Module BUSI4Q715: Introduction to Management

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI4Q715: Introduction to Management

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• COMP41815 Introduction to Computer Science. This module is intended for students whose first degree is not in business, management or related disciplines.

Aims

• To examine how companies attempt different business and corporate strategies to achieve or maintain effectiveness as organizations.
• To give students an in-depth understanding at an advanced level of knowledge about different managerial and organizational conditions within changing political, economic, sociocultural and technological conditions, industry competition and firm resources.
• To provide an in-depth understanding and critical evaluation of specialist techniques to aid analysis of the competitive and contextual environment.
• To explore contemporary debates in management research.

Content

• The effective organization
• Managerial control in organizations: a committed and engaged workforce
• Power and resistance in organizations
• Leadership and followership in organizations
• Change management in organizations
• Knowledge and learning in organizations
• Decision making in organizations
• Strategy in organizations
• Operations management in organizations
• Managing ethically in organizations

Learning Outcomes

• Have a critical appreciation of the main strengths and weaknesses of various management approaches in organizations and how they relate to organizational effectiveness
• Have a critical appreciation of decision-making within organisations, including the inter-action between corporate/business strategies and the other functions and disciplines within the organisation;
• Have a critical appreciation of the key debates within contemporary research into management

• By the end of this module, students should:
• Be able to think strategically and critically about a firm, as well as functionally;
• Be able to define a firm's main capabilities, competencies and competitive advantages;
• Be able to critically analyse the non-market environment of business on firms, such as the strategic constraints and opportunities presented by socio-cultural and political developments.
• Be able to conduct an in-depth industry analysis and gain advanced understanding of its strengths and limitations;
• Be able to develop and defend a cohesive organizational strategy to improve organizational effectiveness;
• Be able to undertake critical appraisal of relevant management literature and tools, and apply critical judgement and discrimination;
• Be aware of, and familiar with, methods employed in formulating and implementing business approaches to improving effectiveness;
• Be aware of, and familiar with, tools and techniques to analyse the competitive and contextual environment.

• Effective written communication
• Sourcing appropriate data and evaluating evidence.
• Interpreting and using data.
• Reflecting and synthesising from experience.
• Synthesising diverse perspectives.
• Selecting appropriate modes of communication.
• Making effective use of communication and information technology
• Group work

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Learning outcomes are met through classroom-based workshops, supported by online resources. The workshops consist of a combination of taught input, group work, case studies and discussion. Online resources provide preparatory material for the workshops typically consisting of directed reading and video content.
• The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module.
• The summative assessment is a written assignment in the form of a case study analysis which is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module. Oral and written feedback will be given on a group and/or individual basis as appropriate.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University