module specification

MC6085 - Managing the Creative Environment (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Managing the Creative Environment
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 15
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Total study hours 150
 
9 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
102 hours Guided independent study
39 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
In-Course Test 40%   Unseen
Coursework 60%   Project portfolio + reflective statement /report
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
No instances running in the year

Module summary

The creative industries have grown substantially in the UK in recent years. They are known for their uniqueness – high-pressure environments, fragmentation and diversity. The module identifies a number of players within the industry including film, fashion, photography, print, music and advertising and examines the particular working experience of ‘the creative’. Firms within the industry are heavily project-based – meaning they operate very short project cycles, against numerous rivals, with relatively easy entry and exit strategies.  The module highlights issues within the industry including a shortage of managers, fierce competition and working in a fast moving industry. The main aims of the module are to:

1. Broaden the students’ understanding of what constitutes creative industries and the contribution creative industries make within UK and in the world.
2. Provide students with sound understanding of the management of creative people/firms.
3. Provide students with an over view of project management from project planning, managing a project and evaluation of the project performance.

The module will enable students to enhance their analytical, problem solving, critical, planning and reflective thinking abilities. This would assist the students with their employability skills within the creative industries and beyond.

Syllabus

The module is structured in two parts. In the first seven weeks students will be familiarised with the nature and role of creative industries and the management aspects and theories within creative industry context. Emphasis will be placed on critical analysis and evaluation of the theories surrounding the organisational structures, leadership, corporate culture and values, managing conflict and the challenges of managing creative professionals. The module highlights aspects relating to innovation and transformation, which is key to the creative industries. LO1

The last part of the module will focus on project management and this is where the students will embark on hands on experience on planning, implementing and evaluating a short creative project. Their understanding of the management and leadership theories will enrich the implementation of the short creative project. LO2

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

Learning material and seminar tasks are to be provided in advance via Weblearn to allow students to research and plan their contribution during the class sessions. This will also facilitate the students’ independent study and support their wider reading. Students will double the class contact time for independent study. The short project work is a reflective task that requires students to write a critical reflective statement or report about the project and about their learning on the module.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the role played by the creative industry within the economy and apply the management and leadership concepts within the creative industries.

2. To demonstrate the knowledge of project management within the creative industry and critically evaluate and apply suitable management and leadership approaches to their creative project.

Bibliography

Text Books

Core text
Moeran, B. & Christensen B. (Eds.), (2013) Exploring Creativity: Evaluative Practices in Innovation, Design and the Arts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Copenhagen Business School.

Other texts
Boxall, P., and Purcell, J., (2015) Strategy and Human Resource Management 4th Edition Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Dillon, S. (2012), The Fundamentals of Fashion Management, AVA Publishing, Lausanne SA
Fenich, G.C. (2014), Planning and Management of Meetings, Expositions, Events and Conventions, Prentice Hall.
Foot, M. & Hook, C. (2011), Introducing Human Resource Management 6th Ed, Pearson Financial Times.
Heagney, J., (2016), Fundamentals of Project Management. AMACOM Division of American Management Association International
Mondy, R.W. (2014), Human Resource Management, Global Edition, Pearson Education Ltd
Vaidyanathan, G. (2014), Project Management: Process, Technology and Practice, International Edition, 1st edition, Pearson Education Ltd.