Module: Transform yourself - Personal agility

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Transform yourself - Personal agility
Module Code	BAA1048 (ITS: SB206)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This is a blended learning module which seeks to raise awareness of, and encourage, personal agility. Learners will be exposed to a variety of tools and techniques assessing teamwork styles and approaches, as well as resources and exercises on building resilience. The module will focus on understanding and contributing to teams, as well as managing performance and communication and feedback. Underpinning the module learning are opportunities for group presentations and peer feedback, VR lab presentation skills, and actor facilitated role playing. This module is the second of three Transform modules all of which feed into the on-going development of a virtual CV/e-portfolio.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the competencies required to work effectively as a member of a team
2. Gain practical experience of teamwork, group presentations, and peer feedback
3. Understand organisational communication responses to data breaches and the components of a good apology
4. Understand the role and significance of resilience and personal agility in dealing with change and career set backs

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	10	No Description
Group Based Workshops	6	No Description
Laboratory	1	No Description
Directed learning	30	No Description
Portfolio Preparation	30	No Description
Online activity	13	No Description
Assignment Completion	35	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10121	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Colette Real	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group presentation	In-class digital poster presentation on an aspect of teamwork	0%	n/a
Participation	Peer to peer participation - online feedback on presentations	4%	n/a
Reflective journal	An individual reflective learning journal to include learning from lectures, independent reading, teamwork roles self-assessment and in-class discussion, experience of teamwork and team presentation in class, and online peer feedback /discussion board.	36%	n/a
Presentation	VR lab experience of giving an organisational apology	20%	n/a
Practical/skills evaluation	Workshop - Actor facilitated role plays (team performance, feedback)	20%	n/a
Reflective journal	Reflective learning portfolio on personal agility self-assessment, lectures and independent reading. (also includes workshop and VR lab experience).	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Team Dynamics
Significance of teamwork. Understanding different team roles. Self-assessment of personal contribution to a team (Belbin and reflection exercise).

Managing Performance
Team formation, team climate (psychological safety), team decision making and innovation, team conflict.

Crisis Communications
Organisational apologies, what makes for a good apology, case study of data breach and communication strategies, opportunity to practice making an organisational apology in a virtual reality environment.

Personal Agility
Exploration of the qualities most associated with personal agility (purposefulness, learning mindset, change orientation, autonomy and empowerment, relationship management, collaboration). Self-assessment on these qualities. Exploring resilience and dealing with change, set-backs and career shocks. Opportunity to see practical application of these qualities in a forum theatre workshop.

Career Capacity building
Developing potential and skills. Understanding the role and impact of networks. Appreciating the value and being open to feedback. Preparing for work placement

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Cottrell, S.: 2021, Skills for Success [Part 2- People and Tasks], 4th Edition, MacMillan.,

Articles:

0: Achor, S., & Gielan, M. (2016). Resilience is about how you recharge, not how you endure. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 2-4., 524714, 1
Ayaburi, E. W., & Treku, D. N. (2020). Effect of penitence on social media trust and privacy concerns The case of Facebook. International Journal of Information Management, 50, 171-181.: 524715, 1,
524716: 1, 0, Driskell, J. E., Salas, E., & Driskell, T. (2018). Foundations of teamwork and collaboration. American Psychologist, 73(4), 334.,
1: 0, Edmondson, A. C., & Bransby, D. P. (2023). Psychological safety comes of age: Observed themes in an established literature. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10, 55-78,
0: De Wit, F. R., Greer, L. L., & Jehn, K. A. (2012). The paradox of intragroup conflict: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(2), 360., 524719, 1
Hall, K. (2020). Public penitence: Facebook and the performance of apology. Social media+ society, 6(2), 2056305120907945.: 524720, 1,
524721: 1, König, A., Graf-Vlachy, L., Bundy, J., & Little, L. M. (2020). A blessing and a curse: How CEOs’ trait empathy affects their management of organizational crises. Academy of Management Review, 45(1), 130-153., 0,
1: 0, Kremer, H., Villamor, I., & Aguinis, H. (2019). Innovation leadership: Best-practice recommendations for promoting employee creativity, voice, and knowledge sharing. Business Horizons, 62(1), 65-74,
0: Lim, J. S., Hong, N., & Schneider, E. (2025). How warm-versus competent-toned AI apologies affect trust and forgiveness through emotions and perceived sincerity. Computers in Human Behavior, 108761., 524724, 1
Lim, J. S., Schneider, E., Grover, M., Zhang, J., & Peters, D. (2025). Effects of AI versus human source attribution on trust and forgiveness in the identical corporate apology statement for a data breach scandal. Public Relations Review.: 524725, 1,
524726: 1, 0, Polin, B., Doyle, S. P., Kim, S., Lewicki, R. J., & Chawla, N. (2024). Sorry to ask but… how is apology effectiveness dependent on apology content and gender. Journal of Applied Psychology, 109(3), 339.,
1: 0, Rao, S. (2017). To build your resilience, ask yourself two simple questions. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 2-4.,
0: Schweitzer, M. E., Brooks, A. W., & Galinsky, A. D. (2015). The organizational apology. Harvard Business Review, 94(9), 44–52., 524729, 1
Tannenbaum, S., Castillo, G. F., & Salas, E. (2023). How to overcome the nine most common teamwork barriers. Organizational Dynamics, 52(4), 101006:

Other Resources

1: Online Self-assessment team roles https://www.idrlabs.com/team-role/test.php,
421000: 1, HS Talk Series (Team Effectiveness) https://hstalks-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/bm/p/737/,
421001: 1, Youtube video - Stages of team development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhSI6oBQmQA&list=PLbu6naAjG_K93h0wjyn1b1EHQl1Q2pH_y,
421002: 1, Empey, K. (2022). Personal Agility: The New Skillset for a changing world of work. https://workmatters.ie/.,