People and Institutions in Society

Course Description

Effective understanding of people is one of the most crucial and critical activities in a complex society, as they are the key asset that any institution might have. In depth analysis of human behaviour and underlying causes of decisions and actions in an institutional setting is a fundamental necessity for all social scientists. The main objective of this course is to highlight vital denominators which impact human relations and govern social behaviour and expectations of individuals in society. This course covers the interplay and impact of institutions on humans, its distinct culture and structure, politics and power, diversity, motivation, team structure in decision-making and achieving both individual and institutional goals.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
– Describe relationship of individuals, institutions and the organizational structure;
– Understand the issues and approaches to the changes facing different institutions in societies;
– Demonstrate an understanding of motivational factors, group dynamics and work teams in institutions;
– Describe politics and power dynamics, and discuss how and why they are used in institutions;
– Understand the principles of intergroup relations, inclusion and importance of diversity in societies;
– Demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in written expression and in library research as demanded by the discipline.