MGMT 314 Critical Issues in Organisations - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Contemporary organisations in a changing context. Each semester the course engages with three key issues effecting organisational life, across levels of organisational analysis. Topics may be drawn from technology, structure and design, power and politics, the structure of work and occupations, or other perspectives.

Course Overview

The future of work and the workforce is facing significant change driven by technology, globalization, increasing diversity and the changing expectations of workers and organisations. The intersection of these forces has had an impact on how and when we work and how we form a career identity. This paper takes a critical management lens with a focus on individual differences, diversity and identity at work, and therefore differs from an HRM (Human Resource Management) perspective. Each semester MTMG 314 engages with three critical issues affecting contemporary organisations in a changing context. The paper draws on theory and literature on social identity, identity theory and critical management studies. Lectures and workshops are held each week, and these are recorded. Students are required to complete three assessments each semester. These are essay/writing based and require critical reflection. Students are required to produce a reflexive journal based on three topics of their choosing. Creativity and social skills are also important in this course as group discussion and interaction forms a key part of in-class learning.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: BUSINESS 200 or MGMT 211 Restriction: MGMT 311

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Apply theoretical perspectives and frameworks as a means to critically analyse organisational behaviour (Capability 1 and 2)
Identify organisational trends and recognise the implications such trajectories will have on the future of work and society (Capability 1, 4.2 and 6)
Reflect critically on their own learning and prepare a written learning journal which practically applies theory to their experiences (Capability 1, 4.2 and 5.1)
Define and analyse research on key micro and macro societal trends affecting organisational practice (Capability 1, 2 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Essay	20%	Individual Coursework
Assignments	30%	Individual Coursework
Final Exam	50%	Individual Examination
3 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Essay
Assignments
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour workshop, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Learning Resources

Resources will be available on CANVAS. Lecture slides will be posted weekly. Course Readings will be accessible via CANVAS and can also be accessed via the University’s libraries. There is no core textbook for this course. You will be expected to read journal articles and other suggested readings throughout the course. You will also be expected to search independently for articles relating to the topics. Lectures and workshops will be held every week for this paper starting in week one. Lectures and workshops will be recorded however you are strongly encouraged to attend lectures in order to participate in class discussions and engage with instructors.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

This course uses Canvas as a platform for distributing notices, materials and course requirements. Please register for Piazza, which you can do through Canvas. This is the major forum for student interaction and appropriate course-related discussion. You instructor routinely contributes to Piazza discussions and will provide answers to reasonable assessment related questions. Your preferred name on Canvas is the one that links directly to your official record of marks, so make sure you use the name that you have listed on Canvas for all items of assessed work. If your “preferred name” is an unofficial nickname, think about whether that is what you want your marks recorded under. Check Canvas for notices at least once a week and note that announcements will go to the email you have linked to your student profile, so make sure you check this account regularly. If the instructors need to contact you individually, we will do so through the email address that appears against your name on Canvas. If you email the instructor, you can expect to receive an acknowledgement within one or two working days (unless you receive an out-of-office notification). If you do not receive a timely response, please check to ensure your email has been sent and you have not received a bounce-back notice.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Assessments for this paper comprise an Essay (20%), Reflexive Journal (30%) and a Final Exam (50%). All assessments are individual and all assessments you submit in this course must be your own original completed specifically for this course. Assignments must not have been submitted for credit towards any other course or in any prior version of this course. All work must be completed on time and handed in according to the instructions. Late submissions incur a marks penalty that increases each day. The electronic version of your written assignment must be identical to the hardcopy handed it and must be posted to turn-it-in by the due date. Extensions are given only in very exceptional cases such as significant illness, accompanied by a doctor’s certificate. Back up your work frequently, as computer failure is not grounds for an extension. Written work must be properly referenced, using a consistent referencing style. See www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/ for guidelines. Your written work should also be written in clear, concise, grammatically correct English. Please make use of the University’s English language support resources if you need assistance with this.

Important notices about your work

Details about each component of the assessment will be posted on Canvas and announced in seminars. Make sure you are clear about what is required, when, and how to hand it in. If you are not sure, ask the instructor at least a week before the due date.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Aegrotat or compassionate consideration for your written test

If your personal circumstances are significantly affecting your test performance or preparation you can apply for consideration. Exam aegrotat and compassionate applications are handled separately. An application must be completed no later than seven days after the affected test date at University Health and Counselling Services (UHCS). For information and an application please go to

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration/compassionate-consideration-for-written-tests.html

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

MGMT 314 : Critical Issues in Organisations

Business and Economics

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)