GRA 2246 Managing Workplace Diversity

GRA 2246 Managing Workplace Diversity

Course code: 
GRA 2246
Department: 
Leadership and Organizational Behaviour
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Laura E. Mercer Traavik
Course name in Norwegian: 
Managing Workplace Diversity
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Leadership and Organisational Psychology
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Managing diversity is a central challenge in organizations today and a hotly debated topic in society and the media.  How do we define diversity? Who defines diversity? Are some differences better than others? In this course using organizational and psychological research we explore the concept of diversity in the workplace, intergroup bias, stereotypes and groups. We examine the different dimensions of diversity (such as, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, people with disabilities, sexual orientation) in national and international organizations. We also evaluate diversity policies in organizations in order to determine best practice. This course will provide the students with a theoretical, analytical and experienced based foundation for understanding the challenges involved in managing a diverse workforce.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

By the end of the course the students should

  • be able to define the construct of diversity, and
  • be able to critically describe and assess theories and research studies related to diversity and the workplace
  • current best practices of diversity management
Learning outcomes - Skills

By the end of the course the students should 

  • have improved their ability to interact with diverse others
  • be able to solve diversity dilemmas in work settings and evaluate a company's diversity policy or initiatives. 
Learning Outcome - Reflection

By the end of the course the students should reflect on their own privilege and prejudices, and be critical to societal stereotypes. 

Course content

Topics covered:
1. Examining the construct of diversity in a national and international context
2 .Central theories and research  for understanding the emergence of social categories and the impact of these processes on organizational outcomes
3. Diversity and organizational behavior
4. Managing diversity: theoretical and practical approaches for organizations

Learning process and requirements to students

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on itslearning or text book.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.

At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Activity
Form of assessment: 
Class participation
Weight: 
25
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Exam code: 
GRA 22461
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
75
Grouping: 
Group (2 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Exam code: 
GRA 22461
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam organisation: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.