Module description

This module introduces students to the purpose, operations, and implications of management by exploring the contexts within which management takes place. Therefore this course will not specifically emphasize the skills and practices for how to do business and management but rather a framework for understanding business and management within a greater context.

 In other words, rather than a “how to do business” module, we will focus on a framework for understanding business and management and the environment and contexts in which it operates. We will reflect on management as it relates to the social, economic, technological, and legal conditions within which it operates, as well as reflect on the political and environmental consequences of modern management. We will primarily discuss how management practices are informed by their external and some of the implications for the internal business environment.  

Therefore, a major focus of this module is the internal and external environments of business, which are examined through the PESTLE framework; that is, with particular emphasis on Political, Economic, Sociological, Technical, Legal, and Environmental issues (PESTLE). 

Setting management in the context of the global interrelations of energy, finance, the environment, technological innovation, and changing social, legal, and political structures, we will begin to see that to be effective, management must understand the contexts in which it operates.

The module revolves around one primary textbook [International Business Environment]. There will be a selection of readings from the secondary textbook[ Management Fundamentals: Concepts, Applications, and Skill Development] as well as and various readings that you will find listed on QMPlus in electronic form.

Organization of module

BUS001-- Fundamentals of Management runs throughout the first semester.

•It consists of a weekly 2-hour bock of asynchronous and synchronous teaching. In short, there will be a mix of activities that will happen in real-time and offline activity for the semester. Please note there will be no module activity during week 7; this is because week 7 is the university’s designated ‘reading week’ and a valuable chance to catch-up on any reading you have not yet done in sufficient depth. 

• There is a schedule of topics and readings for each week are listed in this module outline and QMPlus

•Lecture slides, access to reading, electronic versions of books, and academic journal articles can be accessed using QMPlus.