Exploratory Essay – Social Psychology of Risk

ASSIGNMENT 3 – Social Psychology of Risk

Exploratory essay

Weighting: 50% Length and/or format: 2500

Purpose & content: Composition of a 2500-word essay that demonstrates student’s ability to contextualise and apply the learnings using real life examples.

• Write a 2500-word essay about how the psychology of risk affects the relationship between self and others in an organisational context. Within your essay:
• Provide at least three (3) different examples of how the psychology of risk affects the relationship between self and others within the workplace
• Make references to key aspects, knowledge and underpinning principles of the psychology of risk
• Apply critical reflective practice to the psychology of risk to each of your workplace examples.
• In your examples, evaluate if the application of the psychology of risk could provide positive benefits to aspects of organisational functioning
• Utilise and cite at least five (7) relevant peer-reviewed papers / sources in the application of your knowledge within a workplace context.

Assessment criteria:

• Demonstrate capacity to analyse key issues and present in a logical argument including Critical analysis and thinking.
• Coverage of aspects of essay question and Thesis, method and purpose made clear
• Able to apply and contextualise learnings into real-life examples
• Demonstrate an understanding critical reflective practice
• Able to apply critical reflective practice into real-world contexts
• Demonstrate applied understanding of issues, structures and relationships.
• Demonstrate understanding of social psychology and core ideas of related issues and distractions.
• Able to apply understanding of “hidden agenda” in cultural dynamics and relationships.
• Ability to evaluate the concepts of the psychology of risk in improving organisational functioning

Required text(s) for this unit

Kahneman, D. (2011) Thinking Fast and Slow. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. New York

Medina, J. (2008) Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Seattle, WA: Pear Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0979777707

Schneider, G. (2017). Can I See your Hands: A Guide To Situational Awareness, Personal Risk Management, Resilience and Security. Universal Publishers. Florida

Schneider, G. & McGuirck, T (2020). The move towards Presilience. Ifsec Global, https://www.ifsecglobal.com/security/the-move-towards-presilience/

Standards Australia. (2018). AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management—Principles and Guidelines

Weick, E. & Sutcliffe. (2015) Managing the unexpected, Sustained performance in a Complex. World (Third Edition). Wiley. New Jersey

Schneider et al (2017). White Paper – Old vs new risk management. ACU Executive Education (downloadable from https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/executive-education/white-papers ) Guidelines

Recommended references

Ariely, D. (2012) The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone—Especially Ourselves Harper Collins. New York

Australian Risk Policy Institute (ARPI). (2016) Strategic Risk Policy 2016. ARPI. Melbourne

Cialdini, R. (2011) Influence, Science and Practice. Pearson, Boston.

Collins, C. Benson, N. Ginsberg, J. Grand, V. Lazyan, N. Weeks, M. (2012). The psychology book: [big ideas simply explained]. DK Publishers. New York

Cameron, K., and Quinn, R. (2011) Diagnosing and Changing Organisational Culture, based on the Competing Values Framework. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

Chandler, D. (2007) Semiotics The Basics. Routledge, London

Claxton, G. (2005) The Wayward Mind, An Intimate History of the Unconscious. Abacus. London.

De Becker, G. (1997). The Gift of Fear. Dell Publishing, New York.

Gladwell, M. (2005) Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Penguin. London.

Grossman, D. and Christensen, L. (2008). On Combat: The psychology and physiology of deadly conflicts in War and Peace. Warrior Science Publications, Millstadt, IL.

Haslam, S., et. Al. (2011) The New Psychology of Leadership, Identity Influence and Power. Psychology Press. New York.

Levitt, Steven D.; Dubner, Stephen J. (2006) Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Revised and Expanded Edition). William Morrow. New York

Riggio, R., Chaleff, I., and Lipman Blumen, J. (eds) (2008) The Art of Followership. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

Schein, E. (2010) Organisational Culture and Leadership. Jossey Bass. San Francisco.

Schneider et al (2018). White Paper – Risk Culture Getting it right. ACU Executive Education

Sinclair, A. (2007) Leadership for the Disillusioned. Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest

Sinek, S. (2009). Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Penguin Group. London

Sinek, S. (2014). Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t. Portfolio / Penguin. New York

Standards Australia. (2010) Handbook 327: 2010 Communicating and Consulting about Risk