Business Psychology 2600-DSMz1PB
Module 1: The Importance of Psychological Knowledge for Managers
• Why is psychological knowledge needed by managers?
• How to acquire scientific knowledge in social sciences (management, psychology, economics)? Differences between experimental and correlational research.
• Situational and psychological realism in empirical research. External and internal validity.
• The importance of psychological knowledge in human resource management, organizational behavior, and consumer behavior.
Module 2: Human Cognitive Functioning and Its Importance in Management Decision Making
• How do our minds work? Cognitive categories, connection networks, and working memory.
• The impact of limited cognitive resources and competition for available cognitive resources.
• Two systems of thought: analytic vs. holistic thinking. Automatic and controlled processes.
• Activation of cognitive schemas/representations.
• The reliability of memory and dynamics of memory records.
• Decision making and cognitive errors in management.
Module 3: Human Emotional Functioning and Developing Emotional Intelligence
• Types of emotional reactions.
• Can we trust what we feel? The role of interpreting physiological arousal.
• Positive-negative asymmetry and its consequences.
• Dynamics of emotional reactions.
• Emotional intelligence and its importance for managing people.
• The significance of emotions in consumer decision making and management.
Module 4: Human Behavioral Functioning and Effective Actions
• How to act more effectively? Planning and action strategies.
• Processing information about oneself and others, including the fundamental attribution error.
• Motivation and cognitive dissonance.
• The transformative effects of exerting power over others.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course, the student:
In the knowledge domain:
• Has an in-depth understanding of research methodology and terminology in the field of business psychology (K_W01).
• Possesses a deep understanding of complex processes and phenomena occurring in various types of organizations and their surrounding environments, using psychological theory for recognizing, diagnosing, and solving issues related to key organizational functions (e.g., personnel management) and their integration within the organization's strategy (K_W02).
• Demonstrates a profound knowledge of psychological theories and models related to the functioning of organizations and the overall economy (K_W03).
In terms of skills:
• Can utilize psychological theory for recognizing, diagnosing, and solving complex and non-standard issues related to key organizational functions and their integration within the organization's strategy, employing appropriate source selection and adapting existing or developing new methods (K_U01).
• Proficiently interprets complex social processes and phenomena and their impact on organizational functioning and the entire economy, using appropriate source selection (K_U02).
• Can independently and collaboratively prepare analyses, diagnoses, and reports concerning complex and non-standard issues related to the operation of organizations, sectors, and the entire economy, and can present them effectively, including in English, using advanced information and communication tools (K_U03).
• Can communicate in a foreign language at the B2+ level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and is proficient in specialist terminology in the field of psychology (K_U04).
• Can plan and organize individual and teamwork (K_U05).
• Has the ability for self-learning and further development of acquired qualifications and can support others in this regard (K_U06).
In terms of social competencies:
• Is ready to evaluate and take a critical approach to situations and phenomena related to the operation of organizations in the market, the sector, and the entire economy concerning human psychological functioning (K_K01).
• Is committed to upholding ethical standards in social functioning (K_K03).
Assessment criteria
1. Midterm (test in the last class - 50% of the grade; the midterm must be passed with a minimum of 50%),
2. Semester Activity (online quizzes, open questions, in-class participation - 50% of the grade).
Bonus Points: Participation in research (10% added to the „semester activity” section).
The subject has no official resit session. Passing is related to work throughout the entire semester. The final grade will be the weighted average of the result from the midterm (weight=0.5) and the semester activity (weight=0.5). Individuals who, due to illness (documented by a medical certificate), cannot take the pass test at the scheduled time, will take the test at a later date.
To pass, a total of 60% of the points is required at the end of the semester, including a minimum of 50% of points from the pass midterm. Scoring below 50% on the pass midterm makes passing impossible, regardless of the total score for the entire semester. Only individuals who worked systematically throughout the semester (scored at least 50% of points for the semester part) will be allowed to retake the pass test.
After the deadline for completing the online quizzes, they will not be reopened.
Bibliography
Primary resources:
• Educational materials available on the platform. • Wieczorkowska-Wierzbinska, G. "Psychological Constraints" (2011).
• Arnold J, Randall R, Patterson F, Silvester J, Robertson I, Cooper CL, Burnes B, Harris D & Axtell C (2016) "Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior in the Workplace, 6th ed. Harlow: Pearson."
Supplementary resources:
• Additional materials provided on the e-learning platform.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: