module specification

The module focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of management in financial services organisations. It explores organisational strategy, motivation, groups, organisational culture, leadership and management styles This module has a strong focus on employability, in preparation for a compulsory or optional work-placement year. It provides an opportunity to develop a range of employability skills understanding employment opportunities in the industry, career management, development of a curriculum vitae. 

This module has a strong focus on employability, leading to and in preparation for a work-placement year.
• To enable students to express the depth of their discipline intrinsic knowledge and transferable discipline intrinsic skills including cognitive flexibility, creativity and fluency in spoken and written communications,  the capacity for effective teamwork, and apply management tactics in various scenarios.
• To develop the attributes of self evaluation and a creative and ethical approach and performance in a variety of idioms and contexts.
• To develop an understanding of the major external and internal issues and challenges facing managers (covering strategy, people, operations and careers management) within Financial Services. This includes an awareness of career opportunities, employers and practitioners within the industry.
• To examine the interaction between financial services organisations and their environment, and the challenges faced by individual managers.
 

All areas focus on Financial Services specific issues
• Career opportunities
• CV writing skills
• Employers with Financial services
• Strategy
• The nature of managerial work
• Management and leadership styles
• Motivation and performance related pay
• Groups: development, composition, and conflict
• Communication
• Organisational culture: classification and development
• International culture
• Management of change

There will be three hours of contact time per week consisting of a one-hour lecture and a two-hour workshop. Lectures will the theory and practice of management and will make use of blended learning approaches and industry visits and presentations by external speakers.

Workshops will include a variety of exercises based around the academic discipline and will also include practical classes. The module will develop a range of employment and academic related skills which will be introduced and practiced in the workshops. Students are required to prepare material in advance. Sharing of experience and knowledge though group discussions will be encouraged in order to build confidence and communication skills.

This module has a strong focus on career development and employability.

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Understand and demonstrate the exercise of personal responsibility and decision making within a group context.
2. Develop personal and professional attributes within the context of qualities and transferable skills necessary for financial services and personal development, life long learning and employment, including information management, autonomy, self evaluation and communication.
3. Show an ability to produce an updated personal development plan which reflects on progress and achievements and posits some future directions.
4. Analyse management concepts and the problems which may arise within Financial Services, using appropriate management concepts, when managing people and organisations, the changing business environment, and suggest solutions with knowledge of current practice within the industry.

Diagnostic assessment will take place on a weekly basis in class to develop analytical and communication skills.

Students will be required to submit a written group report of 2500 words (50%) in week 13. This will assess their ability to coordinate a group exercise demonstrating written communications skills.

Ten-minute group presentations in week 14-15 (50%) will assess communication skills and group working as well as the discipline specific content and employability skills explored in the module.

Core reading:
 Mullins, L. J. (2010) Management for Organisational Behaviour, (9th Ed) Pitman, London

Other Reading:
 Bartol, K. M. and Martin, D. C. (1998) Management (International Edition), McGraw Hill, London
 Boddy, D. (2011) Management: An Introduction, Pearson Education, Essex
 Certo, S. C. and Cetro, S.T. (2009) Modern Management: Concepts and Skills, Pearson Prentice Hall, NJ
 Cottrell, S (2010) Skills for success: the personal development planning handbook  2nd Ed, Palgrave Macmillian, Basingstoke
 Hannagan, T. (2008) Management: Concepts & Practices, Pearson Prentice Hall, Essex
 Hitt, M., Black, J. S. and Porter, L. W. (2005) Management (International Edition), Pearson Prentice Hall, NJ
 Kirton B (2011) Brilliant Workplace Skills for Students and Graduates Prentice Hall, Harlow
 Lynch, R. (2006) Corporate Strategy, Pitman, London
 Robbins, S.P. and  DeCenzo, D. A. (2008) Fundamentals of Management: Essential concepts and Applications, Pearson Prentice Hall, NJ
 Trought F (2011) Brillaint Emplolyability Skills Prentice Hall, Harlow

Online resources:
 www.prospects.ac.uk (careers information)
 http://targetjobs.co.uk (careers information)
 skills4study (2011) Structured Reflection [Online] Palgrave MacMillan Available: www.palgrave.com/skills4study/pdp/structured  - Accessed 20/5/2011
 http://bookboon.com

Journals:
 Academy of Management Perspectives
 Academy of Management journal 
 Management & marketing consultancy in the United Kingdom
 Management decision
 Management development review 
 Management for strategic business ideas 
 Management international review 
 Management today