| Unit name | Principles of Management |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ECON22650 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Rippin |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit aims to prepare students to engage critically with the concept and practice of management. It aims to develop their understanding of management as a social process, embedded within particular societal contexts and social dynamics. The unit starts with a critical analysis of the various perspectives and constructions of ‘management’, and moves on to examine some of the most significant activities and processes associated with management, both historically and in current times: the dilemmas of motivating and controlling, and decision-making and the adoption of management ideas or fads.
Drawing on a broadly sociologically-informed perspective, the unit aims to develop students’ analytical skills for in considering key themes and debates in the field of management and society. These include an examination of the ways in which culture, ethics, gender, sexuality, aesthetics and emotions come to shape how management is seen and practiced. Simultaneously, we focus on the ways in which management in turn contributes to the shaping of these issues in wider society. This leads us to consider and problematise the ways in which discourses and practices of management are increasingly salient and pervasive in everyday life. We end by speculating on possible alternatives to management, and by considering the implications of any potential shifts towards other forms of organising social endeavours.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Students will learn transferable skills of problem analysis, argumentation, presentation, and team working through tutorial work.
The unit will be taught through Lectures and Tutorials.
Lectures (approximately two-thirds of contact hours) will have the principal purpose of introducing the content of the course, including vocabulary, concepts, theories, perspectives, practices and trends. Lectures will also expose students to critical evaluation of management theories and concepts, and to the conceptual tools and frameworks employed in undertaking such critique. Lectures will include an element of discussion and debate in order to enhance understanding.
A variety of teaching methods will be employed in the tutorials, including: discussions based on readings and student experiences; case study work involving analysis, problem-solving and decision-making; group and individual exercises; presentations, discussion, and debate.
Additional reading designed to develop a depth of understanding.
The unit will be assessed through one summative and two formative forms of assessment:
Summative assessment:
Three-hour closed-book examination in May/June, worth 100% of the summative mark. Examination questions will test understanding of management concepts and practice, and will be essay based. More specifically, questions will examine students’ knowledge and understanding of the various perspectives and constructions of management, focusing on the dilemmas of motivating and controlling, decision-making, and the adoption of management ideas or fads, as well as the interplay between management and culture, ethics, gender, sexuality, aesthetics, and emotions. The exam will therefore examine students’ ability to:
Formative assessment: a)A 1200 word individual essay on a question similar in kind to those with which they will be presented in the exam, which will prepare students to:
b)A short-answer take-home test, which will prepare students to:
Explain and discuss theoretical approaches to management
Selected readings from journals including:
