BUSINESS FACULTY

Course Handbook
201617

BUSI1475 Contemporary
Issues in Management
(Partners)
Level 6: 15 Credits
Contents

1. WELCOME..................................................................................................................................... 4
2. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE......................................................................................... 5
2.1 AIMS............................................................................................................................................. 5

2.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES.................................................................................................................... 5

2.3 EMBEDDING EMPLOYABILITY IN THE CURRICULUM..........................................................................5

2.4 LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES.............................................................................................. 7

2.5 EXPECTED STUDY TIME................................................................................................................... 7

2.6 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................................... 8

3. CONTACT DETAILS..................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 EXTERNAL EXAMINING OF YOUR COURSE AND PROGRAMMES OF STUDY..........................................9

4. COURSE CONTENT AND DESIGN......................................................................................... 11

4.1 PLANNED TERM DATES:................................................................................................................ 11

4.2 SESSION PLAN............................................................................................................................. 11

4.3 SESSION REQUIRED READING....................................................................................................... 13

5. ASSESSMENT DETAILS........................................................................................................... 14
5.1 SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT........................................................................................................... 14

5.2 RULES FOR ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION AND MARKING:....................................................................15

5.3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT.......................................................................................15

6. OTHER DETAILS........................................................................................................................ 17

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 3

1. Welcome
Though this be madness, yet there is method int.

Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act II, Scene II

It is a well-worn clich that the only certainty in these interesting times is

uncertainty. Despite the fatigue of aphorisms such as this and many like it, it would
be nave of any observer of the contemporary business environment to assume
otherwise. Despite the fact that the world has never been materially richer (albeit
with huge inequalities and enduring misery for many) with technology and
governance having solved or at least alleviated many of our problems, the
environment that impacts on our economic and social world is as volatile and
unforgiving as ever before. Thus the demands placed upon those responsible for
guiding organizations through these troubled waters are as great as ever before,
making it imperative that such individuals have the necessary skills and attributes.

Contemporary Issues in Management seeks to develop in learners a critical

appreciation of the challenges faced by management professionals in a complex,
dynamic and increasingly risky business environment. In doing so it exposes
students to the controversies and dilemmas of contemporary management
thinking and practice that are not easily resolvable (if at all). The course builds on
learning undertaken in levels one and two and seeks to enable the learner to build
towards the advanced level of critical awareness and reflectivity necessary for a
successful career in the 21st century management domain. Contemporary Issues
in Management synthesises cutting edge conceptual discussion with the honing of
diagnostic, analytical and communication skills for effective human interaction and
decision making.

This course does not claim to have all the answers to the problems facing the
contemporary manager; no course possibly could. However, what it will do is instil
a critical awareness of the challenges faced by business leaders in the 21st
century and lay the foundations of the means whereby they might prosper.

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 4

2. Introduction to the Course

Aims

The main aims of this course are:

To attain a critical understanding of the challenges that face practising

managers in the complex contemporary operating environment
To contribute to the development of a set of skills that equips the
contemporary manager for the challenges presented in the contemporary
organizational milieu.

1.1 Learning Outcomes

On completing this course successfully you will be able to:

Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of current debates about how,

through effective management, organizations interact with and respond to their
complex operating environments.
Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of advanced social science
concepts relating to managing and working with people for performance in the
contemporary organizational domain.
Display a critical awareness of a range of often apparently conflicting and
contradictory schools of management and social science thought requiring them
to make informed analytical judgements
Debate ethical dilemmas related to management practice in the contemporary
sphere and be able to debate and seek to resolve them
Continually develop their ability to analyse and articulate in a variety of
communicative forms - the implications of challenges faced by managers in
the contemporary domain.

2.3 Learning and teaching activities

In addition to weekly lectures which will expose learners to discussion on key

debates and contemporary events, learners will participate in weekly seminar
sessions where they will be encouraged to link concepts, apply theory real life
examples (for example through case studies and multimedia expositions) and
engage in group discussions and problem solving exercises. Seminars also
incorporate topic development workshops where tutors can provide guidance as
students shape their own assignment, a key aspect of the learning on this course.

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 5

Private study and monitoring of key world events are integral to the successful
achievement of the learning outcomes of this course.

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3. Contact Details
Complete the table below with details

Room Email address Phone

number

Course Leader:

Graham Symon

Course Tutors:

Rodrigo Silva rodrigo@segi.edu.my

Programme tangpickha@segi.edu.my 03-20702078

Coordinator:

Angeline Tang Pick ha

Please see your programme handbook for more detail

3.1 External Examining of Your Course and Programmes of

Study
External examining at the University of Greenwich provides one of the principal
means whereby the University verifies, maintains, and enhances the academic
standards of the courses and the programme on which you are studying. They also
help the University to ensure that your assessment processes are sound, fairly
operated and in line with the policies and regulations of the University of
Greenwich.

External examiners - academic staff from other Higher Education Institutions or

from the professions - are appointed as reviewers of your courses and your
programme of study for a period of 4 years. They provide the University with a
number of important services. For example external examiners will
Review and comment on the standard of key elements of assessment that
you have been set.
Review samples of student work and confirm whether the standard is at the
level expected for the award you are studying and whether it is comparable
with other Institutions that they know.
Provide the University with an independent view of how well we conduct our
processes for marking and internal moderation of assessments.

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 7

 Attend Progress and Awards Boards (PABs) and contribute to deliberations for
conferring your degree classifications and awards, assisting the University in
treating all students fairly and consistently with regard to our regulations.
External examiners will endorse the outcomes of PABs based on their scrutiny
of the assessments and the deliberations of the PAB. No degree award can
be made without the assent of an external examiner.
Report formally their findings to the University at the end of each year and
identify our good practice as well as making recommendations for
improvements in the future.

External examiner reports for your programme of study can be located on the
portal electronically in the Quality Management and reporting channel inside the
My Learning tab.

If you have any questions about the reports, or a report you are
interested in isnt available, please email your local Academic Quality
Unit Quality Manager, who is: Nikki Makinwa,
I.Makinwa@greenwich.ac.uk

Is there anything an external examiner wont be asked to do?

External examiners will not mark your work personally and nor will they comment
upon individual student performance or individual works in their reports or engage
in correspondence with individuals in respect of grades, marking, feedback, degree
class and other personal academic matters. For these you will need to speak to
your tutors and programme leader.

The external examiner for your course of study is:

Name: Dr Sue Kinsey
University/College University of Portsmouth

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 8

4. Course Content and Design
4.1 Planned Term Dates:

4.2 Session Plan

Week Session Title and Description Staff Reading or preparation

beginning member (see next table for
associated details)

Lecture (i) Introduction to the course Clegg et al (2008) ch. 1-

5
Introduction to the study
contemporary management issues
(to summarise learning
Aims, objectives and learning
outcomes of the course from previous courses)
Learning, teaching and
assessment Linstead et al. (2009)
ch. 3, 9, 11.
(ii) Management problems of Mullins (2007) ch. 3, 11-
the 21st Century 13

Seminar No formal seminar; time given over

to acclimatisation and literature
search

Lecture Managing globalisation Clegg et al (2008) ch.14

Giddens (1990, 2001)

Seminar Assignment planning workshop

(see pro forma)

Lecture Managing sustainability and Clegg et al (2008) ch. 10

ethics
Linstead et al. (2009)
ch. 5, 8

Mullins (2007) ch. 14

Seminar Discussion: Dubai: Globalisation

on Steroids

Lecture Managing in the information Clegg et al (2008) ch. 8

society
Linstead et al. (2009)
ch. 1, 16

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 9

 Mullins (2007) ch. 5, 6. 7

Warhurst et al, (2004)

Seminar Discussion: News International

Lecture Power, politics and conflict Clegg et al (2008) ch. 6

in the contemporary
workplace Linstead et al. (2009)
ch. 6, 7

Mullins (2007) 18

Ackers et al (1996)

Seminar Discussion: The Late Steve Jobs

Lecture Managing in a changing Clegg et al (2008) ch. 9

world
Linstead et al. (2009)
ch. 13

Mullins (2007) ch. 19

Gladwell (2001)

Peters (1992, 2006)

Seminar Discussion: Protest and crisis

Lecture Organizational design for Clegg et al (2008)ch.

the 21st century 12,13 Linstead et al.
(2009) ch. 4, 14

Mullins (2007) ch. 15, 16

Seminar Case study: Oticon

Lecture Review and revision

Assignment hand-in this week

Assignment return and feedback (date TBA)

Exam period

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4.3 Session Required Reading

Lectures and seminars are vital components of this course but you cannot achieve
the aims and expected outcomes of the course unless you maintain a constant
level of reading from the available literature on management and organization.
We have provided this list of sources that we think will be useful to you.
However, the list is by no means exhaustive and you will be required to
undertake your own literature searches in the Learning Resources Centre and
elsewhere. We also recommend a core text which you may find useful to buy.

Core text (recommended purchases)

Clegg, S., Kornberger, M. & Pitses, T. (2008) Managing & Organizations: An

Introduction to Theory and Practice, London: Sage

Supplementary reading

The following texts are original contributions to the field and others that may be
useful for wider and alternative perspectives:

Ackers, P., Smith, C., & Smith, P. (1996) The New Workplace and Trade Unionism,
London: Routledge
Alvesson, M. & Willmott, H. (eds.) (1992) Critical Management Studies, London:
Sage
Corby, S. & Symon, G. (eds.) (2012) Working for the State, Basingstoke: Palgrave
Fincham, R. & Rhodes, P. (2005) Principles of Organizational Behaviour, Oxford:
Oxford University Press
Giddens, A. (1990) The Consequences of Modernity, Cambridge: Polity
Giddens, A. (2002) The Runaway World: How Globalisation is Reshaping Our Lives,
London: Profile
Gladwell, M. (2001) The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big
Difference, London: Abacus
Hatch, M. J. (2006) Organization Theory: Modern, Symbolic and Postmodern
Perspectives, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Jackson, N. & Carter, P. (2007) Rethinking Organisational Behaviour: A
Poststructuralist Framework, Harlow: FT Prentice Hall
Linstead, S., Fulop, L. and Lilley, S. (2008) Management and Organization,
Basingstoke: Palgrave
Mullins, L. (2007) Management and Organisational Behaviour, Harlow: FT Prentice
Hall
Peters, T. (1992) Liberation Management: Necessary Disorganization for the
Nanosecond Nineties, London: Macmillan
Peters, T. (2006) Re-Imagine!, London: DK
Redman, T. & Wilkinson, A. (eds.) (2006) Contemporary Human Resource
Management: Text and Cases, Harlow: FT Prentice Hall
Thompson, P. & McHugh, D. (2002) Work Organizations: A Critical Introduction,
Basingstoke: Palgrave
Thompson, P. & Warhurst, C. (1998) Workplaces of the Future, Basingstoke:
Macmillan

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 11

Warhurst, C., Grugulis, I., & Keep, E. (eds.) (2004) The Skills That Matter,
Basingstoke: Palgrave

Journals

Textbooks can be very useful for reference and explanatory purposes. However, for
the more cutting edge knowledge that is necessary for a higher level of
learning, you should consult academic journals. These journals contain articles
by leading scholars which use up-to-date research to make a contribution to
what we know about people, organization and management. These articles
have often been assessed by other leading scholars through a process of peer
review. Most of the journals that you will find useful are available in electronic
format and are therefore searchable using the appropriate databases (see
Learning Resources Staff for details). The journals cover a range of specialisms
that constitute the discipline of organizational and management studies.

British Journal of Management

Economist
Gender, Work and Organization
Human Resource Management Journal
Journal of Management Studies
Organization
Organizational Studies
Management Today
New Technology, Work and Employment
Organization
Organization Studies
People Management
Personnel Review
Technovation
Work, Employment and Society

For hundreds of other sources of information, you are advised to consult the
Library & Information Services (ICT) WebPages:

http://www.gre.ac.uk/offices/ils/ls

News media

As is implied by the title of this course, we will seek to engage with very current
issues and debates in the management domain. As such it is crucial that you
keep up to date with current affairs. Indeed, this is a fundamental aspect of the
assessment for this course. You are advised to make regular use of reputable
news media sources (e.g. quality newspapers the Financial Times, the
Guardian, the Economist; websites; broadcast media etc.). This will help build a
critical understanding of the issues investigated in the course.

See also a useful selection of online videos at the FTs Business School pages:

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 12

http://www.ft.com/cms/a5dd621a-e39d-11dc-8799-0000779fd2ac.html

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 13

5. Assessment Details
5.1 Summary of assessment included Full Time & Part Time
Student
Assessment Title Weight Pass Length Due Date Return Header
towards Mark Date Sheet #
final
grade

Essay 50% 40% 2,000 16/3/17 6/4/17

overa
Examination 50% 2 Hours May 2017
ll

5.2 Detailed description of assessment

5.2.1 Assessment 1 Essay - Weighting 50%

Your task is to identify and select a contemporary management issue from current
affairs. In particular, you should find a new item on the BBC News Website
(news.bbc.co.uk). Examples could be business ethics, globalisation, off-shoring,
quality of working life, industrial conflict, regulation and/or deregulation of
business or indeed any substantive issue that impacts on managerial decision
making. You should then write an essay on your chosen issue (sanctioned by
your tutor) using the concepts, themes and issues explored in the course. You are
required to have developed your idea by week xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and have it
signed off by your tutor at the seminar (see the pro forma in the appendix of this
document and on Moodle). You must supply this form as an appendix to your
submitted assignment. Please note also that there is a space on the pro
forma for the full URL of the story you have chosen which you must also
supply.

A successfully completed assignment will be consistent with the following

guidelines:

Be appropriately structured, written, presented and referenced (using the

Harvard style)
Feature an appropriate contemporary management issue with sufficient
currency, substance and relevance to this course and its learning outcomes
(properly justified) to merit analysis and debate

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 Feature and make substantial reference to a range of theories and concepts
Engage in a critical debate which evinces deep insight into an contextual
awareness of the topic in hand
Word limit: 2000
Submission deadline: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please be aware that the University of Greenwich operates a very strict policy on
plagiarism and any student who breaches academic regulations will be subject to
the strongest disciplinary sanction. Regulations relating to plagiarism can be found
at the following link:

http://www.gre.ac.uk/students/regs/plagiarism

Harvard referencing guidelines can be found at the following link:

http://www.gre.ac.uk/studyskills/referencing

Marks Criteria
allocated to
criteria:

20% Focus
Does the essay set up a clear essay question to address? Does
the essay stay within and fulfil the topic parameters?

30% Synthesis
Does the essay bring together the literature in a significant
manner that addresses an essay question?

30% Soundness
Does the essay indicate a comprehensive understanding of the
topic area and literature discussed?

10% Clarity of structure

Is the essay well organised and logically constructed to achieve
synthesis while being mindful of the needs of the reader?

10% Mechanical Soundness

Is the essay clearly written, spell checked and grammatically
sound and referenced appropriately?

5.2.2 Examination

The examination consists of a choice of two essay questions from a total of four
(two sections with two questions in each). It is closed-book, unseen and lasts for
two hours. The examination will take place during the examination period

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 15

subsequent to the taught component of the course. The examination is your
opportunity to display your ability to articulate your critical insights into
contemporary management issues.

5.3 Feedback Methods

We are anxious that you receive constructive feedback from your essay. As such,
we aim to mark your essay and return it as quickly as possible in order to aid your
preparation for the exam. In addition to feedback for formal assessment, tutors
can provide feedback on performance in seminars and also on the development of
your idea for your essay.

5.4 Resit Assessment

Your coursework and exam results will be reviewed by a Subject Assessment Panel
(which looks at the course) and a Progression and Award Board (which reviews
your progress) and the deliberations of these two committees will determine
whether you have failed any coursework or exams and whether you will be offered
the chance to complete resits. Please note that there is no automatic right to
resits; whether these are offered depends on your overall progress.

Resits will usually take place in August and will usually involve a new coursework
topic or exam being completed. Where you have been deemed to have failed a
piece of group work, or a presentation or a test, any resit of these will normally
involve you undertaking an equivalent piece of individual coursework.

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 16

6. Other Details
The majority of information relevant to you while you study at the University has
been brought together into your programme handbook. Please refer to your
programme handbook for any further information you might require including:

How to submit assignments,

Deadlines and extenuating circumstances,

Plagiarism and referencing,

Who to go to for advice or if you are concerned,

How to provide us with feedback,

Key administrative procedures.

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 17

 BUSI 1475 Contemporary Issues in Management

Assignment proposal pro forma

For completion by Week xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Must be signed-off by seminar tutor
Must be completed electronically

Proposed
title

Summary
of
proposed
content

200 words
max.

Relationshi
p to course
content
(e.g. topics /
issues
featured)

URL from
BBC News
Website

Name of
student

Signature
of student

Name of
tutor

Signature
of tutor

Date

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 18

BUSI1475 Contemporary Issues in Management (Partners) 2016-17 19