Class resources (e.g., lecture slides) are provided on iLearn prior to classes.
Learning and skill development will be facilitated by involvement in class project teams, with both group and individual assessment. Class time will be allocated for some teamwork activities.
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Learning objectives and assessment activities are based on the requirements of a minimum 80% class attendance.
If there are exceptional circumstances where a session must be missed, this will need to be arranged with the unit convener in advance. Failure to do so implies a lack of professionalism.
While there is no set text for this unit, readings are provided throughout the semester, but students will need to read more widely to gain a satisfactory understanding of the issues related to teams in organisational settings.
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Mode |
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1 |
27 Jul |
Introduction and social psychological principles |
Online |
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2 |
3 Aug |
Group processes |
Online |
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3 |
10 Aug |
Team cognition |
Online |
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4 |
17 Aug |
Team building |
Online |
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5 |
24 Aug |
Communication |
Online |
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6 |
31 Aug |
Interpersonal mistreatment and conflict resolution |
Online |
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7 |
7 Sept |
Team selection |
Online |
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MID SEMESTER BREAK |
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8 |
28 Sep |
Resource management |
TBA |
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9 |
5 Oct |
Culture, cohesion, and diversity |
TBA |
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10 |
12 Oct |
Team effectiveness |
TBA |
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11 |
19 Oct |
Leadership (I) |
TBA |
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12 |
26 Oct |
Leadership (II) |
TBA |
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13 |
2 Nov |
Final exam (in-class) |
TBA |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook