HR9640 - Contemporary issues in Business and Management

Your learning journey in this module will consist of a combination of tutor-led, learner-led and team-led session activities.

Tutor-led research-informed seminar sessions will help you to develop an understanding and increased awareness of current issues in dynamically evolving business and management discipline.

A learner-led, tutor guided approach will further be adopted to support the development of your knowledge on contemporary business and management challenges.

A team-led, facilitated approach provides the authentic experience of working as part of a team on an appropriate graduate level project within your field. You will be jointly responsible for identifying your team’s learning needs to provide appropriate recommendations for a real business organisation. You will be provided with a framework / structure to help you work through the issues and your facilitator will support with advice and constructive criticism throughout.

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff who will facilitate your learning and support you through the led sessions whilst disseminating appropriate activities you should be engaging in during your independent study time. They are also available upon request to support you outside of formal session time by responding to questions or concerns that you might have either via email or via individually pre-arranged appointments and/or drop-in sessions.

Tutor-led, tutor-guided and learner-led activities are organised to have activities in small groups. This approach provides a closer, more personal academic support. All workshops and seminar sessions will consist of learners who are also studying on your programme.

Academic support is also provided through the provision of a range of university learning support services. A wide range of online support materials are also available thought the virtual learning environment. These materials include recordings, online video links and electronic reading list including RSS feeds that showcase the application of various practices presented in the module.

To support you in your academic progress, you will receive both formative and summative feedback/feed-forward on your work through the course of each academic year. Regular formative feedback on class activities provides you with the necessary guidance to scaffold your knowledge and understanding of key issues to enable your success in the final summative assessment. Summative feedback/feed-forward will be provided on your work after it has been assessed and graded. You should use all feedback that you receive to identify areas of strength and areas for future study and improvement.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1 Understand and evaluate contemporary issues in business and management at organizational, leadership and individual levels.

ML02 Analyse the responses of diverse stakeholders to contemporary issues in business and management.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

ML03 Apply knowledge, skills, and abilities for developing responsible and practical recommendations to contemporary issues in business and management.

ML04 Reflect on the role of manager to respond contemporary issues in business and management by making connections to future career goals.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

ML05 Debate and critique that requires analysing, interpretation, evaluation, and problem solving.

Formative assessment:

Throughout the module you should actively participate in scheduled and self-directed activities and should engage in discussions, teamwork, and feedback exercises to challenge your own thinking and that of your peers.

Face-to-face sessions will provide you with the opportunity to self-assess your knowledge and understanding through applying the different aspects/topics examined. You will work through small groups activities which will enable you to secure on-going feedback from your peers.

Summative Assessment:

The MLOs will be assessed through the following components:

Group Presentation (25%): This involves small groups presenting an overview of how a selected organization has addressed a contemporary business and management issue. Additionally, groups should propose recommendations for further implementation (MLO1, ML02, ML05).

2,000-Word Personal Reflective Essay (75%): This assignment requires you to craft a personal reflective essay based on reflective logs completed during seminars or lectures. These logs document insights acquired from lectures, readings, or activities associated with in-semester reflections. The focus of the final reflective essay should be on defining an individual career goal that aligns with the demands of contemporary business and management issues (MLO3, MLO4).

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This module extensively explores contemporary issues in business and management, seamlessly integrating current research findings to enhance advanced research skills. Participants critically examine diverse perspectives on business and management, covering topics such as organizational and leadership strategies to address grand challenges, virtual organization, collaborative networks, technology, creativity, innovation, knowledge sharing, sustainable leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion and talent management. The module strategically connects theoretical insights with practical applications, facilitating a nuanced understanding of 21st-century business dynamics.

Promoting interactive learning, the module encourages participants to understand and assess the impact of current business and management issues on society, organizations, leadership, and individuals. Students also analyse the responses of diverse stakeholders to contemporary issues in business and management and formulate practical recommendations by using secondary resources. Upon completion, students emerge equipped to adeptly comprehend and evaluate ongoing debates on business and management issues, establishing meaningful connections between theory, real-world managerial challenges, and their future career goals. This module aids participants in developing critical skills and confidence by providing opportunities to debate, critique, analyse, and evaluate contemporary business and management issues.