MQ3COI-Contemporary Issues

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Vaughan Michell
Email: v.a.michell@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Management in today’s contemporary context presents new challenges for organisational effectiveness. For a business to manage responsibly in today’s context, a range of issues and themes will be explored including sustainability; reputation management; values, ethics and governance. The challenges of the digital age including continuous technological development and its impact on process and people, are considered in the context of mechanisms for change. The role and impact of information and technology in the workplace will be explored, with consideration of the organisation’s digital platform and its use of IT in monitoring (KPIs) and planning.

Aims:

In this module a systematic knowledge of management will be deployed to allow students to consider on how their organisation can meet some of the challenges facing 21st century organisations. They will be expected to develop and support arguments relating to the achievement of organisational goals. Throughout, they will be exposed to the complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty that underpin many management situations. 

The module aims to prepare students to: 

1. Understand approaches to innovation and digital technologies and their impact on organisations. 

2. Consider how their application can be used for organisational improvement and development. 

3. Apply principles of sustainability and understand their impact on the workplace. 

4. Manage within an ethical, value-driven context. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

Assessable outcomes 

By the end of the module the student will be able: 

1. To critically evaluate approaches to innovation and digital technologies and their impact on organisations, and how their application can be used for organisational improvement and development. 

2. To appraise the impact of innovation and digital technologies on data and knowledge management for analysing business decision-making. 

3. To explain the importance of information to your organisation and to audit the effectiveness of the deployment of information and IT infrastructure. 

4. Interpret key principles of sustainability within own organisation; and to determine and appraise factors affecting sustainable practice in the workplace. 

5. Describe and evaluate the values and ethics of your organisation.

6. Review the impact of the governance of your organisation in terms of the decision making process. 

Additional outcomes:

Students should demonstrate how they have:? 

1. Identified service/organisational improvements and opportunities for innovation and growth. 

2. Utilised either a qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of information and data. 

3. Applied benchmarking standards to appraise organisational effectiveness. 

4. Assessed the contribution of information to sustained organisational success. 

Outline content:

This module explores the challenges faced by management in the modern business setting and critically examines how managers can respond appropriately to them. Students will critically examine how managers can effectively respond to emerging issues such as new technology, CSR, sustainability and other business challenges. Theories and concepts related to sustainability and managing innovation will inform an evaluation of the organisation’s capacity to embrace contemporary issues. They will be expected to apply learning to their workplace and consider the complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty that underpin many management situations. Students will be required to report their findings. These will be shared with the apprenticeship provider. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught using a blended learning approach. This will include directed self-study, workshops, group work, peer support, and other learning activities. During the module, students will follow a guided-learning path that will require them to read materials, access other core and optional learning materials and undertake a range of activities. In addition to the learning path, students will attend workshops. These are facilitated sessions that will help consolidate knowledge, ap ply it the workplace and develop higher order cognitive skills of analysis and evaluation. Students will be expected to relate their learning to their day-to-day work. 

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will work in groups to prepare a management presentation. There will be an element of peer assessment included. A supporting individual reflection on the deployment of learning will be required. 

Formative assessment methods:

Will be embedded in the learning path and workshop activities. Peer review will be an integral element. 

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy “Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes”, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf 

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late: 

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days; where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded. 

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf 

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

By resubmission of coursework to the same brief. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 14 September 2023