BALH3000 Organizational Behavior and Leadership Course description

How and why do individual employees and groups of employees behave the way they do within an organizational setting? How do leaders achieve the best outcomes for their organizations? Organizational behavior and leadership theories address these questions and their possible answers from different angles. Such theories aim to understand, explain and improve attitudes of individuals and groups in organizations. This understanding is important for the facilitation of positive individual, group, and organizational functioning, success and competitive advantage. This course addresses these issues and is an introduction to psychological theory in an occupational perspective.

Students who participate in this course will acquire knowledge about how different psychological factors affect human behavior in organizations. An overview of contemporary research based knowledge and the most important topics, concepts, and contributions within this field is provided.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The students will obtain a basic understanding of contemporary research based knowledge in organizational behavior and leadership. They will also become familiar with the most important topics, concepts, and contributions, which include:

• Diversity and individual differences
• Attitudes, decision making, and emotions
• Stress, well-being and organizational change
• Perceptions and learning
• Motivation and team processes
• Leadership and organizational culture

Skills

The students will be able to:

• Critically examine and use different theoretical approaches and perspectives from the subject area to understand and analyze challenges and dilemmas relating to human behavior in organizations;
• Use knowledge from organizational behavior and leadership theories as well as empirical evidence when making and implementing decisions in organizations.

General competence

The students will:

• Be able to communicate and discuss the major theories and research findings from this field.
• Acquire skills in critical reflection on the subject area's possibilities and limitations.
• Convey knowledge through presentation and discussion.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student

• is capable of using theory of social science to shed light on how social and cultural conditions can affect a person's mental health and their participation in activity and society
• is capable of giving an account of conditions that promote and inhibit participation in activity and society among vulnerable groups
• is capable of describing common mental health disorders
• is capable of describing the consequences of mental health disorders and crises on activity and participation
• is capable of referring to new research within occupational therapy aimed at promoting mental health
• is capable of reflecting on and discussing occupational therapy interventions aimed at promoting mental health
• is capable of explaining relevant fields for occupational therapists in the mental health field
• is capable of explaining communication theory used in mental health care
• is capable of describing the history of occupational therapy relating to mental health

Skills

The student is capable of​

• using conceptual models in occupational therapy and relevant theories to understand activity and daily life among people with mental health issues
• finding, evaluating, presenting and referring to relevant theory and research in order to shed light on an academic issue
• using different methods of mapping and evaluating activity and participation among people with mental health disorders, individually and in groups
• planning, facilitating and testing therapeutic activities as interventions for people with mental health problems, individually and in groups
• using modes of expression as therapeutic aids
• demonstrating therapeutic communication skills

Competence

The student is capable of

• identifying, discussing and reflecting on ethical challenges in mental health care
• presenting and discussing ethical issues in light of professional ethical guidelines
• reflecting on their own communication and interaction
• showing responsibility, initiative, ability to cooperate and Independence

Work and teaching methods comprise lectures, seminars and skills training combined with student work in groups or individually. Student work includes written portfolio assignments, and group work with examples of case studies which are presented and discussed at seminars. The students are supervised by the lecturer.

A minimum attendance of 80% is required in the introduction to the course, skills training, supervision, seminars and compulsory group work.

All coursework must have been approved in order for a student to be permitted to take the exam.

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Individual home exam over 3 days, maximum 4,000 word.

Time: Third semester

All

Grade scale A - F.

One external and one internal examiner will assess 20% of the exam papers. The remaining papers are assessed by one internal examiner. The external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students.