Ph D Organisational Behaviour
While the Masters in Human Resource is regarded as a professional training programme the Ph.D. in Organisational Behaviour is a research degree which seeks to strengthen the basis for organisational analysis and theory-building in the Caribbean. Unlike the traditional MPhil/Ph.D. programmes on which the UWI has usually relied this new doctoral programme is structured to include a more extensive foundation of coursework to establish a platform for the development of the doctoral dissertation. Students spend approximately 30 months completing coursework and undertaking practica before they sit comprehensive examinations and present their dissertation proposals.
The need for this doctoral programme became sharply evident when the UWI lost Gordon Draper, lecturer in organisational behavior and a widely respected professional in organisational analysis and consulting throughout the Caribbean. This loss signaled that the delay in training the next generation of human resource and organisational behavior academics could no longer be sustained. This basis for the programme was supplemented by independent analyses of the myriad gaps in organisational research and effective responses to our concerns in the region. The variance between our needs and the resources available to meet these requirements was far more widespread than within the HRD Unit. Regionally, this was apparent in the drive to re-train persons after organisational restructuring in both the public and private sectors in many of the countries served by the UWI as well as the rethinking of our industrial relations norms and with the CSME imperative forcing our hands the stage was set for the introduction of a UWI catalyst to galvanise organisational growth.
The Coordinating team at the time, comprising Professor Patricia Anderson, Clement Branche and Olivene Thomas worked with significant help from Dr. Garth Lipps of the Psychology Unit of the Department to develop the Doctoral Programme in Organisational Behaviour. This programme seeks to provide a sound theoretical and technical base from which our graduates can increase their skills in organisational analysis and intervention and build careers in academia and consultancy. The first cohort was admitted in January 2006, and members selected research topics which covered a wide range from the effects of breaking the psychological contract and organisational trust to narratives in organisational identities, leadership engagement and organisational justice. Cohort II was welcomed in September 2010; Cohort III in September 2011, Cohort IV in September 2013 and Cohort V in September 2014. The Unit plans to welcome Cohort VI in September 2016.