PA229-6-SP-CO:
Organisational Dynamics - Theory

The details
2024/25
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
13 June 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
PA211

 

(none)

Key module for

BA LCJ8 Sociology with Psychosocial Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA LJ8C Sociology with Psychosocial Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA LJC8 Sociology with Psychosocial Studies,
BA C890 Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies,
BA C89A Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA C89B Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA C89C Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

This module aims to help students understand more fully the conscious and unconscious dynamics in organisations.


Beginning with Freuds original and critical work on group psychology we explore the contribution that psychoanalysis and social and organisational psychology have made to our understanding of working and organisational life.


Using a primarily psychoanalytic / psychosocial lens, we will consider the ways in which organisational and working life can be pulled too far toward unhelpful technical and procedural practices by powerful unconscious defences operating within and between people and the organisational structures they create.


We will be asking three principal questions. First, how have psychoanalytic and systemic ideas helped to make sense of seemingly irrational organisational phenomena and striven to keep alive the human touch in organisational and group life? Second, what can be put in place to assist in supporting a capacity to face the realities of work more effectively? Third, what can the individual do to improve organisations, help keep them on task and strengthen their potential to develop therapeutic or enabling qualities?


In order to link theory to practice, students will also take part in an experiential workshop in which organisational and group processes can be directly experienced, observed and understood. In particular, as participating observers students can learn how to make sense of both the objective and subjective material as it emerges in relation to the set task.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To understand more fully the conscious and unconscious dynamics in organisations

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to: 



  1. Develop a greater capacity for psychodynamic observation

  2. Have a deeper understanding of organisational dynamics

  3. Gain the ability to apply psychodynamic insight to a wide range of settings

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via: 

  • Seminar 1 – Students will discuss readings on topics relating to organisational dynamics. There will be a reflective group at the beginning and end of this module.
  • Workshop – Students will take part in a seven-week Group Dynamics workshop.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   PowerPoint summary  10/03/2025  20% 
Coursework   Essay  21/03/2025  80% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Chris Tanner, email: chris.tanner@essex.ac.uk.
From Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Student Administrator, 5A.202, telephone 01206 874969, email ppsug@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Angie Voela
University of East London
Reader
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 27 hours, 27 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information

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