MQ3COI: Contemporary Issues

Module code: MQ3COI

Module provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Vaughan Michell, email: v.a.michell@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

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.

The module aims to prepare students to:

• Understand approaches to innovation and digital technologies and their impact on organisations

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

• Apply principles of sustainability and understand their impact on the workplace

• Manage within an ethical, value-driven context

Module learning outcomes

Modules learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

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

3. 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 your 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

Module content

The module covers the following topics:

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.

Structure

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, apply 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.

Teaching includes input from tutors, demonstrations of techniques and practice in small groups. Plenary discussion and table discussions are encouraged. Formative and summative feedback is given as appropriate.

Participants are expected to draw on their practical experience in their own or other organisations to support their learning and their assignments. They have access to the Virtual Learning Environment throughout the programme, until the end of their registration period.

Programme members are encouraged to keep a personal learning log, paper or electronic, during both this module and the complete programme.

Study hours

At least 14 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month 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; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs