Behavioural Insights for Managers module (BU52024)

This module gives a broad understanding of economic techniques and displays how they can be used to solve various Human Resource (HR) problems in a company.

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Credits

20

Module code

BU52024

Behavioural Insights for Managers is a course that teaches you how to apply principles from behavioural science to improve managerial practices. It explores factors influencing human behaviour, decision-making, and behaviour change techniques. The course will help you understand and influence employee behaviour effectively, addressing biases and barriers to enhance performance, and create a productive work environment.

Topics included (but are not limited to):

  • extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation
  • social norms
  • anchoring
  • labour force participation
  • job search methods and
  • whether a company should seek to recruit internally or externally.

What will you learn

In this module, you will learn:

  • basic ideas about incentives in economics (moral hazard/ efficiency wage)
  • extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation/Social norms
  • relativity-loss aversion, fairness etc
  • anchoring, reputation and culture of the firm
  • gift exchange outside and inside the firm/reciprocity
  • relationship-specific assets, commitment, group theory
  • status of agency theory/ economic theory
  • entrepreneurship and bargaining
  • labour force participation
  • job search method
  • Trade Unions and Collective Agreement
  • investing in human capital
  • job-market signalling
  • performance measurement & pay for performance
  • promotion tournaments

By the end of this module you will be able to:

  • display good knowledge and understanding of economic concepts and principles, which can be applied to Human Resource (HR) problems in a company
  • abstract the essential features of complex and dynamic HR environments
  • employ key economic concepts and analytical techniques to structure problems in a variety of HR decision-making contexts
  • interpret and comment on results obtained from such problem-solving exercises

Assignments / assessment

The coursework compromises the following:

  • in-class test (20%)
  • essay 1,000 words (20%)
  • written final exam (60%)

Teaching methods / timetable

You will learn through:

  • lectures (16 hours in total)
  • workshops (8 hours in total)