Management Psychology

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation04.03.2015

Responsible UnitInstitute of Social Sciences and Humanities

Course developer

Voldemārs Bariss

Dr. phil.

Course abstract

The study course Managerial psychology is aimed to provide students with the basics of theory and methods of the managerial psychology, applicable to the management processes, in order to increase effectiveness of performance in organizations.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

During this study course the students acquire knowledge about
organizational culture and its impact on the performance, about “soft side” components of this culture, about group processes and individuals roles, about management styles and methods of managerial influence on group processes and employees. Forms of delivering - lectures and practical classes.
Students improve the skills to identify processes in organizational culture, to independently perform the basic level of individual and group psychological research by using the appropriate methods, to identify motivation factors and reasons for conflict situations, to carry out self-assessment of managerial skills, to use appropriate methods of psychological impact for improvement of organization and individual’s performance. Forms of delivering - lectures and practical classes.
Students gain competence to understand psychological conditions for processes in organization, and to be able to use appropriate methods for encouraging their positive drive towards increasing effectiveness of organizational performance. Integral outcome of learning this study course.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Managerial psychology, its history and current importance (lecture - 1h).
2. Methods, used in managerial psychology (lecture - 1h, seminar - 1h).
3. Organizational performance and its conditions. Modelling of organizations (lecture - 1h, seminar - 1h).
4. Organizational culture and its components. Organizational culture as focus of managerial influence (lecture - 1h, practical training - 1h).
5. Group dynamics. Identifying and understanding of group processes (lecture - 1h, practical training - 1h).
6. Personality as an object and subject of management process. Psychological profiles (lecture - 1h, practical training - 1h).
7. The role of psychological flexibility in communication (lecture - 1h, practical training- 1h).
8. Interpersonal communication structure (lecture - 1h, practical training- 1h).
9. Interpersonal communication: transactions theory (seminar 1h).
10. How to influence people? Methodology of persuasion (lecture - 2h, practical training - 1h).
11. Motivation, motivating grounds and methods in organizations (lecture - 1h, practical training - 1h).
12. Conflicts in organizations: reasons, forms of expression, methods for solving (lecture - 1h, practical training – 2 h).
13. Representation of organization in external communication (lecture - 1h, practical training - 1h).
14. Leadership. Self-assessment of managerial competences (lecture - 1h, practical training - 1h).

Requirements for awarding credit points

Basic requirements:
- participation in all practical trainings (on-line performance would be accepted; 30% from 100% total assessment);
- successfully fulfilled test (20%);
- prepared notes for seminars discussions (20%);
- submitted and positively assessed essay on self-assessment (30%).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

- preparation for test on factors, impacting organizations effectiveness, based on knowledge acquired during the lectures and individual studies the literature;
- preparation in seminar discussions, based on individual studies of literature (making notes), watching video lecture and using experience gained in practical trainings;
- home works for practical trainings on identification of management styles, methods of motivation and reasons for conflicts;
- preparation for essay writing (self-assessment of managerial competencies), based on generalization of knowledge and experience gained during the studies of this course.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The course grade (test with mark) is composed as cumulative assessment (100%) of separate tasks:
- sufficient performance in of practical trainings – 30%
- successfully fulfilled test – 20%
- seminar performance – 20%
- submitted and positively assessed essay on self-assessment – 30%
Student gets a sufficient evaluation of the test, if at least 50% of the questions are answered correctly.
Independent work is assessed according to the requirements of the quality of compliance with the work task: average – high - excellent
Involvement in discussions is assessed by ability to reasonably explain personal opinion and to discuss about issues related to managerial functions.

Compulsory reading

Ešenvalde I. Personāla vadības mūsdienu metodes. Rīga: Merkūrijs LAT, 2008. 349 lpp.
Reņģe V. Mūsdienu organizāciju psiholoģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 2011. 215 lpp.
Šarmers K.O. U teorija. Vadība no topošās nākotnes. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2019. 448 lpp.
Vorobjovs A. Sociālā psiholoģija. Rīga: Izglītības soļi, 2002. 340 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

Journal of Managerial Psychology. ISSN: 0268-3946
International Journal of Marketing&Business communication. ISSN: 2277-484X
Managing a Project Team - Free eBook in PDF Format.
[Tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.free-management-ebooks.com/dldebk/dlpm-team.htm

Notes

Limited elective study course for full-time and part-time studies of bachelor academic study program “Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration”, academic education bachelor study program “Food Quality and Innovation”, 2nd level professional education study program “Food Technology”, 2nd level professional education study program “Catering and Hotel Business”.

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