Module: BMA6106-20 New Trends in Management

Level: 6

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Joshua Williams

Module Tutor Contact Details: j.williamsb@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

In this module the aim is to explore and evaluate what is new in management practice. This focuses on what changes are being made to management practices and how society influences the management of organisations. The contemporary organisational environment is dynamic –changing at different rates and being less predictable than before. Advances in technology, e.g. the Internet, illustrate just one area that has facilitated a dynamic environment. These changes can be disruptive, problematic and challenging but can also lead to creative and innovative responses from organisations and society. As organisations review their management practice they look to improve their performance through adopting new and innovative practices. Over the years this has included flatter organisations and self-managing teams to reduce hierarchical and bureaucratic challenges, greater collective action across organisations to address social challenges, identifying and addressing paradoxes to manage complexity, changing behaviour through little rather than large changes, using novel manufacturing techniques to individualise production, and organisations moving to co-produce goods and services with consumers.

Throughout the module students are encouraged to question the claimed benefits in these management practices to separate the hype from reality, and fad from trend.

This module will help you develop the following Graduate Attributes.

• Ethically aware: prepared for citizenship in a local, national and global context;

• Able to understand and manage complexity, diversity and change;

• Employable: equipped with the skills necessary to flourish in the global workplace, able to work in and lead teams.

2.Outline syllabus

The module will have three broad themes: (i) how society influences management practices; (ii) what management practices are being adopted by organisations and why; and (iii) assessing the effectiveness of these practices. Module themes are broad and will change from year to year in response to shifts in management practice and society.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Teaching sessions will include short contributions from the tutor, student-led discussions, exercises, case studies and practical activities. New topics will be covered each week allowing for guest lecturers to present their new trend in the workshop. The class will be using a wiki for assembling all contributions to the class. The overall intention is to introduce a culture of collaborative learning within the module, with students becoming independent learners and the tutor facilitating and supporting their learning.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: A single contribution to the module’s wiki – 3,000 words

• % Weighting: 60%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Session coordination – group exercise – 1 hour

• % Weighting: 40%