Module Information

Module Identifier
MM34220
Module Title
Business Leadership and Corporate Responsibility
Academic Year
2015/2016
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminar 6 x 1 Hour Seminars
Lecture 11 x 2 Hour Lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Unseen written examination  70%
Semester Assessment Semester Assessment (Individual coursework, 2000 words)  30%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Unseen written examination  Repeat failed element  70%
Supplementary Assessment Supplementary Assessment (Individual coursework, 2000 words)  Indivdual presentation and written report in place of group presentation  Repeat failed elements  30%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

* Analyze the importance of management and strategic decision-making within organizations and their impact on the wider social environment.

* Demonstrate cognitive and analytical skills necessary to evaluate different perspectives on the role of business in society by critically engaging with a range of literature to formulate an argument.

* Demonstrate a critical understanding of theories and models of business ethics, corporate social responsibility and corporate citizenship.

* Evaluate the ethical consequeces of business decision-making by considering the impact of different stakeholders.

* Assess the ways in which business is constrained by its cultural, political and social environment.

* Engage with and evaluate different debates on business' role in society.

Aims

This module will focus on a range of strategic issues and will consider these from different perspectives. Questions that will be explored include the role of business within communities, for example, in relation to off-shoring and outsourcing activities. Students will also be asked to critically consider how far innovation and risk-taking is constrained by the environment in which the business operates, in which ways corporate social responsibility is a leadership and strategic issue, and whether corporate governance may impact on strategy and vice versa. These subjects are currently solely explored through a leadership perspective, which narrows the discussion rather than providing a space for advanced-level theoretical and practical debates.
Leadership theory is not a mature academic subject. There is a range of publications that target practitioners at the middle-management level and very specific academic debates around subjects such as ownership, leadership and risk-taking; agency theory; and leadership styles and traits (which are explored in detail in the compulsory module MM33120). Changing the module name will allow for more critical and in-depth discussions and analysis.

Brief description

The restructured module will continue to focus on strategic concerns and developing a critical understanding of leadership. It will, however, discuss in more detail in which ways these are relevant from a stakeholder perspective, thus taking into account the top management team but also employees at various levels, e.g. suppliers, customers, regulators, citizens and communities.

Content

Part I. Leadership and Society
Introduction to the module. Does leadership exist? Leadership and Ownership.
Diversity, Business and Leadership
Part II. Business, Strategy and Society
Business, Globalisation and the Media
Governance, Ethics and Accountability
Innovation and Communities
Culture, Politics, and Responsibility
Business and the State
Business, Society and Scandal
Historic perspectives: the case of the East India Company

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number
Communication Communicate effectively using a variety of media and reporting formats used in business.
Improving own Learning and Performance Demonstrate effective self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, in support of tutorials, groups and individual coursework.
Information Technology Students will be expected to utilize various software programs in their preparation for the presentations and are expected to utilize ICT.
Personal Development and Career planning Develop critical analytical skills necessary to negotiate and evaluate a range of situations within a business environment.
Problem solving Demonstrate the ability to provide a concise yet critical analysis of contemporary issues impacting on businesses from a stakeholder perspective.
Research skills Develop research skills in submitting group and individual coursework.
Team work Demonstrate effective performance within a team environment in preparation of presentation, including leadership, team building, influencing and project management skills.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6