Work Community and Leadership Skills (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

Course Outline:
week 36: Work Community and Organizational behavior
Week 37: Individual Differences and Personality
Week 38: Group Dynamics and Teamwork
Week 39: Leadership in the 21st century
Week 40: Conflict resolution and negotiation
Week 41: Organizational Culture and climate
Week 42: Autumn Break
Week 43: Well-being at work

Objective

Student
- knows the strengths and weaknesses of different structures and practices of organizations
- understands the impact of organizational culture of feeling and atmosphere at the workplace
- can identify the differences of people in the workplace as a resource
- can cope with typical problems of the working community
- is familiar with basic principles in working as a team leader or as a supervisor of a work group
- is able to use methods of project management in team work tasks

Content

- yleisimmät organisaatiorakenteet, niiden vahvuudet ja heikkoudet
- tyypilliset työyhteisön ongelmatilanteet ja niiden ratkaiseminen
- yhteistoiminta työpaikoilla (YT-laki, luottamusmiesjärjestelmä, riitojen sovittelu ym.)
- tiimi, sen muodostuminen ja kehittäminen
- esimiestyön keskeiset osa-alueet
- oma urasuunnittelu

Materials

Management and Organisational Behaviour; Mullins & Rees, 2023 (linked to in Itslearning)

Articles, web links, videos, podcasts to be available in ITS

Teaching methods

Contact teaching, group works, independent studying, reports, presentations, discussions

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

The course is based on working life situations, interaction and presentations. 4 presentations in Finnish, 1 presentation in Swedish, 1 presentation in English. The course requires active attendance (>70%) and participation in group work throughout the course

Use of AI: AI tools, such as language models, may be used to perform tasks, for example to retrieve information and generate initial guidelines for solutions. In line with the principles of responsible use of AI, we require the following:

Own outputs and understanding: each student is responsible for all the content he/she writes. Students must ensure that they understand and can explain the content and context of their output.
Role of AI: The use of AI is allowed for data mining and generating initial ideas, but the solutions and analyses themselves must be developed and refined using the student's own ideas and insights. The content provided by AI should not be the student's decisive input, but rather a tool.

Processing and reasoning: students must be able to justify and give reasons for the processing of case studies and the conclusions and solutions proposed. This includes an explanation of how the information provided by the AI tools was used and what own thought processes were used to reach the final results.

In reflecting on individual assignments, teachers may ask follow-up questions, written or oral, to assess students' understanding and ability to justify their own work.

Honesty and use of sources: all sources and AI outputs used must be properly referenced. Plagiarism and unethical use of AI tools are not permitted. Students must also follow the institution's ethical guidelines and rules regarding the use of AI and academic integrity.

Completion alternatives

If you have many years of work experience, related to all dimensions named in the implementation plan, including work in a managerial role, you have the option to show that you already have acquired the competences.

Step 1: Submit an application describing your activities and experience, in relation to the course objectives (implementation plan). Submit your application to one of the tutors by 6 September.

Step 2: If your application is accepted, prepare to complete your personal coursework by 15 September. You will receive more detailed instructions from your teachers.

Student workload

Course unit: 5 ECTS = 135h

Self-studying (team work preparation and finalisation, essay): 110h
Weekly teaching: 7 x 2h = 14h
Team presentations: 6 x 2h = 12h

Evaluation methods and criteria

The group presentations and group diaries of this course will be graded as follow:
Fail (0pts)
Pass / Good (1pts)
Very good / Excellent (2pts)
6 group presentations: 12 points maximum
6 group diaries: 12 points maximum
50% of final course grade
24-21: 5
20-19:4
18-17:3
16-15:2
14-12:1
Below 12 points: 0

Grade from 0 to 5
2 tests on ITS: 10% each
Individual essay: 30% (student gets 1 extra point if the essay is written in English or Swedish- meaning that a student who gets a 5 will receive a 6)

Failed (0)

The student has demonstrated very limited knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows difficulties in applying his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates very little ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student has difficulties in communicating his/her ideas to others. Several parts of the text are unclear.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student has demonstrated limited knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows some difficulties in applying his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates little ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student has difficulties in communicating his/her ideas to others.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student has demonstrated good knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows s/he can apply his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates good ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student is able to communicate his/her ideas to others.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student has demonstrated very good knowledge and understanding of the main areas of the course. The student shows s/he can apply his/her knowledge and understanding of the course content. The student demonstrates very good ability to gather and interpret relevant data to inform judgments that include reflection about what is asked for the assignments. The student is able to communicate clearly his/her ideas to others in a professional way.

Further information

Contact to teachers by e-mail only