LD7124 - Future of Work and Organisation Development

The module is delivered through a combination of tutor-directed learning, group learning and independent learning. In the taught sessions, an interactive approach will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and participants’ own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on levels of participation, both individually and within small groups or teams.

Participants can therefore expect a reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all sessions through undertaking activities, which facilitate them to apply theory to ‘real-life’ situations, critically analysing and making recommendations for appropriate ways forward for the organisation/individual. The module aims to provide impact to your day-to-day professional role and sessions will be structured to ensure that you can take the learning from the module and apply it directly in your workplace.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and use of the discussion board on the e-learning platform.

An initial workshop will introduce you to the module, assessment and core topics. Subsequent to this you will be guided through a range of subject specific topics delivered over the period of the module. Key messages from these sessions will be available by video/podcast to support your learning outside of the classroom.

Independent learning will centre upon the students identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject and by providing deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of the subject through a range of learning activities that will include extended reading, reflection, research etc.

Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching philosophy along with the explicit development of competence. You are particularly encouraged to bring examples from the workplace into the classroom to share with each other and with the tutors. The module will also incorporate sessions delivered by external practice experts as well as from academic experts in the field drawn from the Business School.

You will participate in a learning set with your peers to facilitate a deeper discussion of the personal impact of the module contents on your individual professional practice and the application of learning into your own work organisation.

For those of you studying as a Degree Apprenticeship student the workplace will form a significant element of your learning. This will include weekly directed activities outlined in the module learning plan. These activities will enable reflection on learning from taught sessions and subsequent application through research into practice. Engagement with your learning coach and workplace manager/mentor will use these activities as a key element of discussion during coaching and review meetings.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.
During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module

Further supporting this learner journey, the first taught of this module will discuss the rational and learning objectives of this module and how it contributes to your overall programme goals. The formative and summative assessment strategy will be outlined as will a refresher on key academic skills and resources critical to your success as a learner on this module. This session will also be available as a video/podcast for further reinforcement.

During this module your module tutor, a subject specialist, will provide academic support including:
• Delivering workshops
• Providing guidance in relation to assignments
• Development of key resources, made available through the VLE
• Specialist subject advice, particularly in linking your work to academic research, concepts and emerging knowledge in the field
• Assessing assignments and assess or review any other agreed summative or formative outputs as appropriate

For those of you studying on a Degree Apprenticeship you will also be supported by an Executive Coach who provides your consistent support throughout your Degree Apprenticeship. This Executive Coach will support with:
• Helping you to understand the requirements of this module and how it relates to your workplace context
• Helping you to understand how you can apply and evidence the knowledge, skills and behaviours covered in the module to your own practice in the workplace
• Visiting you at work and engaging with your manager and/or mentor to ensure alignment between your learning and opportunities for applying and demonstrating a positive impact in your work organisation.

E-Reading Lists
The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to repositories, journal articles and other academic sources. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.
You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the module.
including any support that may be accessed outside formal scheduled teaching.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1:
Demonstrate your knowledge of and critical understanding of the key concepts, models and theories in relation to the topics and themes covered in the module
MLO2:
Identify the opportunities and challenges relating to the changing nature of work and workforce management and individual and organisational development

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:
MLO3:
Research and develop strategies for future workforce and organisational development, linked to current and future organisational needs
MLO4:
Critically reflect on the value and application of people strategic models and frameworks to enhance your personal impact on individual, group and organisational effectiveness

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5:
Demonstrate an appreciation of ethical dimensions of your own and others’ leadership practice in your critical reflection

This module uses a subject-based assessment approach, encouraging or directly enabling you to bring your career context into the module.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment of your skills, knowledge and understanding, as demonstrated in your submitted assignments, is a key component of the assessment strategy. It forms an integral part of the formal scheduled teaching programme and will be an integral part of the asynchronous discussion board forums on the VLE. Formative assessment feedback will additionally enable you to undertake self-reflection and to include newly-acquired knowledge and understanding in order to refine your tutor-guided and self-directed independent learning and enhance your performance during final summative assessment.

Summative Assessment
You will be summatively assessed by a 5000 word work related assessment which addresses all module learning outcomes. This assessment will also require you to consider the subsequent implications on your professional practice.

Indicative Brief:
Critically review extant literature and research to produce an individual evidence-based briefing report focusing on a people management issue of strategic importance for your organisation. This will entail an evaluation of your current system and recommendations linking workforce and organisational development strategies to future business need.
This single assignment will assess all module-learning outcomes.

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As the future of work and organisations continue to change and take on new shapes, legal and regulatory forms, leaders have a critical role to play both as strategic partners in organisations, supporting and developing front line employees as well as managers, and enabling change. This module looks at the strategic priorities and practicalities of strategic human resource management and development as well as a focus on organisational stakeholders development needs, individual and organisational learning as well as the opportunities and challenges of approaches to strategic workforce planning including talent management, learning organisations, workforce design, succession planning, diversity and inclusion.

Effective management of people is vital for the achievement of an organisation’s strategic goals, yet it is hard to do well and easy to do badly. This module focuses on developing your understanding of key theories and approaches within organisational behaviour to enable you to develop your capacity to lead more effectively. Through experiential learning you will be equipped to evaluate your own approach to people management, develop your ability to analyse management problems and develop potential solutions.