module specification

This Module is divided into three (3) themes:

(i) Academic development, where the students will study and apply a range of theories from Critical Theory (CT) and Critical Management Studies (CMS) to a current UK-based PLC, enabling students to gain a wider and more profound understanding of the socio-cultural issues in corporate business.

(ii) Professional Development, where the students will study current corporate governance theory and policy, plus study the management and performance of selected PLCs in light of their approach to corporate governance

(iii) Personal development, where the students undertake a range of psycho-metric tests, management exercises, plus study selected texts on personal development, and based on these produce a Personal Development Plan (PDP) which will guide them in their future post-degree career and studies

By studying these three themes, students will experience the practice of management from three differing yet integrated approaches, design to enhance their academic development, professional development, and personal development.

All core modules at levels 4 and 5

Students studying the practice of management approach this Module from three differing yet integrated themes all vital for a Level 6 student: their academic development, professional development, and personal development.  Students study these themes and are assessed on each of them. 

Firstly, they will read, study, discuss, and analyse – individually and in teams - a wide range of Critical Management Studies (CMS) theories, which will be applied directly to current business and management scenarios and companies.

They will also study, discuss, and analyse the theory and practice of corporate governance – again individually and in teams – and analyse the current performance of selected PLCs in light of corporate governance practice.  This will enable student to develop a more profound understanding of business and management in practice. 

Finally, this time individually, they will undertake a range of psycho-metric tests and management exercises, plus study selected texts on personal development, and based on these produce an individual Personal Development Plan (PDP) which will guide them in their future post-degree career and studies.

Combined, these three themes – separate yet integrated – will ensure the student end their degree with a profound yet practical understanding and experience of management in practice, designed to enhance their career prospects and management abilities.

The three main themes in this module are directly related to the learning outcomes:

- Academic development: By studying Critical Theory (CT), and Critical Management Studies (CMS), and applying these theoretical frameworks to corporations and PLCs, students will enhance their own academic ability, and develop a deeper understanding of the social-cultural issues in corporate business  LO1

- Professional development: By studying corporate governance theories and policies, and by studying selected Annual Reports of PLCs, students will enhance their professional ability, and develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which corporate governance influences corporate performance  LO2

- Personal development: By studying and taking selected psycho-metric tests, students will use the outcomes of these tests to prepare a professional-level Personal Development Plan (PDP), which will students to critically reflect on their business and management career prospects and ambitions  LO3

As one of the final modules in the course, high levels of reflective learning will be integrated into teaching.  A blended approach is also evident in the mixture of lectures, flipped classes, workshops, reflective learning, guided readings on WebLearn, VLE activities, and guest lectures.  PDP is expressly delivered in Theme 3 / Assignment 3.

On successful completion of this Module, students will be able to:

LO1: Use and apply a range of Critical Theories (CT), and Critical Management Studies theory (CMS), to a PLC of their choice, and to corporations more widely

LO2: Using and applying Corporate Governance theories and policies, critically evaluate the Annual Reports and performance of PLCs of their choice, and corporations more widely

LO3: Using and applying the results of a range of psycho-metric tests and exercises, produce a critical Personal Development Plan (PDP) to enhance their management effectiveness and post-course career development

The assessment strategy is designed to enhance students learning in relation to the three learning outcomes. There are three assessment points. 

The first (Week 10) is a 15-minute team presentation based on a Critical Theory (CT) of their choice, applied to a PLC or corporation of their choice, in order to critically asses the socio-cultural issues in corporate business

The second assessment (Week 19) is a 2,500-word pairs / twos report, where the students select two PLCs and asses the performance of these PLCs in light of corporate governance

The final assessment point (Week 27) is a 2,000-word individual Personal Development Plan (PDP), where the students reflect on their own career and ambitions, based on a range of psycho-metric tests

The three assignments have been spaced across the duration of the Module to allow sufficient time for assignment preparation completion, marking, and feedback

Textbooks:
Mallin, C (2016) Corporate Governance (2016), Oxford University Press

Alvesson, M et al (2011) The Oxford Handbook of Critical Management Studies, Oxford University Press

Tadajewski, M (2011) Key Concepts in Critical Management Studies, SAGE, available FREE as an e: book via the Library, click here

Journals:
Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, available FREE via the LondonMet Library

Websites and other:
Financial Reporting Council (FRC), (2018) The UK Corporate Governance Code, at: https://www.frc.org.uk/getattachment/88bd8c45-50ea-4841-95b0-d2f4f48069a2/2018-UK-Corporate-Governance-Code-FINAL.PDF

Financial Times, section on Corporate Governance, at: https://www.ft.com/stream/324fbfe6-b453-46f1-92ed-315aea70de27

Guardian Business, section on Corporate Governance, at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/corporate-governance

GovUK, Policy: Corporate Governance, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/corporate-governance

Langdon, K et al (2008) Interpreting Company Reports for Dummies, John Wiley and Sons, available FREE as an e: book via the Library, click here (especially Chapter 20: “How Companies Sooth the Shareholders”)

Amabile, T (2012) The Progress Principle, at:
file:///C:/Users/dwyerb/Desktop/MN6066_Teresa_Amabile_blog_progressprinciple_011312.pdf

Chartered Institute of Managers (CMI), Personal Development Plan, at: https://www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-bank/personal-development-planning

Covey, S (1989) The Seven (7) Habits of Highly Effective People, Simon and Schuster, plus see Hussain, below, and at: http://www.quickmba.com/mgmt/7hab

Creativity Test at: http://www.testmycreativity.com

Honey and Mudford (1986) Learning Styles Questionnaire (via WebLearn)

Hussain, A (2018) The Seven (7) Habits of Highly Effective People, Book Summary, at:
https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/habits-of-highly-effective-people-summary

Pedler, M et al (2007) A Manager’s Guide to Self-Development, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, available FREE as an e: book via the Library, click here:

Rogers, C (1954), Toward a Theory of Creativity, ETC: A Review of General Semantics (via WebLearn)