Unit information: Studying Management in 2020/21

Unit name	Studying Management
Unit code	ECONM1023
Credit points	15
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Klimecki
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

Description including Unit Aims

Studying Management aims to provide a sound foundation to the study of management by providing students with a framework for understanding theories of management in organisations, and by developing students' knowledge, understanding and skills in the academic study of management. Studying Management, thus, is designed to lay the foundations for the degree programme. The unit will introduce the theoretical concepts that underpin the study of management, and develop students' ability to evaluate critically research and practice in management. Students will be introduced to the various perspectives informing the study of management including the functionalist/managerialist approach and critical management studies. Key texts are likely to be Kelemen and Rumens' extended epistemology of management research and Burrell and Morgan's research paradigms (Kelemen and Rumens, 2008; Burrell and Morgan, 1979). Within this framework, students will develop a context for the broad areas of study covered by the degree such as Strategic Management, HRM, Business Ethics and so on, to allow them to construct a model for themselves of how the cognate areas of their programme of study fit together. The unit will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:1.Describe the key theoretical perspectives that underpin the study of management in organisations.2.Evaluate theoretical perspectives with respect to competing claims.3.Locate and collect academic literature and other sources of information through the appropriate use of online and library databases, the use of key words and search refinement techniques.4.Demonstrate developing competence in analysing, synthesising and critiquing concepts and ideas published in academic articles and texts, and draw conclusions that relate theory to practice.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, tutorials, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other online learning opportunities

Assessment Information

Formative: 500 words individual essay; summative: 2.500 words (plus references) individual essay

Reading and References

• Alvesson, M. and Deetz, S. (2000) Doing Critical Management Research. London: Sage.

• Burrell G. and Morgan G. (1979) Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis: Elements of the Sociology of Corporate Life. London: Heinemann

• Cottrell, S. (2005) Critical thinking skills: Developing effective analysis and argument, London: Palgrave MacMillan.

• Heron, J. (1996) Co-operative Inquiry: Research into the Human Condition. London: Sage

• Kelemen, M. and Rumens, N. (2008) An Introduction to Critical Management Research. London: Sage.

• Mingers, J. (2000) ‘What is it to be critical?’ Management Learning, 31(2): 219-237.