ORG 3410 Stress, Motivation and Self-Leadership

ORG 3410 Stress, Motivation and Self-Leadership

Course code: 
ORG 3410
Department: 
Leadership and Organizational Behaviour
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Elin Akre Trønnes
Stig Berge Matthiesen
Course name in Norwegian: 
Stress, motivasjon og selvledelse
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor of Organisational Psychology, HR and Leadership - Programme Courses
Semester: 
2020 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

The candidate will gain research-based knowledge about subjects related to work environmental topics, and the meaning of motivation in a work environmental context. The Scandinavian work environment tradition and the historical context that can be traced all the way back to the Hawthorne-studies in the 1920s are some of the subjects that the course will cover. These trends contributed to the development of psychological work requirements and the extended emphasis that was placed on democracy at the workplace. Furthermore, the candidate will gain nuanced knowledge about the meaning of autonomy and co-determination, as well as other aspects that contribute to sustainable workplaces that prioritize health and well-being. Important organisational goals that promote performance and auxiliary behaviour are also a part of this course.

Motivation constitutes a central point within a working environment, and it is central to the effectiveness and productivity of organisations. The student should have a wide knowledge about the effects of different types of motivation, the connection between motivation and work engagement, and aspects that trigger and inhibit motivation at a workplace. The candidate should know that motivation is crucial when it comes to empowerment of colleagues, and if it is likely that effective self-leadership can be successfully implemented or not.The course also highlights factors that facilitate self-leadership, and the importance of autonomy at the workplace. 

Stress is also an important part of the modern work life. The candidate should know about different types of stress, like burnout, while having a nuanced understanding of the relationship between stress and mastery control, and aspects that can induce disease-promoting stress. The candidate should also know about empirical findings related to measures that can counteract stress

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Students will gain knowledge about:

  • Central theories about motivation, including job engagement 
  • Central theories about stress, including burnout
  • Central theories about self-leadership, autonomy and empowerment
  • How work environemnt effects motivation, stress and self leadership 
Learning outcomes - Skills

The course will provide the skills needed to:

  • Optimize the work environement to reduce stress and facilitate for optimal motivation and self leadership
  • Conduct self-leadership
  • Put together the elements in an organisationanalysis (work environment survey) 
General Competence

The sutdents will develop their ability to refect on work-environement related topcis, and how these are connected. Knowledge about the relations of these topics will be met with respect and humbleness. This knowledge will strenghten the fundament for acting as modern and people-oriented leaders. 

Course content
  • Research based knowlegde on sentral work environmental topics.
  • The importance of motivation in a work-environment context
  • The scandinacian work-environment tradition, and the historical context with the Hawthorne studies, psychological job demands and democracy at the workplace. 
  • The importance of autonomy and co-determination
  • Safe-guaring of important organisational goals as presense, achievements and auxiliary behaviour
  • Different types of motivation and consequences, the connection between  motivation and job engagement, and aspects that trigger and inhibits motivation at the workplace
  • Empowerment and self-leadership
  • Different types of stress and burnout
  • Measures that can reduce stress
  • How to maintain or strenghten the workers health and wellness 
  • Conditions that contribute to a fully sound workplace 
Teaching and learning activities

The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and active learning through group discussions, problem-solving and discussions of current issues from the work life. Some weight will also be placed on reflections surrounding these topics.

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

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Invigilation
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • No support materials
Duration: 
4 Hour(s)
Exam code: 
ORG 34101
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
39 Hour(s)
Feedback activities and counselling
3 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
154 Hour(s)
Examination
4 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.