SCHOOL OF INSPIRED LEADERSHIP

Applied Sociology_Term One

FACULTY – Pallavi Tandon COHORT - HRLP

PHONE - 8800374111 CONTACT HOURS - 15

EMAIL – [email protected] SESSIONS – 5

VERSION – 1.1

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Human Resources is a discipline embedded in the understanding of human nature and social phenomenon. It
essentially requires a thorough understanding of the social context in which organisations are operating because
that is the genesis of the sublime power dynamics, hegemonic thought and the dynamics of the work environment.
Deciphering interpersonal issues, performance inhibitors and efficiency inertia etc. depend a lot on the ability of the
professional to decode social codes and the social context from different perspectives such that decisions made are
informed in terms of all explicit and implicit root causes.

This course would pay heed to marco and micro level of sociological frameworks to understand individual, group
and social phenomenon. The Macro – level sociology would look at large scale social processes and social
meaning, such as social stability and change. This would allow observation of large scale patterns and trends and
analysis of how these trends exist outside of individuals who enact them on the ground. The micro – level sociology
looks at small – scale interactions between individuals, such as conversation or group dynamics and analyse how
these influence individual behavior. Together they lay out different perspective to understand, decode and
determine the ethnographic context.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completing the course, the students should be able to –

1. To understand the theoretical framework to understanding the Sociological discourse

2. To delineate the social construction of REALITY as Participant and as Observer – Ethnographic study

3. To utilize that discourse to understand some key constructs that define meaning

4. To map the application and learning from the discourse to HR relevant areas at work

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PEDAGOGY AND METHODOLOGY

The course will consist of lectures, ethnographic inquiry, experiential activities, small group exercises and
dialogues, an individual project on an organisational brief and individual learning and reflection activities. The focus
of the course will be applying concepts and ideas to real-world examples—both our case discussions and to your
own subject organizations and work situations. The success of the course in terms of individual and collective
learning depends upon your input into class discussion. This requires adequate preparation for class and
willingness to take responsibility for the quality and constructiveness of class discussion. A portion of the grade for
this course will be based upon your contributions to class discussions.

This course focuses heavily on the experiential and multiple ways of learning – from ideas to experience to the
valuing of students practice. It also brings forward the notion of social learning, whereby we learn better in
collaboration, with and from each other. The action learning structure enables students to experiment with, reflect
on, and document learning in between sessions, and to integrate the work into professional and personal areas.

The learning method of the course progresses through several processes in parallel:

 A team project that would require the teams to utilize semiotics or the science of signs to delineate how the
social context impacts meaning and determines how you attach meaning to the same signs through the
creation of an print advertisement
 An individual activity that would require each one to study a body of discourse and analyze how we arrive
at a shared meaning based on how we operate in a social context
 An individual activity where one would have to apply the frameworks of sociology discussed in class and
submit a primary/secondary ethnographic study

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EVALUATION PARAMETERS

The breakdown of the grade for this course is as follows –

S.No. CRITERIA PERCENTILE/WEIGHTAGE

1. Class Participation 10

2. Quiz/Class Assignment 20

3. Mid-Term Exam 30

4. End Term Exam 40

BEHAVIOR NORMS

 Class Participation - Each one of you will be expected to contribute, discuss issues and make presentations
in class. You should come prepared to ask questions and elaborate on concepts that add to your
understanding of theories discussed and its applications.

 Class Readings - You are expected to read all the reading materials. As you read, ask yourself the
following questions.

- Do I understand the concepts discussed in the reading?

- So what? What are the implications? How can I apply these concepts as an HR Manager?
- How is it that I see this rolling out on the job?
- Do I feel confident about utilizing that which I read?

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GRADING

Students are graded on the 5 point scale below. If a student does not meet the minimum requirements to earn the
lowest grade, the faculty may choose not to grade him/her.

Each student shall be graded on the following 5 point scale and the required expectations at each level are as
follows:

S.No. CRITERIA DEFINITION

1. NOVICE (Remembering / Awareness)  Demonstrates awareness and recall of the core
concepts of Sociology
Struggling to understand the basic  Is able to associate correct meaning to the
concepts or ideas terminology
 Has been able to perceive the practicability, relevance
and potential for applying the learning

2. BEGINNER (Understanding)  Displays absolute and immaculate understanding of

the content and the framework provided in the course
Understands each component of the  Exhibited increase in knowledge or intellectual
process in isolation capability from before to after the learning experience

3. COMPETENT (Applying / Analysing)  Is able to present a discursive analysis based on the

body of knowledge on Sociology and ethnographic
Can explain the various facets and co - inquiry
relations between concepts  Is able to translate learning into action and
interventions through proper articulation of the
implications

4. ACCOMPLISHED (Integrating /  Demonstrates the capacity to correlate concepts and

Creating) theory into a logical framework
 Showcases the capacity to break down complexity
Can explain the intricacies of L and D into a structured and logical sequence
concepts logically and its implication  Is able to present a holistic understanding and
for the Organisation application of the concepts and the agenda

5. ROLE MODEL (Mastery)  Demonstrates absolute mastery of the approaches

and concepts to Sociology
Is capable of creating alternate  Is able to think seamlessly to design interventions
perspectives and scenarios based on  Is able to holistically analyse the universe of study,
the fundamentals of L and D concepts identify the problem and customize solutions based on
the training in class
 Is able to extrapolate the effect of every step on the
overarching business environment

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INTENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

a. Roland Barthes. "Rhetoric of the Image." Image, Music, Text. Ed. and trans. Stephen Heath. New
York: Hill and Wang, 1977. 32-51.
b. Berger, P. L. and Luckman T. The Social Construction of Reality, Allan Lane and Penguin press,
London, 1967
c. Goffman, E. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, The Overlook Press, New York, 1973
d. Anthony Giddens. Sociology. (Library)
e. Haralambos, M. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives (Library)
f. Kuhn, T. The Structure of Scientific Revolution, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1970.

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SESSION PLAN (please note session plan may change if required)

SESSION NO. TOPICS TO BE NO. OF HOURS ASSIGNMENTS/OTHERS

COVERED

SESSION ONE  Behavior, 3 hours onsite  Creation of a

attitude and 5 hours offsite representation how social
perspectives into context alters meaning and
people perception
 Social meaning
and fact to
understand
events

SESSION TWO  Discursive 3 hours onsite  Identifying codes and signs

analysis – to arrive at a common
textual, 10 hours offsite understanding of a shared
contextual and meaning (mid term)
sociological

SESSION THREE  Methodology and 3 hours onsite  Diagrammatic

discourse representation of the
 Frameworks for 10 hours offsite frameworks
analysis –
positive to post
-modernist

SESSION FOUR  Ethnographic 3 hours onsite  Hand - on primary

inquiry and ethnographic inquiry and
ethnomethodolo 15 hours reporting (end term)
gy
 Social Fabric
and social
construction

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GENERAL GUIDELINES

In preparing for each session, and in particular preparing for cases, the following guidelines should be helpful -

1. Please consider the courses on Organisational Behavior and Applied Psychology to assess the learning
need
2. Read up on sociological text to understand terminology - Refer online to “The Dictionary of Sociology”
(Oxford)
3. Attempt to do the assignments as individuals not groups
4. Sociology is as strong as the questions that it raises in your head – ask, challenge, counter.

Good Luck!

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FACULTY PROFILE

Pallavi Tandon

“Don’t worry about getting perfect, just keep getting better” (Frank Peretti, Illusion) – The pursuit to
apply oneself in different aspects of existence to live a rewarding life defines her journey.

With an M.Phil. in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics, Pallavi marked her forte in the
area of Learning and Development. Her Dissertation in “The Learning of Gender and the Gender of
Learning” provided the strong foundation in studying and addressing the problematic of driving
learning effectiveness through her interventions

The journey of seven years in this field of learning began with Chrysalis HRD in 2006. As part of the
core team was responsible for the pre-sales, diagnostics, customization, development, design and
delivery of over 100 independent modules for training in soft skills, attitudinal and behavioural
adjustments, career planning and process/product training for clients across industries.

Once she moved to a mode of consulting and retainership in 2009, she has been on board the
Learning and Development functions of organisations such as T r a n s f o r M E , Metlife, Max Bupa,
Hatch, Encore Capital Group, Max Life Insurance, Max Healthcare, Gurgaon. It was during this
time that she honed her skills in the area of WEB Based Interactive Training Initiatives and
was responsible for e-learning interventions, corporate films and outbound initiatives.

She was a Visiting Faculty at the Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi, assisting them in
setting up the Internal Quality Assurance Cell for the university and in running Employability
Enhancement Programs for students. She is a Visiting Faculty at NATCOM Education and Research
Foundation, where she imparts Leadership and Behavioral Training Initiative at the Master’s
Upgradation Course.

She is currently working with the School of Inspired Leadership as a Lecturer for their Human Resource
Leadership Program wherein her core responsibilities involve research, development of existing
courses, assisting in consulting assignments, driving student initiatives, mentoring pupils and taking the
course on Learning and Development and Applied Sociology.

She really believes in balancing work and home and enjoys nurturing her two children, Mehaan
and Tarini. She enjoys movies and books and whenever possible, likes to travel to new cultures,
cities and people.

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in the areas of Leadership Development, Professional Skills Development,
Executive Coaching and Customized L&D Solutions.

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