PA229-6-SP-CO:
Organisational Dynamics - Theory
2020/21
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Sunday 17 January 2021
Friday 26 March 2021
15
20 May 2019
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
PA211
(none)
BA LCJ8 Sociology with Psychosocial Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA LJ8C Sociology with Psychosocial Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA LJC8 Sociology with Psychosocial Studies,
BA C890 Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies,
BA C89A Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA C89B Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA C89C Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (Including Foundation Year)
This module aims to help students understand more fully the conscious and unconscious dynamics in organisations. Beginning with Freud's original and critical work on group psychology we explore the contribution that psychoanalysis and social and organisational psychology have made to our understanding of working and organisational life. Using a primarily psychoanalytic / psychosocial lens, we will consider the ways in which organisational and working life can be pulled too far toward unhelpful technical and procedural practices by powerful unconscious defences operating within and between people and the organisational structures they create.
We will be asking three principal questions. First, how have psychoanalytic and systemic ideas helped to make sense of seemingly irrational organisational phenomena and striven to keep alive the 'human touch' in organisational and group life? Second, what can be put in place to assist in supporting a capacity to face the realities of work more effectively? Third, what can the individual do to improve organisations, help keep them 'on task' and strengthen their potential to develop therapeutic or enabling qualities?
In order to link theory to practice, students will also take part in an experiential workshop in which organisational and group processes can be directly experienced, observed and understood. In particular, as participating observers students can learn how to make sense of both the objective and subjective material as it emerges in relation to the set task.
This module aims at helping students understand more fully the conscious and unconscious dynamics in organisations
By the end of the module students will have:
* Developed a greater capacity for psychodynamic observation
* A deeper understanding of organisational dynamics
* The ability to apply psychodynamic insight to a wide range of settings.
No additional information available.
Seminar 1 – Students will discuss readings on topics relating to organisational dynamics. There will be a reflective group at the beginning and end of this module.
Workshop – Students will take part in a seven-week Group Dynamics workshop.
- Hirschhorn, Larry. (c1990) The workplace within: psychodynamics of organizational life, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. vol. MIT Press series on organization studies
- Donati, F. (2000) 'Chapter 3: Madness and Morale: A Chronic Psychiatric Ward', in Observing organisations: anxiety, defence, and culture in health care, London: Routledge.
- Hirschhorn, Larry. (c1997) Reworking authority: leading and following in the post-modern organization, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. vol. 12
- Van Buskirk, W. (1999-06-01) 'Organizational Cultures as Holding Environments: A Psychodynamic Look at Organizational Symbolism', in Human Relations. vol. 52 (6) , pp.805-832
- Rothgeb, Carrie Lee. (1953-1974) Volume 18: Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, [London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis].
- Gillham, Bill. (2008) Observation techniques, New York: Continuum International Pub.
- Gordon Lawrence, W.; Bain, Alastair; Gould, Laurence J. (1996) 'The fifth basic assumption', in Free Associations. vol. 6 (1) , pp.28-55
- DeWalt, Kathleen Musante; DeWalt, Billie R. (c2011) Participant observation: a guide for fieldworkers, Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield, Md.
- Krantz, James. (2018-5-30) 'Dilemmas of organizational change', in The Systems Psychodynamics of Organizations: Routledge.
- Kets de Vries, Manfred F. R. (c2006) The leader on the couch: a clinical approach to changing people and organizations, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Hinshelwood, R. D. (1987) What happens in groups: psychoanalysis, the individual and the community, London: Free Association Books.
- Chernomas, Robert. (2007-12) 'Containing Anxieties in Institutions or Creating Anxiety in Institutions: A Critique of the Menzies Lyth Hypothesis', in Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society. vol. 12 (4) , pp.369-384
- Obholzer, A. (1994) 'Authority,Power and Leadership: contributions from group relations training', in The Unconscious at work: individual and organizational stress in the human services, London: Routledge.
- Jacques, E. (1950-) 'Why the Psychoanalytical Approach to Understanding Organisations is Dysfunctional', in Human relations, London: Sage. vol. 48 (4) , pp.343-349
- Hinshelwood, R. D; Skogstad, Wilhelm. (2000) Observing organisations: anxiety, defence, and culture in health care, London: Routledge.
- Stein, Mark. (2003-5-1) 'Unbounded Irrationality: Risk and Organizational Narcissism at Long Term Capital Management', in Human Relations. vol. 56 (5) , pp.523-540
- Rees, J. (2000) 'Food for Thought - The Canteen of a Mental Hospital', in Observing organisations: anxiety, defence, and culture in health care, London: Routledge.
- Hinshelwood, RD. (1994) 'Chapter 4: Attacks on the Reflective Space', in Ring of fire: primitive affects and object relations in group psychotherapy, London: Routledge. vol. International library of group psychotherapy and group process
- Stokes, J. (1994) 'What is unconscious in organisations?', in What makes consultancy work: understanding the dynamics, London: South Bank University Press.
- Simpson, R; French, R. (2005) 'Thoughtful Leadership: Lessons from Bion', in Organisational and Social Dynamics. vol. 5 (2) , pp.280-297
- Rioch, M. (c1975) 'The Work of Wilfred Bion on Groups', in Group relations reader, Sausalito, Calif: GREX. vol. An A.K. Rice series, pp.21-35
- (2013) Socioanalytic methods: discovering the hidden in organisations and social systems, London: Karnac Books Ltd.
- Halton, William. (2004) 'By What Authority? Psychoanalytic Reflections on creativity and change in relation to organisational life', in Working below the surface: the emotional life of contemporary organizations, London: Karnac. vol. Tavistock Clinic series, pp.107-122
- Menzies Lyth, I. (1988) The Functioning of Social Systems as a Defence Against Anxiety: a report on a Study of the Nursing Service of a General Hospital, London: Free Association., pp.43-85
- Huffington, Clare; dawsonera. (2004) Working below the surface: the emotional life of contemporary organizations, London: Karnac.
- Armstrong, David; French, Robert. (2005) Organization in the mind: psychoanalysis, group relations, and organizational consultancy : occasional papers 1989-2003, London: Karnac. vol. Tavistock Clinic series
- Steiner, J. (1985) 'Turning a Blind Eye: The Cover up for Oedipus', in International Review of Psycho-Analysis. vol. 12, pp.161-172
- De Board, Robert. (2014) The psychoanalysis of organizations: a psychoanalytic approach to behaviour in groups and organizations, New York: Routledge. vol. Routledge mental health classic editions
- Morgan, Gareth. (2006) Images of organization, London: SAGE.
- Amando, G. (1950-) 'Why Psychoanalytic Knowledge Helps Us to Understand Organisations: A discussion with Elliott Jaques', in Human relations, London: Sage. vol. 48 (4) , pp.351-335
- Hoggett, P. (1998) 'The Internal Establishment', in Bion's legacy to groups: selected contributions from the International Centennial Conference on the Work of W.R. Bion : Turin, July 1997, London: Karnac Books.
- Bion, Wilfred R. (2001) Experiences in groups: and other papers, Hove: Brunner-Routledge.
- Hoyle, L. (2004) 'From sycophant to saboteur-responses to organisational change', in Working below the surface: the emotional life of contemporary organizations, London: Karnac. vol. Tavistock Clinic series
- Roberts, V. (1994) 'Chapter 3: The organisation of work: contributions from open systems theory', in The Unconscious at work: individual and organizational stress in the human services, London: Routledge.
- Cooper, A; Dartington, T. (2004) 'The Vanishing Organisation: organisational containment in a networked world', in Working below the surface: the emotional life of contemporary organizations, London: Karnac. vol. Tavistock Clinic series
- (2013) 'Facilitating transitional change', in Humanness in organisations: a psychodynamic contribution, London: Karnac.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Powerpoint summary - Colchester |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Powerpoint summary - Southend |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Essay - Colchester |
|
80% |
| Coursework |
Essay - Southend |
|
80% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Chris Tanner, email: chris.tanner@essex.ac.uk.
From Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Student Administrator, 5A.202, telephone 01206 874969, email ppsug@essex.ac.uk
No
Yes
No
Prof Barry Richards
Bournemouth University
Professor of Political Psychology
Dr Gary Winship
University of Nottingham
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 1246 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
1246 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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