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Course module: 201700823
201700823
Work & performance
Course info
Course code201700823
EC5
Course goals
At the end of the course you can:
  1. Argue which jobs and working conditions are mentally, emotionally and physically demanding, and how work affects the health and performance of workers;
  2. Argue which characteristics of the person and his/her environment affect labour participation, work performance, and health at work;
  3. Apply these work psychological insights in designing a healthy, stimulating work environment where people can perform optimally;
  4. Analyse a work psychological problem or challenge in an actual organization on the basis of interviews and relevant theories, and design interventions to improve the health, well-being and performance of workers.
 
Relationship between examination and learning objectives
The exam will test:
  1. Your understanding of how characteristics of the job, of the person and of the work environment contribute to: (a) labour participation, (b) work motivation, health and well-being at work, and (c) optimal work performance (i.e., first and second learning objective).
  2. Your understanding of the possibilities for designing a healthy working situation (third learning objective).
This requires advanced knowledge of contemporary work psychological models and theories as well as knowledge of the recent empirical literature in this area.
 
In work groups you will practice the fourth learning objective. In small teams, you will conduct interviews in an organization to assess a problem or challenge with regard to the work performance or well-being of employees. You will analyse this case by using work psychological theoretical models and empirical insights. On the basis of this analysis your team will write an advisory report for the organization in which you (a) report on the analysis and (b) propose interventions. You will give a presentation of your advisory report. The advisory report and the presentation will be graded and contribute to your final grade.
What is the influence of work on the health of workers? What motivates workers to make their best efforts and perform at work? What makes them inspired and engaged for their job? When do they run the risk of burnout? Why do some employees call in sick while others continue to work when having health problems? What can employers do to keep their personnel healthy, motivated and productive at work for as long as possible?  
 
These and related questions are addressed in the master course Work & Performance. This course elaborates on recent theories and empirical research in the field of Work Psychology. In this course, you will obtain advanced insight in the mutual relationship between work and employee health and wellbeing, and their consequences for work motivation and performance. In this course, you will learn how personal characteristics and factors in the (work) environment influence individuals’ health, performance, and participation in the labour market. You will close read a number of recent reviews and meta-analyses of the theoretical and empirical developments in the area of work psychology. Part of this course is an assignment for which you conduct interviews in an organisation, in order to analyse a problem or challenge with respect to employee health, well-being, and performance. Based on the scientific literature and on the interviews you conducted, you will develop interventions to make work healthier and more enjoyable, and to promote optimal performance. 

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Kies de Nederlandse taal