Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Description There is a false belief that all failure is bad and that learning from failure is straightforward. In practice some failure is inevitable and some failures are even constructive. Importantly learning from failure is not simple as it requires resilience, psychological safety, and coping strategies which are frequently tied to context. Through the module students will not only have exposure to a spectrum of failures (preventable, unavoidable, inevitable) but importantly explore how such failures may be avoided, circumvented or leveraged. The module provides students with insights on the inevitability of uncertainty and failure and how the negative impact of failure can be cascaded by power, blame games, fear and toxic cultures within organisations. In appreciating such factors students are exposed to the significance of concepts such as psychological safety, resilience, coping strategies and mechanisms such as whistleblowing in efforts to circumvent or prevent failures on a mass scale. Students should leave this module with a greater awareness of the realities of various types of failure and an appreciation of ways in which an organisational culture can be fostered around safe recognition, reporting and admission of failure. In this way failure will become more normalized as an everyday experience. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Learning Outcomes 1. identify and understand the spectrum and contexts of failure 2. Identify and assess the biases, path dependencies and power dynamics that can give rise to, and perpetuate, failure 3. critically assess experiences of failure in order to derive key insights and lessons 4. appreciate the key institutional, cultural and individual factors required for the safe recognition, navigating, reporting and/or admission of failure | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Introducing the F word Understanding the occurrence, meaning and spectrum of failure including preventable, unavoidable, and inevitable failure. Mechanisms of failure Exploring the biases, path dependencies, power dynamics and trajectories that can lead to, and perpetuate, failure. Theorizing failure Students will gain insights on multiple theoretical lenses (systematic, organizational and human) used to explain and examine failure (e.g. complex adaptive systems, impression management, narcissism). Contexts and Exemplars The module will draw on illustrative exemplars from various levels of analysis, e.g. institutional failures, emergency management, corporate scandals (Enron, BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill) and climate change, sport, mega-projects (Nasa), as well exploring failed product development (Google Glass, Dyson electric cars) and cybersecurity dynamics (Facebook). Purposeful failure Students will be exposed to ideas around experimentation, lean-start-up as means of promoting purposeful and constructive failure. Lessons and Insights from failure Students will learn from concepts such as legitimacy and stigma, risk assessment, psychological safety, resilience, coping strategies, after-action reviews and mechanisms for voice and feedback (including whistleblowing) in efforts to predict, circumvent or prevent failures on a mass scale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Resources
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||