Credit Points 10

Coordinator Tania Perich Opens in new window

Description The world is experiencing significant social and economic transformations, creating uncertainty in the future of work and business. Domain knowledge is necessary, but not sufficient for organisational or individual success in new business environments. Success now requires complex adaptability and flexibility skills, and the capacity to influence the behaviour of others to respond to emerging challenges. How can we think outside of an industry or disciplinary framework to enhance human performance under uncertainty? How can we efficiently adjust personal and organizational goals and strategies to meet the pressures of local and global crises and technological innovations? The focus in this subject is on flexibility in practice - the evolution of industry routines and workplace habits, rapid changes in job functions and career profiles, and developing workforce expectations and demands. Key psychological concepts and theories will be integrated with business knowledge to help you develop adaptability and capitalize on flexibility as a strength in your workplace.

School Psychology

Discipline Psychology

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 5 subject

Restrictions

Must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this Subject, students will be able to: 

1. Evaluate workplace rules, norms, and habits that determine common industry or organisational practices.
2. Design a strategy to overcome obstacles to flexible practice within an industry or organisational context.
3. Apply psychological theories of human performance to a workforce change scenario.
4. Articulate key adaptability and flexibility skills to lead organisational change.
5. Propose solutions for human and business performance problems in a flexible economy.

Subject Content

Why do we do what we do?

• Social rules and personal habits.
• Change and adjustment

Embedding Flexibility in your Organisation

• Flexibility in practice: changes in the "how" and the "where" we work
• Turning roadblocks in roundabouts

Exploiting the potential to be Flexible

• The growth of the "Gig Economy" – opportunities and challenges.
• New Directions: adapting to change in your industry

Thinking fast and slow

• Algorithms, heuristics and habits
• Adaptability: Forming and changing habits

Putting the intelligence into Business Intelligence

• Motivating and enabling change
• Valuing a diversity of skill and talents

The neuroscience of ‘nimble’

• Creativity, cognitive load and the myth of multitasking
• Thinking through the lifecycle